TYGERS OF PAN TANG

LOOKING FOR LIZZY – Search on for Guardian demo tapes info.

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An interesting message has been sent in by Douglas Sharp from Hanover in the north of Germany…

“I have a demo tape with the song ‘Doot Doot’ recorded by the band Freur at Guardian studios in 1983 for Tyne Tees TV. Producer and Engineer T. Gav. 15ips master with the note RESTRICTED”.

“Do you know anything about the session? It would be interesting to find out more about the demo tape”.

Douglas Sharp was born in 1952 in Leeds, Yorkshire, and started out as a trainee geophysicist for a German company in London in 1972 when the North Sea oil boom was in full swing. He moved back with them to their German headquarters in Hanover in July 1974.


“The firm closed down in 2004, after that I decided to start up my own translation business here, which is still going strong”.

Guardian Studio was based in the Durham village Pity Me, and features heavily on this site. In the 80s cult NWOBHM compilation album Roksnax was recorded there along with a host of North East bands including Spartan Warrior, Mythra, Hollow Ground, Saracen, Battleaxe, Toy Dolls and Satan.

Tygers of Pan Tang recorded demo tapes for their record company MCA, plus ‘The Audition Tapes’ with guitarist John Sykes and vocalist Jon Deverill.

Where did you come across the Guardian tape?
“It was sometime around the late 90s when I found it in a skip just down the road from Tyne Tees TV – along with a Thin Lizzy demo – while I was on holiday in Cullercoats where my sister used to live. I hope no one accuses me of nicking them!” explained Douglas.

Have you found any info on the Lizzy tape?
“The tape was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios in London, and is now in the hands of the Thin Lizzy fan club in Oswestry. They are trying to find someone with a reel-to-reel tape deck to play it on and discover whether it’s a “legendary lost recording!”

Douglas added “My sister worked as a researcher at Tyne Tees TV, her boyfriend was a film maker, Derek Smith, I helped him out with the German end of researching and translating bits and pieces for one of his films about artists interned on the Isle of Man 1940. It won RTS best documentary award 1990”.

The research sounds interesting…

“To be honest – I love it! Derek asked me to see what I could find out about the exiled Germans, so I started trawling all the sources I could find here. He said he was going to mention me by name in the credits, but maybe he forgot!

Any other projects that you are working on?
“Together with a retired miner and dowser from Huddersfield, I worked for a couple of years on finding locations of all the former fireclay and coal mines, pits and shafts in the West Riding of Yorkshire and turned the data into a map, which has since been shown during presentations at places like the National Coal Mining Museum”.

“In the same vein I’m currently helping a YouTuber in the Leeds area who’s working on the history of a no longer existent late 19th early 20th century mineral railway in the village of New Farnley, near Leeds, where I was born. Digging out old photos, maps – including my own and family histories”.

“But yeah It would be interesting to find out about the Tyne Tees demo tapes. I’ll get back to you if I hear anything new”.

If you have any info on the tapes leave a message on here or drop a line to garyalikivi@yahoo.com and I’ll pass it on to Douglas.

Alikivi   February 2024

LIVE BLOOD – New album from Tygers of Pan Tang

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First rumble of thunder out of Whitley Bay was way back when their first single was recorded at the legendary Neat records in Wallsend. Now after nearly half a century the NWOBHM flag bearers Tygers of Pan Tang are not ready to throw the towel in just yet as they prepare to unleash a live album.

Vocalist Jack Meille explained “Recording a live album after all this time? I never thought I would experience it but with the Tygers I have learnt that the impossible is possible. ‘Live Blood’ captures all the energy we deliver while playing our favourite songs live and raw!” 

Recorded in summer 2023 at The Patriot in Wales, with guitarist Robb Weir, vocalist Jack Meille, drummer Craig Ellis, guitarist Francesco Marras and bass player Huw Holding, the set includes Euthanasia, Love Don’t Stay, Paris By Air and Love Potion No.9 from their first albums plus Edge of the World, Fire on the Horizon and A New Heartbeat from the latest album ‘Bloodlines’.

‘Live Blood’ will be released on April 26th 2024 via Mighty Music. The double LP includes three exclusive bonus tracks, it’s also available on CD and digital formats. Pre-orders and full track listing are available here.

Robb Weir added “Every time we play a show we’re asked when are we going to record a new live album. Our live show adds a new dimension to the old songs and allows us to stretch out a bit on the newer numbers”. 

