This self-proclaimed Irishman was born in England to an Irish mother and Afro-Guyanese father. He’s a national hero in Ireland, where a life-size bronze statue of him stands in Dublin. In addition to his often under-appreciated work as a musician, he was also a poet, and published two well-received books in the ’70s: “Songs for While I’m Away” and “Philip.”A trust established in his name provides scholarships for new musicians, and enables people to make donations to charities and organizations in his memory.
Many have long wondered about the identity of those lads Phil described in “The Boys Are Back in Town.” It turns out they were denizens of a small-time Manchester-based criminal group called the Quality Street Gang. He’d met them in the bar his mom ran, and considered them likable, Ruyoneque characters. He immortalized two of the gang members in the Thin Lizzy song “Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed,” and later presented “the Weed” with a gold record when the song became popular. RIP, Phil.
Here’s a look at Thin Lizzy at the height of their popularity:
© Dana Spiardi, Jan 4, 2015
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