Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) & Neil Murray (Whitesnake) 1985 Interview (17 of 100+ Interview Series)

Aired on the Monsters of Rock Show on Sky Channel back in 1985. Enjoy.

[@bazzbling1]

i was with him around that time trust me he had not lost his charm at all! and he was writing some good stuff i was on some of the demos! he was smoking a lot of tabaco and drinking a lot too but he didnt think the rock and roll lifestyle would catch him up but we all lost an amazing talent, good guy, man. i lost a friend RIP Phillip Lynott you were good to me

[@WellStudied]

i read you blog; i have several of those stories... one esp with the Skynyrd band. Johnny told me i was one of the best singers he"d ever heard and that his brother would have loved me. Skynyrd was my 1st album. Johnny heard me sing and asked me to do a duet on They Call Me The Breeze, suddenly the lyrics just left my mind, and like an idiot i said: why dont you just do it with n my band? LOL...anyway, In my opinion, the short lived Sykes/Graham Lizzy incarnation was absolutely his best... so much harder, like Chinatown, hard rock driving bass beat up front. I think those two really raised his game... even his Blue took on a metal feel. Wow< Holy War was rockin. i loved the sound of Thunder & Lightnin, and one of his best works, critics trashed it. I cant believe they couldn't land a contract? i would have gone to someone like Rob Halford. Even after they rocked their BBC with a live show? Certainly one of his best performances i'd seen. I don't think Phil ever got the respect as a bass player he craved...and it's obvious he wanted to work around with other artists he idolized, but many probably thought he was too successful to do such a thing. Seems he really needed someone to advocate for him. Sad; because when I met him in '81, had i known it, I would've offered; esp after seeing that last incarnation. Everyone thought he had it so together.. yet inside he wanted so much more... and introverted, i don't think he knew how to get it. Had someone shopped that live BBC performance around in NYC; I think he would have landed that contract before the others walked. I would have told him he had to set up shop in or near NYC...if they wont come to you, then you go where they are. No A&R people are climbing up on Salisbury Hill.

[@TheJetfighter666]

@@WellStudied Philip was an ok bass player, He kept the bottom end blazing, but his song writing, his pride and passion is what he will always be remembered for. I saw them in their prime and on the ChinaTown tour. If he did not have to cancel the jailbreak tour because of Hepatitis, Thin Lizzy would have been huge in America. Missed chances in life, Timing is everything. Love this man forever and the guys!

[@renecruz8973]

Seen him Day on the Green Black Rose tour!

[@howarddominick3789]

@Van Hamza Yea, been watching on flixzone for since november myself :)

[@bredajbergin8387]

I would believe every bit of that . A truly charming man by all accounts. Never really been replaced in ireland or the world stage . Lots influenced by him .... but there was only one Phil...rip

[@ale22glam]

This interview is just pure GOLD. Look at Phill!❤❤❤ World class bass players.

[@johnoppjr5796]

Phil lynott was the king. Nobody Rock like the Lizzy. Twin guitars and all miss you feel you was the bomb Legend

[@_J17624]

There will never be another Phil he was truly one of a kind I wish he was still here

[@matthewhoney362]

I was driving though Hammersmith and looked in my mirror and saw Philip in the passenger seat of the car behind me. Nearly crashed. He passed away a few months later. I loved him to bits.

[@carolcarr7867]

I was in a little seaside town called bindiran when for some unfathomable reason thin lizzy played in a little Irish dance hall called the astoria. It was amazing. I met Phil briefly, he was very polite.

[@shaunamcintyre877]

phil lynott is probably the most talented person like i LOVE him

[@lastschicker]

"Making records is how you make your money" ... how times have changed

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

I noticed that one too 😂

[@Fanny-van-Feuerstein]

Heavy breathing ... it hurts hearing this 😢🙏 so sad Phil couldn't overcome this damn drugs. We miss you 💔😥.

