Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy - Drugs on the Road

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy - Scott talks about Drugs on the Road#statusquo #thinlizzy @ThinLizzyOfficial

[@binniemod]

Had the pleasure of meeting Scott in Glasgow, an absolute Gentleman and brilliant Guitarist.

[@wespaul9345]

Good guy. Glad he survived

[@GmanRockstar87]

Thank Jimmy Page for that cutting through . And of course the Supertramp ties too that brought him to Lizzy in the first place. Some can say otherwise but at least he maintained the longevity despite Phil's reluctance to admit he needed help in contrast

[@assrammington7961]

This guy is one of the greatest guitarist of all time easily. Love ya Scott

[@Lloyd1885]

Funny hearing an American saying 'tits up'... I like Scott, he comes across as a genuine stand up guy.

[@Nyquest]

He's a great fellow.

[@vibes..585]

Even funnier to hear him say ' Yer man ' like a Dubliner ..and sound like John Wayne 😅

[@StephenChadwick-rr5pm]

He's lived in the UK most of his life

[@anneominous7172]

Scott's an honorary Irishman.

[@transprtrg2599]

Scott is a solid dude, and most under-rated guitar player during Lizzy's heyday. Almost 40 years later, he reps this great band and its legacy quite well.

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

How do you figure he was “ underrated “ and why do people always say that? He was their main guitarist because the others came and went or were too high to perform. I know this for a fact, Scott was the most solid and reliable and was the best known. Underrated? I think not. I saw them twice in 78 and 79 and Scott shredded and was loved by fans.

[@texwiller7753]

Here we have again one of these 'underraters'.

[@anneominous7172]

@@thelastrebelshow1627 'Main' guitarist, but not 'lead' guitarist. The lead guitarist always gets the props - completely fair in Gary's case, but in my opinion Scott is above Brian. Brian got a lot of reverence, mostly for Live and Dangerous, but Scott's playing was always tighter. I get what you're saying, but to make the argument that Scott wasn't underrated for his ability is just ridiculous.

[@ValBoschi-ix9cd]

Such a brilliant musician, had his own signature... Him and Brian together. Oh yes

[@maxwellgordon9868]

Robertson was so good

[@shawnmcvey7789]

He was great with Gary Moore too. The song Black Rose off the album Black Rose is a particular favorite of mine.

[@ValBoschi-ix9cd]

@@shawnmcvey7789 Yes, but with Brian there was a very very unique syncopation between them that was very telepathic...I love Black Rose enormously since about 1980 and Gary is one of my faves of all time

[@shawnmcvey7789]

@@ValBoschi-ix9cd Well I mean Brian and Scott are the dudes who invented that sound. I wasn't saying it was better with Gary, just that Scott and Gary don't get enough credit for being so tight. I will say that the thing about Gorham is that he seemed to fit with everyone. If you look in videos, he's always having a blast on stage. Interesting lead player too. Very melodically direct but with an economic blues rock touch. There's also a dash of that 60s California vibe hidden really deep in there.

[@ValBoschi-ix9cd]

@@shawnmcvey7789 Yes, what I was originally talking about was the way Scott and Brian play in the gaps of each other had very unique vibe, I've never heard any two layers do that in the same way.........neither of us are contradicting each other, I'm just referencing and trying make more clear my original point......Scott was a major imfluence on me too...he's such a tasty and unique lead player as well....I still in love with Bad Reputation, Black Rose and Live and Dangerous...I also love to death early Gary Moore...recent viewing of videos of Brian have made me fall in love with his laying more than I did in the past....he was great...I so hoe he's OK

[@brianorakpohit]

Really interesting little video. It offer insight where you can pick that up. I mean, Scott clearly has an attitude where he rolls with the punches and sees the ridiculousness of drug habits. Phil on the other hand, though he had a great sense of humour, he also had a melancholy that came across as deeper set and more 'baked in' to his personality. His songs could be straight maudlin, and on the last album, so many tracks were autobiographical of his struggles - Sun Goes Down, Bad Habits, Heart Attack ('Mama Im Dying'). I mean it was part of Phils identity. I love Thin Lizzy so much man. Even the lesser albums were great - Renegade, Johnny The Fox, Blue Orphanage.

