Hey everyone and especially Thin Lizzy fans.
Decca Records, now part of Universal worldwide, have kindly given me my copy of the beautiful and compelling re-release of the Thin Lizzy epic ‘Vagabonds of the Western World’.
This is one beautiful boxed set package and it is amazing how well my work has stood the test of time. Yep, 50 years is a damn long time and so hard to believe that much time has passed.
THE GANG OF FOUR
Now when I look back I always end up in that special place in the early 1970s when our impromptu ‘Gang of Four’ were out and about in London and partying every weekend. I was staying with Philip in WelBeck Mansions until Frank invited me to take a room in his house, off the Kings Road near Chelsea.
Meanwhile I had a desk to work from every day in the studio ‘The Drawing Room’ in Wardour street, smack in the middle of Soho, a really wild crazy place back then.
That gang of four was myself, Philip Lynott, photographer Tom Collins and Frank Murray, Philips best mate and later Pogues manager. We got to hang out and spend so much time together in Dublin and London in the early 70s.
Looking back I don’t think I have ever had such a great time and a laugh with such a bunch of funny, witty, lovely guys and with Philip now making a few bob we could afford to go out for the occasional meal now.
Worth noting this was unlike earlier when he was so skint I took himself and his then partner, Gale, up to the corner Chinese restaurant in West Hampstead for a fine meal to celebrate my own gathering of a nice few quid owed from the agency that represented me in London, Alan Aldridge Associates, later ‘The Drawing Room’.
I did not mention to Philip that I was doing a ton of art for Polydor Records, London, back then and was slowly digging myself out of serious debt in the middle of the worst recessions ever. At that time Philip was relaxed about my other work as we were all pretty broke but later he insisted I work only for Lizzy and he made sure I was well paid too.
My memory of that period was and still is, bathed in sunlight of youth. I forget were we all just kids and so immature compared to young people today.
It was a period of very long hot summers and London was wildly exciting and vibrant, with so much talent artistically and musically. The city was almost littered with so many famous names and so many stunningly, amazing and talented, people, mostly musicians, it seems like a dream but we lived it and loved it all.
With the release of ‘Vagabonds of the Western World’ in 1973 things changed for the band and now they were getting real recognition but still working day and night. There was such huge interest in the band I was even doing interviews myself about the cover themes and hidden meanings, thanks to Lizzy publicist Tony Brainsby and manager Ted Carroll.
50 YEARS IS A LONG TIME….
Fast forward 50 years and there I am in 2023 in Bruxelles Rock Bar, hanging with so many old friends like Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell, Skid Row front man and Philips mad pal Brush Sheils, Jim Lockhart of Horslip and a surprise visitor, Philip’s son, Dara Lambe, plus loads of the old lags at the launch of this stunning new boxed set for Thin Lizzy ‘Vagabonds of the Western World’ in Bruxelles last week.
Special thanks to the Universal executive, Francesca, who organized and looked after us rowdies for two days and made sure we all turned up and a big thanks to all at Decca and Universal.
This is one fantastic set, digitally restored and full of amazing stuff.
More later when I get to open and photograph my own copy over the weekend.
PS. I love that Vagabonds mural on the front of Universal’s office on Aungier street, Dublin.