Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I got a new DVD documentary/commentary yesterday and was watching it this morning. They showed Lizzy playing Wild One live and Phil was playing a jet-glo with a chrome pickguard. looked pretty sweet. now if i could only find some pics online of it.

He only played one in the early years. I believe that he switched to a P-bass around the "Fighting" record (1975).

I love Phil - woefully underrated songwriter. The '74-'78 era is the best. I actually have a few more pics if I can find 'em...

phil was awesome. i've got his likeness tattooed on my arm. he is the reason i picked the bass up in the first place after my hands gave out on me from drumming.

Chris, you and me both. Phil was arguably my first influence,possibly even predating Lemmy, as it was before I even picked up a bass (although the 2 were pretty close, timing wise). I love Lizzy so much (was actually talking to John Sykes, a later and current member, about Lizzy the other month as he's from Blackpool too and comes back up every now and again).

When I first decided I wanted to play I was resigned to trying to get hold of a black Kay P-bass out of a catalogue to be as near like Phil as possible (wanted a Rick but couldn't afford it), but my dad, who is a jazz musician, insisted that if I was going to be a musician I should have a decent instrument, and promptly came up with the bulk of the cash for my first Rick. I shall be eternally grateful.

I will never forget the first time I saw Lizzy live on the Old Grey Whistle Test; that (along with seeing Hawkwind live shortly after) was what convinced me I HAD to be in a rock band....

BTW, cool picture Chris; he's sorely missed by me. Phil had it all....

Loved Lizzy in the 70's too. 74-78 are the golden years as Chris mentions. Saw them a couple of times in the very early 80's, both killer shows...

I think Phil had a RM1999 in the early years even before the J/G bass. Anyone have a pic of that?

"Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak, somewhere in this town".

Hmm...perhaps at the jail?

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!

Sorry to get off topic, Shaun but that was cool of your dad. When I was 15 and put money down on my first Rick my dad was disgusted and muttered something about how that dealer "saw you coming!"

Yeah Jeff, I'll never forget that. He said something to the effect of "a musician is only as good as his instrument", and that was that...shame you didn't get the same experience. I realise how lucky I was.

Your dad's opinion is the same as I've always had. My dad's a little thick-headed, but oh well...at least he likes me and likes to hear me play! I don't think his opinions have changed much with regard to expensive specialty items, though. He seems to believe that if you can buy a bike at Wal-Mart for $99.00, then its completely insane to buy a different one at a bike shop for $800.00!

Back to the thread...I've got the above "Jailbreak" song stuck in my head now.(Where I work, we call that the "Daily Humjob!")

I've got tons of Lizzy bootlegs spanning just about every tour. Anyone ever wants mp3s, let me know.

I recently tried to play along with Jailbreak and found that Thin Lizzy tuned up a bit. According to my digital tuner, on both Jailbreak and The Boys Are Back In Town, the band was tuned up about a quarter step. Was that always the case with them?

Huh? 85% of all Lizzy is in standard, the other 15% being 1/2 step down.

"Jailbreak" is a brilliant album, one of the best pure hard rock albums ever, in my opinion. Every single song rules.

Phil was a wonderful talent. Great band, too. That guitar tone on "Jailbreak" is one of the best recordings ever of just pure guitar tone (and this coming from a bassist!!).

Their tuning is shifted off of standard pitch but definately not a half step.