The album will be preceded by two singles – the live favourite Gangland from their legendary album ‘Spellbound’ and Keeping Me Alive from ‘Ambush’.

For more info > 

Tygers Of Pan Tang – TargetShop

or check the official website >  

Tygers Of Pan Tang – The Official Site

Alikivi    February 2024

GANGBUSTING NWOBHM in Newcastle Trillians

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Trillians Rock Bar is fronting a chain of gigs by New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands. Prepare yersel for an avalanche of soaring vocals, drums like cannons and torpedo tipped solo’s.

In the coming months Newcastle aims to melt yer ears with Tytan, Di’Anno, Millennium, Spartan Warrior, Girlschool, Alcatrazz, Raven and the Tygers of Pan Tang – make no bones about it the gangbusters are in town.

First up on Friday November 3rd is a triple punch powerplay from Tytan, Spartan Warrior and Millennium. Front man Mark Duffy explained…“I think the NWOBHM scene has lasted so long because it’s produced so many good bands who recorded great records. There’s also a younger generation who are discovering these bands for the first time”.

Spartan Warrior vocalist Dave Wilkinson added…“We’re excited to be co headlining with our friends Tytan, it’s going to be a great night for sure. We have a long history with Millennium who were our Guardian label mates, so in our 40th Anniversary year that’s a bit special too”.

Tytan’s Chief, Kev Riddles, chipped in…“I always feel a little pressure when playing the North East, this year we’ll be lucky enough to play alongside Spartan Warrior at Trillians again”.

Playing on home turf, Tygers of Pan Tang will be looking to deliver thunder from their recent album Bloodlines, plus mixing in some lightning strike favourites from their extensive back catalogue on Friday November 23.

Two days before that former Iron Maiden front man Paul Di’Anno, who was present at the birth of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, holds court at a sold out Trillian’s.

Keeping yer plugged in for 2024 a bone crunching date of 15 February has been set for Girlschool, Alcatrazz and Chief Headbangers Raven as part of a Heavy Metal Assault tour – aye Heavy Metal with a capital H. Be careful out there.

For more info & tickets contact the official website:

Trillians Rock Bar (trilliansnewcastle.co.uk)

Alikivi   October 2023

Interview with Kev Riddles May 2017:

BACK IN THE RING – Going Another Round with NWOBHM band Tytan | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND

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The site has over 350,000 hits on a blog which when it first went live in 2017 I thought would be read by half a dozen people a day. To mark the occasion here’s snippets from the first few posts which gave the site a solid start and built to around 1,000 reads per week.

If you’ve read the blog a big thanks for your support – much appreciated. If you haven’t, why not give it a go there’s hundreds of great interviews featured, you might be surprised.

“The kids were hungry for this noise, anger, excitement and a do it yourself attitude. It was definitely getting to me, getting in my blood, this raw and visceral sound was becoming addictive. The term New Wave of British Heavy Metal had been coined by then, and yeah it really was a new wave and you’ve gotta go with it… and we did” Brian Ross.

“We jumped on a ferry to do some gigs in Holland. We took this thing around Europe and by then the whole British Heavy Metal scene was red hot so it was one mad scene of gig here, gig there, some stories you can’t tell. When you’ve played the Royal Standard in Walthamstow in front of fifty people and they aren’t interested, then you get out here where they are running after your car, sign my booby and all that, that’s gonna turn anybodys head…and it did” Lou Taylor.

“I remember Joe Strummer saying we’re coming to your gig tonight do you mind if I bring Iggy Pop? We said ‘aye go on then’. The gig was in New York we walked on stage, the lights blazed on and Mensi screamed “We’re the Angelic Upstarts, We’re from England, 1,2,3,4” as I strummed my guitar there was an almighty bang, it all went dark then nothing. There was a huge power cut. They couldn’t get it sorted out so we jumped off stage and went to the bar at the back where The Clash were standing and I ordered a Jack and Coke and said to Iggy Pop “It’ll be sorted in a minute, this sort of thing happens to us all the time” Mond Cowie.