[@rodneylee4026]

Funny how Neil and Phil kept trying to out compliment each other haha

[@markjonesdoc74]

I have not really listened to a lot of Thin Lizzy's music until recently, then my brother give me the Live and Dangerous LP, and as soon as Jailbreak comes blasting out I was hooked the twin guitars are fuckin superb, Brian Downey, on drums keeps beat perfectly, base of Phil Lynott, magic put most of all its his voice just the perfect rock voice, also Thin Lizzy are not just straight rock they experiment, with different styles, just sad to see how it ended, for Phil Lynott, by what I have seen he didn't get over Thin Lizzy ending they way it did, plus the Drug problems as well, but in music he will always be remembered, as one of the very best Musicians frontman, a truly great vocalist one of the all-time best..

[@pauln00b]

lol almost every band of that era n earlier since "heavy" music was invented, was experimental, what gave lizzy unique n amazing sound was likely that they were irish + phil´s genes.. as half black n half irish.

[@robertscott1112]

Welcome to the club

[@PaBasser]

I could listen to Phil talk all night long

[@rosedragon]

Me too beautiful Irish voiice❤😊

[@robertwilcox4482]

Neil Murray was fantastic on the Gary Moore s corridors of power and victims of the furture

[@commanderwilliamtriker7449]

Both class acts, bass players in a caliber that is rarely found today!

[@RcF1Championship]

Visit his grave if ever you gig Dublin,(Howth Cemetery) RIP Phil, LEGEND! She is hot !

[@tzum77]

iron maiden, thin lizzy, gary moore solo band, whitesnake... what a beautiful time

[@Chriskkboongg]

I absolutely love Murray's bass work on Strange New Flesh by Colosseum II.

[@alanfletcher9698]

No one has come close to Phil since he passed Still in Live with you

[@247Therocker]

I think Phil's twitching is a combination of his natural shyness and the fact he is probably "sober' for this interview. \m/ \m/

[@jocksmen]

30 YEARS ON.... OLD TOWN NEEDS RE RELEASED.?? RIP BIG MAN.

[@skygazer6898]

A talented man with a lot of charm and personality. Damn sad

[@shpadoinkle906]

9:54 Phil actually did guest on bass. 2 tracks for Swedish Heavy Metal band Heavy Load and Motorhead for their Birthday Party encore.

[@dannymcmince]

Great times to be young and into music...I love Phil...my hero to this day!

[@MarkBrydondrums85]

Wish some would make a biopic on Phil

[@mattonbass]

So thrilled to see two of my heroes at the same table. I only wish they were forced to arm-wrestle for John Sykes...

[@hazor777]

This was a phenomenal time for Hard Rock/Rock and Heavy Metal ( “Heavy Metal” was the tag used for many Hard Rock bands at the time) - so many great albums , both American and British . I wouldn’t trade coming up at that time for anything

[@paulbuxton1326]

2 great guys & nice players ! Loved Lizzy 🎶

[@bredajbergin8387]

Really is an icon . Sadly he was unwell here .

[@lilysmiles3195]

Sadly self inflicted. R.I.P. always missed

[@heyhey5712]

the back drop looks like the black rose album cover

[@BenKellyMusic92]

I miss Phil :'(

[@SuperRowdyone]

Miss you Philip Parris Lynott 💯🎸🤘🏻

[@jamesryan5436]

Huge loss to music both Phil and Gary . A great pity . But thankfully they left a fantastic catalogue of songs

[@LaCLAUSURAaudiovisuales]

Phil Lynott was like the Sammy Davies Jr. of Rock

[@alanfletcher9698]

Phil was the Military Man. What a Legend . Miss him so Bad

[@jondenmark9577]

Great interview with Phil you don't see many glad he did it RIP Phil you got Gary moore with you now up in the rock n roll heaven with all the other great rockers who are sadly not with us now there must be some amazing jamming going I am sure if you listened hard enough you would hear the sky rumble with all the Marshal amps blasting rock music out at 10 no 11 RIP boys rock n roll forever

[@thefonzkiss]

Sykes and Downey were going to be in Grand Slam. That would have been incredible.

[@grazynaprosc975]

Phil Lynott was a talented , poet , musician , composed , vocalist and bassist . One of the best vocalists of all time. With his beautiful , strong voice he sang in various musical genres .His beautiful songs pass from generation to generation .♥️

[@thesmanbrowne4561]

This VHS copy is fantastic, only people my age and older will appreciate stuff like this . I don’t care about the quality of the pic or sound , it’s taking me right back to being 14 again ❤

[@FatherAxeKeeper]

I'm young but i appreciate it as well. don't sell us all short please.