[@Nosmirk]

Would hardly call Johnny the Fox a lesser album... Maybe the two Snowy albums, but even those are far superiour to some of other bands best albums.

[@lucienlachance2852]

Such a truth... It only works for a really short time...

[@pgo301]

It's great listening to Scott, I know he deserved whatever he wanted to do with his time. That's his choices and he had that all for himself. His musical devotion was nothing short of great. Thanks for your works.

[@MusicAMovies]

Happy birthday William Scott Gorham! ☘️💖🎂👏

[@Quinkermarine]

One of the coolest rock guitarists ever, and such a great guy too...fantastic human being.

[@michaelthornburg2491]

I find it hard to believe that when people talk about the greatest guitar players of all time Scotts name is never mentioned. He has created some of the most melodic solos ever.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

It's because he's never been a showcase player. He's a through and through band guy. So much so, he gave all his co-guitarists in Lizzy a lot of space. He played great with all of them, and gave some an alley-oop on what would be career defining solos. I always found it interesting how he actually didn't use as many bluesy licks as his contemporaries. He always had a very direct and melodic sense but still had a "rock" sensibility.

[@billgoforth7426]

So true it works until it no longer works.. and it hurts and it hurts a lot..

[@gomezthechimp1116]

I think I may be unique in that I always preferred Gorham's solo on Still In Love With You (the live version). Also, his rhythm playing is stellar.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

@@gomezthechimp1116 Yeah he gets the nice maj7 vamp which worked perfectly for his style.

[@ScotticusZ]

TOTALLY agree. Scott's not just a guitar player -- he's a MUSIC player. His solo in Cowboy Song is one of my all-time favorites, not because it's a technically amazing fast string of notes, but because it isn't. It's a pretty, tasteful melody that fits the moment.

[@oscarvega1751]

LIVE AND DANGEROUS "IS" 1 OF THE BEST LIVE ALBUMS EVER. 🤘🤘🤘

[@Gerrys-Channel]

Scott rules! Thin Lizzy rules!

[@hazor777]

Musicians are restless souls , at heart- that’s why the desire to experience something altered is there

[@rustyneuron]

I think its even simpler than that. Musicians feel life more intensely and it is tempting to want something to slow that down or soften it. I've played my entire life, and finally got clean/sober about 10 years ago, but its still a daily decision.

[@robertloader9826]

A good guy, and about as cool as a rock guitarist ever got. 🤘🎸

[@evh22]

Scott Gorham is an abs legend - more than that a really lovely guy. Happened to see him and band members walking around B'ham Bullring on the day they had a gig at W'ton Civic. Couldn't believe a genuine guitar hero was there with passer's by having no clue! I got a pic with him and he hooked us up with tickets to go and see the band after hearing me and my wife couldn't get to go..what a top top bloke. I'll never forget that meeting and it really p1ssed my Mum off who is a HUGE Lizzy fan (She had already got tickets to the gig lol)!

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Thin Lizzy, Phil, Brian, Eric, Scott, Brian. Garry, John, Darren lead me and my young brothers astray as young fellows we followed this band THIN LIZZY all over the lands in all kinds of weather, and we had the times of our lives listening to and watching the greatest rocking band of all time playing live on stage from small halls to large concerts, Yes Phil and the boys lead us astray and we would not have it any other way> Gold blessings on them all

[@kromedome0101]

I saw the post-Phil Lynott Thin Lizzy in a local bar around 2000, Scott on guitar, John Sykes vocal. Great show.

[@bradnelson2637]

Same here…they were great!

[@fordchevinman4614]

Amazing guitar player.

[@roberttourville5219]

Stay clean and rock on brother your guitar playing is magic 💪🏆✨

[@PatrickC-oh1wy]

Awesome guitar player. Awesome dude. No BS here.

[@ChrisLegner-qp1yh]

Great player, great music, and a really cool stage presence that embodied 70's hard rock.

[@cosmicsunbeams]

I❤Thinn Lizzy! Forever!