“Creative process for me is always different, some are instant, some are like pulling teeth and it goes on for years, literally. You never can tell. Just have to have a good memory really. Lately I’ve been able to do a single album, a double album and now a triple album. Mind you I’m not planning to buy a yacht or anything on the proceeds!” Bernie Torme

“I remember Bordello doing a showcase for CBS. We really went for it, putting our heart and soul into it you know. A guy called Dave Novek came along to have a look at us, we really laid it on in a good studio. But we found out that we ‘weren’t quite what they were looking for’. A couple of weeks later he signed Sigue Sigue Sputnik!’ Go figure!” Steve Dawson

“I remember getting a call around 1981 from NEAT records owner Dave Woods he asked me if NEAT could include our song ‘Flying High’ on a compilation they were producing called ‘Lead Weight’. Well of course I said yes when he listed the other bands who were going to be on – Fist, Venom, Raven just those three names were enough, they were THE Heavy Metal bands from the North East and to be in their company was fantastic for Warrior. Yes really proud of that”  Dave Dawson.

“1983 saw Cloven Hoof touring throughout the length and breadth of the UK, earning ourselves a sizable underground cult following. In the summer of that year the band recorded a four-track session for the Tommy Vance Friday Rock Show on Radio One and on the strength of the bands popularity Tyneside based NEAT Records signed us to record our first album. Things were starting to happen for the band, we were really in the mix” Lee Payne.

Check the About page above for a full list of features and interviews.

Alikivi  October 2023

PROFESSOR ROCK with Sunderland computer scientist & music blogger Peter Smith

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Does a day go by without listening to music? It runs through yer veins. Addiction to music is a feeling everyone reading this site knows, and the person who this new post is about has it bad.

‘I’ve finally come clean and admitted to myself that I’m totally addicted to going to rock concerts. I’ve also realised that all attempts at treatment are futile, and anyway I don’t want to be cured!’ said Peter.

‘This blog is part of my treatment, creating a permanent record of gigs that I’ve been to. I try to remember as much as I can about them which is difficult as my memory is not good these days’.

‘It takes me back to the late 60s early 70s and includes concerts by Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, T Rex, Kate Bush and events such as Reading Festivals, Donnington Monsters of Rock and Live Aid. I’ve attended around 2000 gigs since 1969’ explained Peter.

The music blog started in 2011 (link below), and includes great reviews and stories as well as being illustrated with a collection of Peter’s ticket stubs.

First, a bit of background to Sunderland born Peter Smith. Peter graduated in Computing and Mathematics from Sunderland University in 1978, by 1981 he completed a PhD.

He went on to hold a number of positions at the University spending 11 years as a lecturer before being made professor in 1992. Not stopping there he became Dean of Computing and Technology from 1999 until 2007.

Peter has written hundreds of academic papers and books as well as speaking at conferences worldwide. In 2012 he retired from the University and was made Emeritus Professor.

Despite a severe spinal injury in 2016, Peter continued his life’s work and being a massive music fan, also found time to publish numerous papers and books on music venues, classic rock and punk bands.

In July 2022 Sunderland University commemorated his contribution to academia, awarding him with an Honorary Doctorate of Technology. Is that enough for ya’?

I started listening to music in the ‘70s and going to gigs in the ‘80s – they were great times and I know how lucky we were to see fantastic bands. Who do you consider your most memorable gigs?

‘Best gigs were Live Aid in Wembley Stadium 1985, I have so many great memories of that day. Queen’s performance is often rated as the greatest live performance by any band. Freddie certainly commanded the crowd that day’.

‘U2 weren’t far behind them with Bono showing how great a front man he was. For me, however, the highlights were The Who and David Bowie, as I was, and remain, a big fan of both acts’.

‘There was Led Zeppelin at Sunderland Locarno in 1971. I remember Zeppelin came on stage quite late, and the crowd immediately rose to their feet and surged to the front, forming a terrible crush’.

‘I remember a guy trying to take a photo of Robert Plant and the bouncers waded into the crowd to get his camera. Robert intervened, and told the bouncers to leave off the guy to a great cheer from the crowd’.

‘I was right down the front close to the band. I could almost touch them, the atmosphere was electric’. 

‘I also remember great gigs from the Sex Pistols at Whitby in 1975, David Bowie at Newcastle City Hall in ‘72, Rolling Stones at Newcastle in ‘71, The Who played Charlton football ground in 1974 and Abba at Stafford in 1979’.

On your blog you talk about seeing North East bands Geordie, Angelic Upstarts, Brass Alley, Lucas Tyson, Penetration and Tygers of Pan Tang.

