Lizzy Rules, Zep Drools.

The most underrated band in rock and roll? Perhaps. While Led Zeppelin bask in the glory of overexposure, Thin Lizzy languish in relative obscurity despite a run of amazing albums during the latter half of the seventies that outshine the parallel output of that oft-vaunted “greatest band in rock and roll history”.

“The Boys Are Back In Town” is the only Lizzy song that gets any play on the average ‘classic rock’ radio station (with an honourable mention to “Jailbreak”) and I was sick of it by the time I was fifteen due to its inclusion on every hockey rink DJ’s play list from here to Manigotorsk. But the “boys”, understand, were wielding $50 hockey sticks, not M-16’s. Back from a goddam road trip to Hamilton, not from Vietnam as Mr. Lynott originally intended.

Yeah, Mr.

Phil Lynott is a hero of mine, regardless of his propensity for drug addiction. Badass motherfo. Black and Irish? That’s two strikes from the womb, son. But he was brilliant and persevered in the face of daunting odds. A poet. As vital as James Joyce, Brendan Behan, and Oscar Wilde. While Led fucking Zeppelin were writing about occultism and lemons, Phil was holding forth on Irish history and, you know, reality. Life and such.

People going about their day, getting by in any way they saw fit, be they junkie, be they truck driver, be they smalltime crook.

Fuck Jimmy Page. Fuck Robert Plant and fuck Led Zep’s glorified bullshit indulgences. Give me Eric Bell, Brian Robertson, Scott Gorham, or Gary Moore any day of the week.

The last five minutes of “Rosin Dubh” (taken from the album of the same name) is my single favorite piece of music ever. Absolutely breathtaking fretwork; if you aren’t moved by it, you have no soul — whether there’s Irish blood flowing through your veins or not.

Phil Lynott is also one of the most underrated bass players in the history of rock and roll, and he did it all while delivering some of the most expressive vocals ever. Not easy, as anyone who’s played bass and tried to sing will know — it’s an entirely different game.

But Phil was always tasteful, always melodic, never needlessly busy or flashy.

His playing served his music and lyrics, content to lay the foundation for myriad guitar pyrotechnics without ever once forcing himself obnoxiously to the fore when he obviously had the chops to do so if he so pleased.

Sure, Lizzy dallied in soft rock occasionally, but who could blame them? When a band that good still can’t get airplay despite their obvious talents, they’re bound to try anything to get over. Besides, their more restrained interludes were often imbued with just as much heart as the more rocking excursions — “Running Back” and “Dancing In The Moonlight” are easily two of my favorite Lizzy songs.

But no one cares about Thin Lizzy other than their hardcore fans.

Hopefully this will change. Lately, they’ve been getting a few namedrops from the indie illuminati, with The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn — genius in his own right — quick to mention Lizzy as a major influence.

Lately, I’ve been trying my damnedest to win more converts.

I’ve even made my peace with “The Boys Are Back In Town”, mainly due to the renditon on Live and Dangerous — as good a live album as Live at Leeds, and that’s saying something. As a result, I no longer associate the smell of a hockey bag with those opening power chords.

And maybe it’s the Tullamore Dew talking, but I love Thin Lizzy as any half-intelligent lover of the finer things in life should.

Remember, you can do anything you want to do.

Rest in peace Phil Lynott.

And always remember…

There are people that will investigate you
They’ll insinuate, intimidate and complicate you
Don’t ever wait or hesitate to state the fate that awaits those who
Try to shake or take you
Don’t let them break you

You can do anything you want to do
It’s not wrong what I sing it’s true
You can do anything you want to do
Do what you want to

People that despise you will analyse then criticise you
They’ll scandalise and tell lies until they realize
You are someone they should have apologised to
Don’t let these people compromise you
Be wise too

You can do anything you want to do
It’s not wrong what I sing it’s true
You can do anything you want to do
Do what you want to

Hey you you’re not their puppet on a string
You can do everything
It’s true if you really want to
You can do anything you want

Just like I do

You can do anything you want to do
It’s not wrong when I sing it’s true
You can do anything you want to do
Do what you want

Hey you
No can do
Hey you
Yes you

Elvis is dead
The king of Rock’n Roll is dead
Elvis is dead