[@davidjohannesmarker8835]

Drugs are not made fore pleasure but fore healing❤️😇😎💯

[@deathkampdrone]

Glad we still have this master virtuoso with us! And I like how candidly he explains what to many is veeery mysterious. Truth is just like he says; boredom will drive many to experiment. And when all you have to do is stay cool and be a rockstar, it even makes great sense. I guess it comes with a dangerous job like being in the coolest rockband of all time...

[@corinnewebb6424]

Love you Scott. Always will. ❤❤xx

[@eurozonedressage2817]

i use to have such a crush on Scott with his long hair and good looks

[@arnoldzilban8274]

Amazing man/musician and certainly a great survivor with great under radar legacy. Glad he's around with us.

[@jonathanbrain7283]

Thankyou Scott for your honesty,

[@tadpole1492]

Cool dude. Great guy. Love Scotty ❤️

[@Nyquest]

We agree!

[@randomguitarnote8887]

“Everything starts to go tits up after a while” im stealing this.

[@rc6981]

He was a part of one of the finest twin gutair pairings of all time What a f***N Band warriors of the road as well ⚡TCB⚡

[@dodibenabba525]

Wishbone Ash, Judas Priest and Skynyrd may contest that. Personally I was a mega fan of Robertson/Gorham.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Honestly he was fantastic with Gary Moore too. Watch him and Gary do Black Rose at the Phil Lynott tribute concert thing they did like 20 years ago. It's insane.

[@christervainio]

You did great, Scott and so did Phil and the others. Love Lizzy ❤

[@philipholmes5884]

He said "we need to stop this thing now"...but you hung in there Scott...with Phil til the very end...👍🏻

[@trevorhalliday793]

First saw 'Lizzy' on their 'Jailbreak' tour, mid 70's, what an album, what a band !!"

[@mebdoc]

Brilliant guitarist

[@reddiver7293]

So spot on about smack improving creativity for this very short time and then the creativity part of using, the inspirational part, that's over with.

[@kevinkhoy7171]

It was the 70's The Boardum on the road is True! To much down time at the Hotel Bar! ❤ Lizzy, Phil, Scott 🎸 💪🏻

[@ScottHarrison-dz6tz]

Happy 😊 birthday 🎂... Scott Harrison

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

love the honesty..

[@beefheart67]

Great Band RIP PL🎶🙏

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Scott Gorham is a team player. His work with Brian Robertson is legendary, but the one album he did with Gary Moore, Black Rose, is one of my top 5 guitar albums ever. I always loved his outro solo on Still In Love With You from Live and Dangerous.

[@mr.jazzbo2669]

That's Robbo playing the solo on Live and Dangerous. Gary Moore recorded the solo on the original studio version, then left. He also co-wrote the song. Robertson thought the solo was perfect and wouldn't change it, but it had evolved by the time of Live and Dangerous. I saw an interview where Gorham said he was jealous when Robertson discovered the delay pedal he used on Still In Love With You. Scott figured he couldn't use one in the band since Robbo had made it his thing. That's how I learned who played the solo. According to Wikipedia, Robbo considered that his signature solo and refused to let the band drop the song from live sets. When he left it bacame a showcase for Gary Moore again, which makes sense. Absolutely agree though, it's one of my all time favorite solos, and Gorham was fantastic too. He helped a lot with songwriting as well. The interviews with him are great. In another he says they stumbled on the double guitar thing by accident. The guitars were out of phase on a track on and sounded like they were playing harmonies, so they tried to recreate that sound.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

@@mr.jazzbo2669 I was referring to the outro solo. The tone and phrasing are classic Gorham. And if you really need confirmation, watch the live video. Robbo solos over the verse.

[@mr.jazzbo2669]

@@shawnmcvey7789 My bad. Not sure how I forgot that Gorham played the outro. They're both great solos, but that dramatic outro is really the pinnacle of the song and Gorham shines.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

@@mr.jazzbo2669 We all forget things. There's nothing like soloing over the a major 7th one-four vamp. The interesting thing about Gorham's style is it's very direct and melodic while still retaining the vibe of a big rock guitar solo. You don't hear a lot of bluesy stuff from him, while Robbo is arguably way bluesier. Unless he's using a wah, because Robbo uses a wah like a filter. I've ripped off that technique quite a bit actually.