There’s a review of a gig by Punishment of Luxury at the Dunelm House, Durham, what can you remember of that night?

‘This gig at Dunelm House came quite early in their career before they had released any recorded material, and was probably one of the first times I saw them.’

‘I do recall seeing Punishment of Luxury several times in 1978 including a packed gig at Newcastle University canteen, and supporting local punk heroes Penetration at the City Hall’.

‘Punilux as they were often called, were quite quirky and unique in their approach. Although their music undoubtedly grew out of punk, their spiky staccato art-rock had much more depth to it, and their performances were very theatrical, strange and in some ways scary, with use of masks and dance’.

What other North East bands have you seen?

‘Last Exit, Sting’s first band, were excellent, Penetration the best North East punk band, I found Prefab Sprout quirky and great, Lindisfarne always magnificent and now we have Sam Fender who is exciting, plus many others’.

What changes have you seen in the live music scene since attending your first gigs and now ?

‘The growth of custom-built arenas. Sadly fewer concerts are held in small venues. However, my hometown Sunderland now has its own great venue The Fire Station’.

For  live reviews including Slade, Queen, Genesis, The Clash, Van Halen, Sex Pistols, The Who and zillions more check out Peter’s excellent music blog at: https://myvintagerock.com/

Alikivi   September 2023

FRIDAY NIGHTS ALRIGHT for New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, Avenger

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In the early 80s Tyneside based Avenger released two albums on the Neat record label – ‘Blood Sports’ and ‘Killer Elite’ both firmly planted the band on the NWOBHM map.

Fast forward to 2023 and their last show was three months ago in Spain at the Galia Metal Fest near Madrid…

“It was a cracking festival just in its first edition” said drummer Gary Young.

Next up is an explosive triple bill of classic NWOBHM on Friday 1st September. Joining Avenger are Spartan Warrior plannng an old school 80s set and an exclusive Venom set from Abaddon.

“I think we’ve played more shows with Spartan Warrior than any other band we know. We have a smooth working relationship with them and that makes touring alongside them very easy”.

“We’ve played with Abaddon too, and been friends with him for nearly 40 years! It’s always an honour to share the stage with him and the lads”.

The three bands will be playing on home turf at Trillians Rock Bar in Newcastle…

“We love Trillians….so much history, so many memorable shows there in the past – both as punters and playing. The place is essential to the music scene’s health”.

How influential has NWOBHM been?

“I think New Wave of British Heavy Metal has been a keystone to how current metal music has developed and that’s recognised by people especially when discovering metal for the first time.”

“When researching a bands history they can identify the whole legacy, for example Metallica were influenced by NWOBHM”.

After 40 plus years the NWOBHM North East Division of Satan, Raven and Tygers of Pan Tang are still breathing fire wherever they turn up.

“How has NWOBHM endured 40 odd years? Simple, the sheer quality of the bands”.

Free night of classic NWOBHM at Trillians Rock Bar, Newcastle, Friday 1st September 2023.

Alikivi   August 2023

Link to 2017 interview with Gary Young, Avenger:

YOUNG BLOOD – interview with Avenger and Repulsive Vision drummer Gary Young | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

WICKED GAMES with New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, THUNDERSTICK

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Flag bearers of the NWOBHM scene since the late 1970s and still delivering the goods now include Kev Riddles (Angel Witch/Tytan), John Gallagher (Raven), Rob Weir (Tygers of Pan Tang) and Barry Graham Purkis (aka Thunderstick). Purkis is best known for his time drumming with Samson and an early Iron Maiden line up.

“Samson were one of the first bands to release an album that was considered to be New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. And that was the ‘Survivors’ album” explained Purkis.

“We were looking for support acts to come out with us and guitarist Paul Samson knew a band from south London that he was good friends with, he recommended Angel Witch, so they were put on the bill”.

“We were thinking about a third band, I said ‘Well the band I played with prior to joining Samson was a band called Iron Maiden. Would you be interested in them?’ And Paul said, ‘Yeah, sure.’

Fast forward to August 2023 and Thunderstick, fronted by lead vocalist Raven Blackwing, are releasing a new single ‘Go Sleep With the Enemy (I Dare Ya)’.

Raven Blackwing explained “We wanted to show that the material on the new album follows an altogether weightier vein. Releasing a single from the album that people already know and love when we play it live seemed a perfect way of introducing everyone to our new direction.”

