Sad news for guitar-loving hard rock fans everywhere. Northern Ireland's Gary Moore, who played guitar intermittently with Thin Lizzy as well as enjoying his own successful solo career, died yesterday at age 58. So far no confirmation of cause of death. Growing up in Ireland as fan of hard rock from a young age, I was fortunate to have seen Moore play with both the Dublin Ireland band Skid Row (with Brush Shiels) and later with Thin Lizzy -- with whom he was guitarist in three different stages during their career. Rest in peace, Gary Moore.

In the latter half of the 1960s, thanks to the then-new technology of powerful amplifiers, rock and roll witnessed the emergence of the power rock trio. Its blues based "hard rock" music would pave the way for heavy metal, progressive (prog) rock, and other later strains of heavier rock. Sans keyboards, rhythm guitar or other instrumentation, and simply utilizing the basic guitar, bass, and drums (plus feedback), the power rock trio formula was born. Cream (comprised of Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, & Ginger Baker) and The Jimi Hendrix Experience were among the early pioneers & ambassadors of this highly influential form of rock, and their combined influence was far reaching. Below are these two trios and several other late 60's into early 70's power rock trios spanning the formative half-decade from 1968 to 1973.

Included are video clips of Cream doing their classic "Sunshine Of Your Love" from 1968 and The Jimi Hendrix Experience (with Noel Redding on bass & Mitch Mitchell on drums) doing "VooDoo Child (Slight Return)" live on the Lulu Show on BBC TV in 1969. From 1968 is renowned San Francisco band Blue Cheer with their classic interpretation of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" from a decade earlier. The band, who typically were on the more psychedelic hard rock end but are more hard blues rock leaning here, featured vocalist and bassist Dickie Peterson, guitarist Leigh Stephens and drummer Paul Whaley. "Summertime Blues" was recorded for their 1968 debut album Vincebus Eruptum.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! While you suck down a shamrock shake or a Guinness float (it's a little toastier than usual here in San Francisco at present) or sip on some whiskey from the jar-o today, please remember to raise your glass and toast the greatest rock band to ever come out of Ireland; this one's for Thin Lizzy!


What can I say about Thin Lizzy that hasn't already been said? To quote Peter May, "when Thin Lizzy first hit the pubs in Dublin in 1970 they were quickly heralded as the best band since Van Morrison's Them." With a long list of classic/ hard rock radio hits like "The Boys are Back in Town," "Whiskey in the Jar," "Jailbreak," and the Bob Seger penned "Rosalie," Thin Lizzy and their particular brand of vagabond rocker timelessness stands forever poised to span the annals of rock 'n' roll legend despite the early death of founding frontman and bassist Phil Lynott at the age of thirty-six. Revered by longhairs young and old and frequently lovingly covered by the likes of Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Metallica, there is no evidence that the adoration rockers around the world feel for Lynott and the many skilled members of his skinny Lizzy throughout the years will ever fade away. 

This Friday night, March 19th, at Amoeba Music San Francisco, I'll be spinning nothing but Thin Lizzy in tribute to the world's greatest Irish rock band. I'll be focusing on the more Irish influenced Lizzy jams and other choice deep cuts like the title track from Thin Lizzy's third album, Vagabonds of the Western World (a favorite of mine and one that sadly, along with several other Lizzy releases, never gets any play in the store -- an oversight I seek to remedy). Got a request? Come on down and lay it on me -- especially if it's something you think I don't have. I'm more than a fan, baby, I'm cruisin in the Lizzy mobile!

Exactly twenty two years ago today, January 4th, 1986 Irish rock legend Phil Lynott, who came to fame as the frontman of Thin Lizzy (perhaps best known stateside for their hit "The Boys Are Back In Town") died of pneumonia and heart failure, apparently the result of complications from a heroin drug overdose.

And today many people around the world are honoring the man. Most notable is the big annual 22nd Vibe For Philo: Johnny the Fox meets Jimmy the Weed celebration tonight in Dublin, Ireland at The Button Factory at Curved Street in the Temple Bar district where numerous artists will perform, including Cait O'Riordan (formerly with the Pogues), the tribute band Tizz Lizzy as well as Satoshi Shibata  -- lead guitarist with Japanese tribute band The Lizzy Boys. The late singer's mom, Philomena Lynott, will also be on-stage tonight in Dublin.

Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy (who in recent years reformed but it ain't the same without Phil) are one of those bands whose influence is very great and wide with countless Thin Lizzy tribute bands popping up worldwide over the years, as well as numerous bands who do Thin Lizzy covers/tributes, including Europe, Motorhead, and Metallica, whose cover of Thin Lizzy's version of the old Irish traditional folk song "Whiskey In The Jar" is perhaps better known with American audiences than the Lizzy's 1972 recording -- their first hit single, which is below in video form (check out the opening which features the Celtic influenced art of modern Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick who did most of Lizzy's album covers).