[@mr.jazzbo2669]

@@shawnmcvey7789 Using the wah that way can get some great tones. Michael Schenker did that as well, among others. Of course the wah can get overused. Lemmy said Robbo would be a great guitar player if somebody cut off his legs. The guitar work on Another Perfect Day is incredible though.

[@billgoforth7426]

One of the better ones. For sure

[@billmohelsky7812]

Scott's playing on "Opium Trail" is fantastic!

[@ScottDaddyMac]

Born in Glendale ,CA same town my parents and cousins grew up. Total So. Cal dude that goes to the UK to be part of one of the best bands ever. He is one of my favorite guitarists and I wonder if we ever crossed paths when I visited my cousins?

[@trevorspottiswood985]

Great musician.

[@davidfox7983]

Legend

[@fasthracing]

Top man.

[@Cal-jammer]

Such a shredder

[@poitor492]

I like scott he’s a good guy

[@richieflenniken9974]

Scott what a pro

[@Rachael-cn6dc]

Such a shame that Phil Lynott got into drugs 💔💔💔💔 what a Beautiful voice he had 💔💔❤

[@PedrSion]

His and Lynott’s drug addiction was the reason that Gary Moore walked off the US tour in 79. Yet Gary gets all the blame for Lizzy not making it over there !

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Gary never even really made it over here in the US. Still Got The Blues was big for guitarists, but a lot of guitar players I grew up around never knew who he was. I bought Jailbreak for obvious reasons, and tore through their catalogue. That's how I came to know Gary Moore.

[@darrengeraghty897]

That was the rock n roll lifestyle back then not all but many were effected by drugs and some great music was created .people talk about a drug of choice well heroin is the drug of no choice those sneaky poppys have dark mind altering powers for many a death sentence especially where needles are involved so much talent and good people fell into the trap that it is..

[@PedrSion]

@@shawnmcvey7789 you’re right about Gary’s popularity in the US, but he seems to have a lot more recognition since he died, but not in Rolling Stone magazine. He’s the GOAT for me.

[@AndrewSkinburn]

Gary was a heavy user. That's what I've heard.

[@shanghunter7697]

@@AndrewSkinburn Always listen to what others tell you !! Work for the gov ???

[@peteyoung7665]

Scott is the best!A lot of people dont realise or don't know.Is that a lot of the guitar solos are actually Scott and not Brian Robertson or Gary Moore.The best solos on Jailbreak and Black Rose is Scott.Even Gary said so.

[@mrmaxaxl]

I would love to party with this guy 🥳

[@bm7760]

Lizzy were such a great band. Scott did his part as a member of the band rather than as someone trying to make a name for himself. Who remembers 'Cold Sweat' on that late-night Chris Tarrant show (OTT?). Bloody great. Sykes was a bit of a ponce, mind. ;-)

[@dgcdgc856]

I went through the same. Touring is boring except for that hour or so your on stage and when your getting high you don’t wanna do anything but sit on the bus and get high. No sightseeing, no good food. Just get high and play the show that night. Things just get worse the more you tour until one day you find yourself in rehab or………… worse.

[@fredericprezeau]

Listen to Ballad of a Hard Man by Scott, a great Lizzy song !

[@petewoodroffemusic]

Great guy. Class player. Ibe it wasnt easy having a new hired gun come in all the time either! Pete Woodroffe Music

[@Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

LOL. First time I've heard the Tit's Up analogy.

[@guitarmandan9230]

First time I've heard an American use the phrase, quite common in the UK

[@adamweston4152]

What rock have you been hiding under 😂 tits up is a longtime term in the UK.

[@ThatGuyThanus]

👍👍 for tits up!😂

[@wespaul9345]

You don't hear that expression so much these days. Shame about that.

[@philwhelan3854]

I saw him play though that and didn’t notice it , just thought he was full of energy 81-83

[@KevinD-o8d]

Page got him clean

[@LaughingStock_]

It's "Paige", Elaine Paige.

[@stregadisalem732]

@@LaughingStock_ Nope, not that one.