(Single taken from the 2017 album ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’).

Purkis adds “The new single is a tale of infidelity and the wrath of a woman spurned. I wanted to re-visit this particular track by way of demonstrating the heavier aspects of the new band that make up the forthcoming album. I felt this track was the ideal vehicle to do that.”

“With the new album now completed and ready for an October release, the collection of songs on it are the strongest Thunderstick have ever recorded.”

“I’m so lucky to have found the musicians that I now work with especially Raven, of whom I consider to be one of the finest rock singers around. She is the ‘real deal’ both in terms of voice and stagecraft.”

Upcoming live dates:

British Steel Festival Fismes, France, 7th October.

Legends of Rock, Ilfracombe, 10th November.

Thunderstick 2023 line-up:

Raven Blackwing (vocals), Pete Pinto and Dave Butters (guitars), Rex Thunderbolt (bass) and Thunderstick/Barry Graham Purkis (drums).

For further info/releases/photo/video contact:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thunderstickofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThunderstickUK

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thunderstick.official/

Roulette Records: http://www.rouletterecords.co.uk/

Link to 2020 interview with Raven:

THE LADY WORE BLACK with Thunderstick vocalist Raven Blackwing | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

Thanks to Darren Johnson at Crow Flies Communications.

Check out the full interview with Thunderstick at:

Darren’s music blog | News, reviews, interviews and more. From classic rock to contemporary folk. (darrensmusicblog.com)

Alikivi    August 2023

FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED with New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, TROYEN

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After re-forming in 2014 Warrington based Troyen have played a number of UK and European festivals but their first bite out of the NWOBHM scene was in the early 80s.

A big impact was made on the live circuit opening for Spider, Girlschool, Diamond Head and a European tour supporting Nightwing.

“We have many memories of gigs in the 80’s” said drummer Jeff Baddley.

“We almost left a roadie in an autobahn service station. We saw him frantically running down the road waving his arms to get our attention. Another time we parked our tour bus in an Embassy drive way – didn’t know that at the time – and were woken by armed guards inside the bus demanding ID”.

“When we opened for Spider they liked our track ‘Crazy Lady’ so much they wanted to buy it…we declined the offer”.

A demo, and first production job for Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies) was released in 1981.

Jeff added “It was a great experience, our good friends Nightwing were in the studio next-door. Gil Norton was great to work with. He was very young and very skilled. We recorded, mixed and produced the four tracks in three days”.

It quickly sold out earning a deal with legendary North East studio Neat records, but the band split before the ink was dry on the contract.

Fast forward to May 2024 – you can never be too early to advertise an event – and after a gig in Edinburgh, Scotland on the 18th, Troyen will be jumping over Hadrians Roman Wall to Newcastle Trillians on the 19th for a night dedicated to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

“Our new album will be out in May 2024 so the set will be filled with new tracks off the as yet untitled album, and classic back catalogue stuff” Jeff explained.

Trillians Rock Bar already has a number of NWOBHM events lined up this year. Dates from powerhouse metallers Tytan and Trespass, while playing on home turf and delivering bone crunching impact are Abaddon, Avenger, Millenium and Spartan Warrior.

Not forgetting a night with the now legendary Tygers of Pan Tang – al’ the way from Whitley Bay! Another band who’ve had numerous line-up changes and are still on the prowl after 40 years plus. 2023 has brought a new album and European gigs.

More live dates for Troyen are 2 September, Flames Still Burns Festival, Nuneaton. 6 October, The Carlisle, Hastings. 7 October, British Steel Festival, France and for 2024 so far 20 January, The Cavern, London. 18 May, Bannermans, Edinburgh. 19 May free entry to Trillians, Newcastle with special guests Culloden.

Troyen 2023 line-up – Jeff Baddley – drums/backing vox, Steve McGuire – guitar/backing vox, Mark Nortley – bass, Simon Lind – guitar/backing vox, Sy Davis -vocals.

Alikivi   August 2023

Link to interview with Troyen drummer Jeff Baddley in 2017.

BACK FOR GOOD ? Return of NWOBHM band Troyen | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

NIGHTS of NWOBHM at TRILLIANS ROCK BAR, NEWCASTLE

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The starting gun fires on Friday 4th August on old school NWOBHM at Trillians. They won’t be nights full of half arsed tunes. Expect red hot, heavy, driving sounds topped with power vocals – just the way you like it.

