Thin Lizzy is Getting Thinner
John Sykes, who joined Thin Lizzy as a guitarist in 1983, and became lead vocalist when he re-formed the band in 1996, wakes up this morning as a former band member.
A brief announcement on the band's MySpace blog isn't clear on whether the decision was the band's or Sykes' or both. What is clear is that Lizzy have canceled or postponed confirmed shows until further notice.
As of this morning (7/2) Sykes' website still has prominent Thin Lizzy links on the home page, and his last MySpace blog entry, dated June 23, mentions only the shows canceled due to drummer Tommy Aldridge's broken collar bone.
After the 1986 death of Phil Lynott -- founding member, bassist, lead vocalist and chief songwriter from the band's beginning in 1969 -- band members went their separate ways until 1996 when Sykes convinced Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton to reunite, as a tribute to Lynott. Except for a hiatus between 2001 and 2004, they have worked steadily since.
Thin Lizzy, one of VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock are best known for songs like "Jailbreak, "Whiskey In The Jar" and "The Boys Are Back In Town."
Stay tuned to find out what happens next in the band's long and colorful life story.
Photo by Jo Hale / Getty Images
Comments
Get it right please. Phil LYNOTT (not Lynotte) died in 1986 not 1983.
&%$#@! One typo in a post is bad enough. Two (especially when they’re really bad ones) … well … there isn’t a word for it. Thanks much for the catch.
Dave – Now come on, you do a Lizzy blog & think I’ll stay away? Not on your life mate!
Have to tell you from the start that Sykes’ website has always been crap for updates, very lame. His MySpace, little better, typically.
The best place to really keep informed about anything Lizzy these days, certainly does seem to be: http://www.myspace.com/thinlizzynow
The current rumours doing the rounds from Europe are that Sykes is either getting back with Carmine Appice & Tony Franklin for Blue Murder Pt 2 or take this as you will, he has another completely new supergroup in the works …
Some people were questioning the Tommy Aldridge story, as a smokescreen for this as his site says nothing & has been dead since 2007! http://www.tommyaldridge.com/
His MySpace seems to be Whitesnake driven & says nothing of any accident? Hmmm
I interviewed Scott, just a few months back & he was talking about he & John starting to write new stuff, as they both felt that enough time had passed that they could move on with Lizzy. Guess not!
I’d love to see Scott pull Brian Downey, Darren Wharton & either Gary Moore or Robbo back in, although his opinion of Robbo was not that great during the interview. Downey & Moore are both still doing the blues stuff, which Scott said, “is where Downey is happiest.”
I don’t think Moore would do it, unless he had control of the whole thing … He’s a complete control freak from what I can gather …
Who would sing & play bass? Go & check out Wayne Ellis who fronts the best Lizzy tribute band I’ve ever seen or heard, Limehouse Lizzy.
Sadly they pretty much stay on UK turf, so it’s unlikely they’ll cross the pond to do any US shows.
http://www.myspace.com/limehouselizzy
RIP Phil – Who’d have thought it could get so messy after you’re gone?
Really miss the REAL Lizzy shows.
Cheers,
Alun