[@markferrett700]

I met Neil by chance,I was in The Royal Standard pub in Walthamstow, London....a small but popular music venue,when a Joe Satriani song was played.....it was loud so I shouted to my mate " I can't believe he (joe) sounds like that live" when a voice said from behind us..."yes he does"....,I turned round and it was Neil Murray.....what a humble,decent bloke he was....spoke to us for about an hour......top bloke.

[@jackthelad15]

Proper irishman was Phil so proud of his roots

[@Stewartchampion]

One was a good musician ..the other one was a good musician but also a rock star like no other...r.i.p.phil

[@renecruz8973]

Thin☘️🍀Lizzy & Black✟✞Sabbath🎻🪕🎸🥁🤘👨‍🎤👩‍🎤🤟

[@miguelfernando6236]

I don't know Whitesnake, but it must be so good for being in the same video with Thin Lizzy. I love Thin Lizzy. Phil Lynnot forever!

[@pauln00b]

2 awesome bassists. thank you.

[@timothysmith160]

Thin Lizzy Lifve, best live album every made!

[@watchpotch]

Didn't realise Neil Murray was so well spoken... quite posh! Great bass player.

[@lh5543]

lots of the british rockers were!

[@uncleambient]

He's a Jock !!

[@MultiFenners]

Posh Jock, they do exist! ;-)

[@BadgerBotherer1]

People were generally much-better-spoken and more-intelligent back then. An average person back then seems "posh" today. Everything's been levelled down, sadly.

[@taraalan1131]

BadgerBotherer1 No - it sounds as if he was Public School educated, as a good number of the better off were.

[@Thirdfish]

I saw Lizzy and Grand Slam and heard rumours Lizzy were going to reform then Philo passed away. I think had Lizzy still been around (the real band, not the cash in version) then they'd be huge.

[@eddiemuniz443]

There was a brief clip of venom with cronos.

[@samspade5824]

The end was nigh for Phil. He died in January the following year.

[@BEN14680]

sad to think phil was gone a yr later ,,,,x

[@NovaRack]

2:54 My, my...How times have changed....

[@petewoodroffemusic]

That girl presenter is hot hot hot Phil Lynott is a proper Rockstar and my hero RIP

[@rockdinosaur666]

Maybe she is hot but she's a crap presenter. Keeps interrupting with banal comments.

[@anthonydilligaf823]

We know what happened to Phil. What happened to HER!?

[@amadan9999]

Yea Phil looks to be all over the place,hes twitching like hell!

[@Marlondurran]

Fucking hard to look at Phillip like this. 😢

[@danny100ization]

poor phil R.i.P,NEVER FORGOTTEN,GARY TOO, seen white snake in belfast two weeks ago,,,,,fukin class r wat...

[@jeanniecampbell1374]

BEAUTIFUL TALENTED NEIL .

[@Danimal300zx]

Phil's breathing in 1985 is hard to listen to.

[@abxyz9346]

I've never really understood what happened with Neil Murray. Very solid bassist. After doing the hard yards with Whitesnake it was sad to see.

[@peteandurnot]

AB Xyz he's doing great these days. Met him a few times.

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

Two really nice guys

[@taekwongr]

Thanks for the post, Phil looks pretty messed up

[@jet7327]

R.I.P Mr. Lynott

[@austenj4539]

The debate moves on now [2019] to discuss any father should be allowed to desert their children. Phil Lynott was one of a number of male role models for many, like me during the 1980's and beyond, and yet he fell. The only spineless person, in my view, was his absent father.

[@jesuscampos8136]

Phil started to look a little older than his age in his last interviews. That alcohol consumption is no joke

[@dilwich]

Neil is the poshest man on the planet.

[@heavymetalhero08]

John Sykes was offered BIG money to join Whitesnake, that spelled the downfall of Thin Lizzy and ultimately Phil himself. Sykes was going to turn whatever he touched into gold during that era of guitar driven rock.

[@pauln00b]

well also their lifestyle n whole lotta touring. it was like either die with addiction or cut it out. phil couldn´t break with solo albums which were mostly pop rock..well watch the documentary i think it was pretty good.