First up is Kev Riddles’ Baphomet, Kev was an original member of NWOBHM band Angel Witch who released their first album in 1980.

The record, along with the track Baphomet, always feature on any ‘Best of NWOBHM’ lists. On their last visit to Newcastle, Kev Riddles’ Baphomet played original Angel Witch classics to a packed house. Expect the same on a loud start to your weekend.

Another night of old school metal is a triple bill on Friday 1st September with Avenger, Abaddon and Spartan Warrior.

Spartan vocalist David Wilkinson explained “2023 has been a milestone year for Spartan Warrior as we celebrate 40 years since the release of our debut album, ‘Steel n Chains’, on the Guardian label”.

“We’ve played some well received anniversary shows where we’ve played our debut album live in its entirety”.

“As we have two shows at the same venue quite close together we want to give people something different each time. The 1st September set will be exclusively from the ‘Steel n Chains’ album and the second album only. November’s set will draw material from all four albums”.

That November date is set for Friday 3rd, a pre-Bonfire night with Kev Riddle’s other band Tytan. What to expect from Tytan? Chunks of melodic, epic rock with screaming riffs and Tony Coldham’s soaring voice. At the time of posting the band are on the road back from Germany after playing the Headbangers Open Air Festival.

Joining the bill are Millennium, frontman Mark Duffy explained “The first time Millennium played in Newcastle was when we were asked to do a reunion show for the Brofest festival in 2016 and we’ve played Newcastle a number of times since”.

“We know Spartan Warrior as they were on the Guardian records compilation ‘Pure Overkill’ along with Millennium. Although we didn’t get to meet them till around five years ago, we’ve since played gigs on the same events. We haven’t  played any gigs with Tytan before so we’re looking forward to that”.

Spartan Warrior’s Wilkinson added “We’re very excited to be co headlining the November show with our dear friends Tytan. We’ve shared stages before and it’s going to be a great night for sure. We also have a long history with Millennium who were our Guardian label mates, so in our 40th Anniversary year that’s a bit special too”.

Millennium’s Duffy added “I think the NWOBHM scene has lasted so long because it has produced so many good bands who recorded some great records. There’s also a younger generation who are now listening and discovering these bands for the first time and appreciating their music”.

“We’re looking to do some gigs with other NWOBHM bands and hoping to play festivals in Europe having played in Athens this year. But it’s always good to play home shows at Trillians – really looking forward to it”.

If that isn’t enough for ya’ on Thursday 23rd November at Trillians is a hometown visit from the Tygers of Pan Tang. After trekking around mainland Europe during summer they have arranged extra dates to support new album Bloodlines.

Alikivi   2023

LOVER, FIGHTER, HELLRAISER The Rise & Fall of Phil Lynott 1949-1986

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Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy, Black Rose tour 1979 Newcastle City Hall. pic Paul White.

Phil Lynott played the cool, sexy, rock star. The hot shot gunslinger with studded wrist band and clenched fist. The Rocker. But he was dead by 36. What happened in the last few years of his life?  

Thin Lizzy had been around since the early seventies releasing a number of successful singles including Whisky in the Jar, Rosalie and Waiting for an Alibi, and top 30 chart albums including Black Rose, Renegade and the imperious, Live and Dangerous.

The double album produced by Tony Visconti (Bolan/Bowie/Morrissey) in 1978 reached number 2, staying in the UK charts for over a year. Many critics label the record as one of the greatest live albums.

Although I never saw them in concert, I was in the Newcastle audience when they appeared live on Channel Four’s music show The Tube on 28th January 1983.

I remember watching a blistering version of Cold Sweat from the Thunder and Lightning album. The boys were back in town and at the top of their game. Or so I thought.

In comparison, I later watched a videotape of the show and thought the dressing room interview with Lynott was awkward and dull, he looked fragile. Was this the beginning of the slow decline for the Irish rock legend?

The TV show was only the second appearance of new guitarist John Sykes, formerly of Whitley Bay heavy metal band, Tygers of Pan Tang. His first gig was a few days earlier on BBC’s Sight & Sound concert – talk about being hoyed in at the deep end!

Lynott was more than happy with Sykes. He could see a new future for Lizzy. Cold Sweat entered the UK charts and another TV slot was scheduled for Top of the Pops.