[@sveinsigurdgismarvik4445]

Super group, Great music, clool Phil left too early, age of 36😮

[@Ama749]

So true. It starts out on the weekends having some fun. Then if you were like me and went out to the club every night you might do coke here and there. Alcohol is just a given. Then you try heroin and fall in love with it. Maybe the first time you puked but you'll get over that. From there you find your own private hook up that might show you how to inject. From there it's usually downhill: A full-time musician that once dabbled in drugs is now a full-time junkie that dabbles with music. From here it's rehab, jail, or R.I.P.

[@alltimers_dizzies7311]

The Cowboy Song!

[@adamweston4152]

My favourite thin Lizzy song!.

[@user-hf8ie8mf3n]

I never did drugs on the road. We always used the hotel table in our room. 👍🏳️‍🌈🤪

[@MG-jw6uy]

Yup being a fan had its horror also lol

[@martinheath5947]

The problem really arises when the class As become more important than friendship and family.

[@stevenr2463]

Yeah, thats how it is.

[@markreville6917]

Pete Townshend was once asked on some TV show why drug use/abuse was inextricably linked with rock music and dismissed the question as being a stupid one. I think it's an intelligent question to ask or point to make. What other branch of the arts is associated with drugs in the way that rock music was from it's Inception right up to this day ?

[@j.d.leslie8458]

Jazz also

[@MrPercussionPete]

Scott & Phil wrote rock history. So sad drugs got in the way, but hey, it was the 70's. In the rock world drugs were all over the place. It must have been a hedonistic era without any limits.

[@LaughingStock_]

Did drugs get in the way? Bands rarely carry on producing the top drawer goods. Lizzy had a helluva run.

[@robroyce6845]

Jail Break

[@antzw]

honest chat

[@grahamfisher5436]

so in down time In life.. smoke weed and snort coke . drugs fucked Phil up, they killed him 😢

[@Nyquest]

Don't cherry pick your quotes to overreact to please. Watch the whole message Scott kicked the habit Phil didn't.

[@kylestiller1035]

​@@NyquestPhil got seriously ill on the needle where Gorham didn't. It's just luck for Scott as opposed to Phil. It's how you play your deck of cards too.

[@StellarionPrime]

so thats why they split so quick ...

[@joefox9765]

The enticement of money Fame drugs especially in one's personal lacking or upbringing

[@MistaSCARY]

The devil 👿 thrives on boredom.

[@michaelstephen819]

Scott's face is bright red - compare with his hands. Something to watch, Scott.

[@stevenholquin2127]

Scott Went Too Glendale High School

[@terrencetally]

Actually he went to Hoover High School in Glendale

[@terrencetally]

Ed King of Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd also went to Hoover High. Ed and Scott were two years apart at that school.

[@pifflepockle]

That’s Christopher Reeve

[@pedemeyer]

This weird notion that drugs are the fuel of a rock n roll band are just crazy! Most of these bands would have been better, lasted longer and made more greate music if the hadn’t done drugs. Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy is a perfect example.

[@denysnuttall1706]

Largely ignored because of phil lynots stardom

[@fasteagle9959]

Being a professional musician is literally the only job where ITS OKAY to do drugs & alcohol while you work. It’s strange. 🤷

[@Monkeypole]

I've been a chef and a professional musician, I'd argue there's more druggies and alcho's in the chef world!

[@bswihart1]

I got professional with it alright! Then I got fired!

[@tommanna6137]

Rehab is for quitters.

[@morpheusspirit6609]

If you’re bored, instead of drugs, why don’t you just read books!! 📖📚 Ohhhh sorry!! Rock stars are not know for their intelligence!!🙁 (Unless you’re talking about Brian May from Queen!!)

[@marjorieturnbull8638]

This is what Rory Gallagher did and it didn't work either. I think like you do about the books-anything and everything is in a book, some people need more "excitement". I guess Phil always had a book also.

[@wbaconus]

Cliff Claven in an alternate universe.

[@gedbill4058]

Sorry Scott justifying drugs use does not wash with me.

[@dontsaythetruthytwillkillu5784]

How did he justify it, genius? Do you get triggered by everything? Are you an angry person? Professional victim perhaps?

[@CHRISTINEAZ]

When did he say that?

[@mcraft2240]

Why don’t you write him a nice long letter to help you sleep better at night.