[@azzamzamzam1822]

"Phil Lynott the Class"

[@gazwilwah]

Some of those old rockers sound very middle class and sensible.

[@willmac5642]

why oh why didnt he play at live aid ..same yr as this interview

[@RichieRich-71]

Yeah I never bought the fact that Geldof never thought about Phil for live Aid . Phil and Gary just had a top 5 record with 'out in the fields'. They could have done a great set I reckon ...out in the fields, military man, throw in the Boys are back in town ' ...would have been awesome!

[@ShaunSayinStuff]

The big fella was very cut up about that.

[@Kowasi]

Alan Byrne reveals in new book, Are You Ready? Thin Lizzy: Album by Album, just six months earlier Phil had been rubbing shoulders with rock royalty at Live Aid. Alan said: “Phil was backstage at Live Aid early in the day at Wembley Stadium. He’d gone up there with Midge Ure to collect a bass guitar. “He flew back to Dublin that afternoon and auctioned the bass guitar off during RTE’s Live Aid coverage.” Interviewed on the same broadcast Phil spoke of his pain about being left off the Live Aid bill. He said: “I’d love to be up there playing but, because I haven’t got a band and stuff like that, obviously it’s impossible, but I feel jealous when I watch it now.” www.thesun.ie/archives/irish-news/98548/uninvited-phil-lynott-backstage-at-live-aid-but-not-asked-to-play/

[@robertscott1112]

For the same reason that Phill wasn't on the "we are the world" song. Because they weren't top 40

[@ZIGSVIDS]

imagine saying "yeah,we have Done Airey on Keys" & then getting asked "oh ,who's he played for ?" lol got two weeks have you ?

[@maxg.-musician02]

And I think he almost predicted the future at 3:24...

[@IshmaelTsoka]

that was the time he should have had help, sad to see him trying so hard..

[@silentactor558]

Shes so gorgeous!

[@grgoldner]

My man Phil really fucked up on heroin here. RIP.

[@247Therocker]

The best line up Whitesnake ever had was Coverdale-Sykes-Murray- and Powell. Slide It In was Whitesnake's best album. To bad Coverdale's ego got the best of him and this line-up didn't last. \m/ \m/

[@Nissardpertugiu]

Its not about just of David s ego . John sykes wanted to replace Coverdale during his vocal recovery . Neil murray even confirm that . Thats why he was fired

[@thefonzkiss]

How fucking naive and ill informed. Sykes wanted to throw Coverdale out of his own band when he was having vocal surgery. That’s why he was booted. You can’t do that.

[@SuperHorsecow]

@@thefonzkiss I'm never sure why people spout that stuff. Theres no proof. You should check out Sykes' interview with rock candy.

[@thefonzkiss]

@@SuperHorsecow Read the book “Sail Away, Whitesnake’s Fantastic Voyage” by music journalist Martin Popoff and get back to us. Multiple interviews from people who were there.

[@nelsonnoname001]

If Neil would have turned to Phil and said, I heard you got a Bad Reputation, I would have pissed myself - Also Amanda... not bad... not bad

[@ChrisFormant]

Please if anyone knows who this particular presenter is? He had a TV show in the early 80's. Thank you !

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Mick Wall

[@ErikDeMann]

Profoundly missed, still.

[@uncleambient]

She's hot

[@rampageclover9788]

If only he had gone cold turkey that very night. For starters he wouldn't have entered '86 hanging by a thread. If Lynott stuck around for another year he'd have witnessed another four piece group from Dublin's inner city break the US practically overnight. That alone might have convinced him to come off the gear permanently If only....

[@nothx962]

Rampage Clover going cold turkey when you have rock star amounts of heroin would be so hard...phil thought he had everyone fooled. I'm 3 years clean and I had to wean down and surrender my credit cards, ATM card, keys, and phone to my mom. those 4 days of hell I'll never forget...dragging myself to the bath tub. but I was lucky. cheers

[@rampageclover9788]

Congratulations...and your right I guess. It's impossible to cure a 10-year addiction over a night. But weaning off perhaps could have been a start. Who knows...but it's just such a waste. He could have gone so much further...

