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PHILIP LYNOTT FATALISTIC ATTITUDES

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THE STORY OF THE PAINTING
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Philip’s Irishness was never in doubt but now we talked a lot about his black roots and black music. I loved Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and all that stuff, Philip was big into the Irish poet Yeats and beat writer Jack Kerouac (‘On the Road’).
Somewhere he wanted a synthesis and fusion of all these influences to flow into his music; he played me the master mixes of this album on a set of cans attached to a walkman as we walked the beach. I was proud to be involved but unfortunately, the record company wanted more hard rock, as is their right, and his dreams were shattered.
The cover was too ‘serious and dreamy’ so it went too. C’est la vie’.
Philip loved it so much I gave it to him to hang in his home studio. It hangs today in his mum’s house in a room dedicated to his memory. At the top left, on the original artwork, is a dedication: ‘To Philip. This one is for you. Jim’.
It was our last collaboration.

Postscript: For years I credited the wrong photographer whose pix were given to me to work from but it should be noted that this work was derived from a reference photo supplied to me by Philip back in the day that should be credited to Chalkie Davis who worked with Philip and Thin Lizzy for many years. I now presume that many of the reference photos for other portraits etc include his work but I have no idea which ones as yet. -JF

CORRECTION. This time I am correcting the record again.

The photograph that Philip asked me to paint this more ‘serious’ image from is by Denis O’Regan. I was mistaken to credit Chalkie Davis.

Philip was intent on changing his hard man image and if I remember correctly he sent me a bunch of images and we agreed this was the look he wanted. I think I also did a rough sketch too. The one thing I definitely remember was the fact that the record company thought it was far too serious for ‘the rocker’ and dumped almost all the entire ‘Fatalistic Attitudes’ album which was Philips finest work. I do have the final rough cut somewhere and it is truly extraordinary.

I was never paid for this either -and all my art for that period was just trashed along with Philips best work.

It took weeks and a few attempts to get right and Philip told me it was his favourite work of mine so I lent it to him for his Howth writing room but and never got it back after he died…. I do want to give it to Sarah and Cathleen once we have sorted it out. That’s a promise.

If Denis is reading this apologies for the error. I will make sure every entry with this image credits Denis O’Regan with the reference photo that inspired this painting, one of the very last works I ever produced for that creative genius.

Jim Fitzpatrick. 2019