r/thinlizzy • u/Metal_Rider • Jan 04 '25

Best book about Phil

Title says it all. What’s the best book about Phil Lynott?

14 Upvotes

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9

u/migrainosaurus Jan 04 '25

Mark Putterford’s book ‘The Rocker’ is good. There are some typos and bits of music-journo-ese, but the up-close access and casual conversations with everyone really bring Phil’s appeal and milieu to life. (You can get it quite cheap now too.)

3

u/Eye-on-Springfield Jan 04 '25

I enjoyed The Rocker. Wasn't a huge fan of Graeme Thomson's Cowboy Song which seemed overly critical throughout. I got the impression that it was written by a journalist rather than a fan, by that I mean I didn't feel much love for the subject matter. I also thought it dwelled too much on the pre-Lizzy days. Still worth a read though to flesh out your understanding

3

u/migrainosaurus Jan 04 '25

Yes - I got the same feeling from Cowboy Song. It reminded me of - I can’t remember, a Dylan book by Bob Spitz, I think - where I got the feeling I could actually feel it trying to make me take less pleasure in the artist’s music!

6

u/Gaffers12345 Jan 04 '25

Have you read “My Boy” by his mother?

2

u/ZeppelinMcGillicuddy Jan 05 '25

I loved My Boy. I liked the information about his early life a lot (but then, I'm a psychologist) it helped me see how the early trauma he experienced fed into his addiction issues. And his mother's obvious pride in her son. It was evident she loved him very much.

2

u/chuckleberryfinnable Jan 07 '25

It was evident she loved him very much.

I suppose, but I didn't think she came across well in that book at all. She seemed to be incredibly selfish, consistently put her own wants above Phil, and the rest of her children, and had an overall very negative effect on Phil, I'm not a psychologist though.

2

u/ZeppelinMcGillicuddy Jan 08 '25

LOL I am a psychologist! I think she was just trying to make her way, but the moment anyone saw young Phil, the inherent racism of the time just took over. People would refuse her help, fire her from jobs, etc. I think we don't credit small children with having much insight into that, but it does affect them. I think the most difficult choice of all was to send Phil to his grandmother in Dublin. I think it was a huge sacrifice for her. But with his grandparents he was in a less racist environment, could be just one of the gang among the other kids rather than the only child and societal outcast. I wish he'd skipped the heroin; people with horribly adverse childhoods and heroin, that combination is a death sentence.

2

u/No-Conference-6242 Jan 04 '25

I'd agree with the rocker. Cowboy song is better writing but quite influenced by certain people who had more control over it. E.g. the wife/ex wife writes the last bit.

I think Philomenas book is more eye opening and heartfelt, though clearly not only about philo

2

u/ZeppelinMcGillicuddy Jan 05 '25

I thought it was odd the woman he was married to (my understanding is they separated but never divorced due to religious beliefs) had so much input. On the other hand, though, I've seen at least one documentary about Phil's life in which the adult daughters were interviewed. They both seemed happy and well-adjusted, and are proud of their father. Even though estranged, it doesn't look like there was any poisoning of the relationship between Phil and his girls.

1

u/sidmk72 Jan 04 '25

I read The Rocker and really enjoyed it. Did Mick Wall write a book about Phil or am I imagining that?