[@rushback4997]

+Aaron Hildebrand RESPECT MY FRIEND..IM struggling with my own demons as i lost my soul mate bk in march ...im in so much mental & phisical pain mate

[@daviddaskalnojokeradio]

There are no ifs. He lived longer than he should have with all of his previous alcohol and drug escapades.

[@jamesryan5436]

The other 4 wouldn't have Been fit to lace Phil's shoes the music calibre of the songs and musicians in Lizzy are qualities that the other 4 are probably still looking for to this day

[@knightlove1000]

definitely like more Murray than Sarzo

[@themadmattster9647]

the bass line on ready and willing beats anything sarzo's ever done

[@thefonzkiss]

Sarzo has had a career stepping into bands playing other people’s parts. Ozzy band, Whitesnake, Dio ...

[@Motherloadrocks]

phil doesnt look so bad to me here,he is dressed well and doesnt seem like a junkie,seems shocking he would have died in about a year from this interview.

[@BaddaBigBoom]

Neil Murray looks a bit like a young Seymour Duncan.

[@nowitsabadtime]

How strange! That interviewer at 0:54 is always on VH1 in the states, talking about various musical acts. he wears glasses now, and has a shaved head, but its the same guy. he's been around awhile!

[@martymartin2894]

Mick wall is his name he writes for rock magazine kerang. He is mentioned in the guns n roses song get in the ring.

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

@@martymartin2894 Pissed off cuz his dad gets more pussy than him.

[@Danimal300zx]

The sunglasses is a trick many heroin users use to hide their eyes when appearing public. Guys like Eric Clapton and comedians like Artie Lange did it a lot too.

[@carolcarr7867]

Bundoran 1981

[@cruxmusique]

Must annoy Conor that he'll never be the coolest Irish man to ever live.

[@dharmaseed]

Not a lot of people know that Neil was in the progressive-Canterbury group National Health back before he joined Whitesnake. They;re about as far away from Whitesnake's hig-octane metal as you can get.

[@victorsantiago5470]

dharmaseed / he was also with 'Bruford' band's first carnation.

[@Nissardpertugiu]

High octane full came later for WS . Sure High octane always be present but it was far more diverse ( jazz rock chops , Soul groove) and gritty heavy blues . Metal and Hard rock always been a part of David no matter what he can say as well .

[@Nissardpertugiu]

Neil murray was in WS already in 1978 to 1982 then back in 1984 til 1987 .

[@dommccaffry3802]

Neil sounds so posh

[@renecruz8973]

⚛️☣️☢️🌡️🧫🪔⚗️🧪🔬🩹🩺💊💉🩸🧬🦠☠️🦷🦴💀🧠He looks like a stiff mannequin from the heron!

[@jexplink]

6:08 - How is Phil not distracted by the presenter? ;) She looks seriously hot in those stilleto pumps.

[@anthonydilligaf823]

Who is SHE?

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

@@anthonydilligaf823 Amanda Redington.

[@bathtubgeorge]

twicthing, lacking confidence, slow, and even sitting beside a real hot mama he's lost that charm, sad demise.

[@bepitan]

phil lynott is way way above murray in the bass playing stakes.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Neil Murray is alive and well.

[@bepitan]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 .. yep..bass points for staying alive.

[@Richard_Straker]

This was awkward to watch, Lynott looked uncomfortable.

[@renecruz8973]

WTH Phil is fidgety from all the heroin he shot up & dropping his microphone from it from being so antsy & stuff, itching & scratching his nose from snorting so much cocaine & his lungs, OMG the breathing sounds so heavy & shallow like the heroin addicts I see in the tenderloin! Poor Phil, my friend's wife Fam is actually related to Philomena the mother of Phil! I've seen Lizzy over 20 times in concert & Sabbath I've seen over 56 times in concert, Heaven & Hell 15 times, Dio & Ozzy 15 times, Rainbow twice, Purple 9 times....etc!

[@563421094]

He's posh!!!

[@43Thinlizzy]

@bazzbling1

[@TheMichaelseymour]

sounds a bit posh dont he ?

[@akira3287]

Phil didn't look good here :(

[@SuperRowdyone]

Neil Murray is in awe of Phil💯

[@venomagent76]

Who wouldn't be, I would be awestruck!