But the band were dropped from the running order after a drunken Lynott was reported to have told the producer to ‘fuck off’ – twice.

Morale was low and cracks appeared amongst the team. Lizzy found themselves slowly falling apart through health and personal reasons. Eventually a split was announced.

1983 UK tour dates

So what was left ? The Thunder and Lightning UK tour included two dates at Newcastle City Hall, with a night at London’s Hammersmith Odeon and a reunion of past Lizzy guitarists, Brian Robertson, Gary Moore and Eric Bell.

“It was chaos” said Bell. “A mess if you listened to what was being played. It was a turning point in my life, after that I never wanted to hear those songs again. I suppose it was a good way of burying Thin Lizzy forever”.

Roadie for the band Peter Eustace explained “On the crew we all thought Phil was scared of success. Once you’ve arrived where do you go? And all you know is that these young guns are breathing down your neck”.

The future, well the ‘80s, belonged to the new chart soundz ! from the likes of Depeche Mode and Duran Duran. While a rejuvenated Queen, and soon to be Irish legends, U2, both benefited from Live Aid. Meanwhile, Lizzy struggled to play a few more dates in Ireland and Japan.

Their last UK show was headlining the Reading festival in August ‘83. The curtain came down on their final live performance in Nuremburg, Germany on 4th September, sharing a bill with Saxon, Motorhead and Whitesnake.

Fellow Irishman and Boomtown Rat songwriter Bob Geldof said “Phil couldn’t imagine a life not in leather trousers, with a limousine taking him to work every day”.

In 1984 a zoned out Lynott appeared on ITV’s Breakfast Show talking about his new band, Grand Slam, but also about his problems as a heroin addict.

He resolved to work hard, in rehearsals he drilled the band for eight hours a day earning him the nickname ‘Sergeant Rock’. Had the thunder returned?  

The band toured extensively throughout the UK and what seemed like victory soon turned into disaster as no major label offered them a recording contract. The industry was backing off.

In 1985 old friend Huey Lewis – from the News – spent time with Lynott recording in a San Francisco studio, but the old swagger wasn’t there. A delicate and tired Lynott only managed a couple of vocal tracks.

Although he did manage a UK chart hit in June ‘85 with Out in the Fields when he paired up with another old friend and former Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore. Cutting out management, Lynott made a direct deal with the label and received £5,000 in cash for being on the record.

But his darkest days were ahead with long days and weeks spent at his London home in dressing gown and slippers not answering calls or seeing friends.

Then out of the blue a charity concert was arranged to be played in front of a world-wide TV audience, it was made for the return of Thin Lizzy.

Live Aid saw The Who, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin reforming for a one off gig. But Lynott wasn’t asked. Did fellow Irishman and organiser Bob Geldof stay away knowing of his problems?

Co-organiser, songwriter & former Lizzy touring guitarist, Midge Ure said…

”To our dying shame neither Bob nor I even thought about asking Phil to put Lizzy together for Live Aid. If he had been in a healthy state that could have been the Queen moment for them – ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ – at Wembley? Jesus, can you imagine?“

“Why didn’t we do it? Was it that psychologically we had already given Phil up as gone? It’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life’.

There were rumours that Lynott was to play Jimi Hendrix in a biopic of the guitarists life, but nothing came of it. In the studio he was working on recording solo material.

Phil Lynott’s final public appearance was in December 1985 when he travelled to Tyne Tees TV studio in Newcastle to record a Christmas special for pop programme Razzmatazz, he performed his solo single Nineteen.

Ironically the presenter was David ‘Kid’ Jensen, the DJ who had championed the band in the early seventies. Also on the programme were Slade, who Lizzy had opened for back in the early days. Back when the fight was being won.

At home Lynott was visited by hangers on, pushers and gofers. He ended up surrounded by people, but very alone. In court on a drugs charge he was called ‘a drugs victim and a trajedy’ by his own solicitor. His close friends wondered where did he go? The musician, the poet, the man they loved.

Sadly, on 4th January 1986, Phil Lynott died of kidney, liver and heart failure. One of his close friends said “Phil didn’t die of a heart attack, he died of a lifestyle”.

Alikivi   July 2023

Research:

Phil Lynott: The Rocker by Mark Putterford.

Cowboy Song: The authorised biography of Philip Lynott by Graeme Thomson.

Thin Lizzy official website.