On 4th January 1986, the world lost, arguably Ireland's most celebrated musician, poet, and icon. Phil Lynott's passing may have occurred four decades ago, but the Dublin man's legacy looms large, and in the city's 3Arena exactly forty years after the event, friends, colleagues, band mates and fans came together to celebrate his life and work for a special show dubbed 'The Dedication'.
Can it really be forty years since we lost Philip Paris Lynott? That's a question we put to Lizzy keys man Darren Wharton when we spoke to him back in December. "Yeah, the years have gone very fast", he offered, "but at the same time, it does feel like a long time ago. It's like another lifetime, especially when we've been around doing various incarnations of Thin Lizzy".
Those incarnations he's referring to include the post-Phil years - which Wharton qualified, saying; "any of the versions without Phil was always a tribute to the legacy and music" - and tonight, half of one of those will play a rip-roaring set that arguably steals the show.
First up though, is Grand Slam; Lynott's post-Lizzy vehicle, who in recent years have been reactivated under the direction of riff machine and Lynott writing partner Lawrence Archer. The last of Phil's right-hand men, it's Archer who kicks things off, firing though a number of familiar Thin Lizzy riffs before the show proper opens. Appropriately, it's 'Dedication'. that gets the evening started, before a rollocking 'Nineteen', and a ferocious 'Military Man'. Grand Sleam seem utterly delighted to be playing what is surely their biggest indoor show, and the audience respond in kind, lapping it up.
Next is the supergroup dubbed 'The Rockers' for the night, featuring 2010s' Lizzy members Ricky Warwick, Marko Mendoza, and Guns n' Roses man Richard Fortus. The latter may have only just made it into the the country following two days of flight issues, but it doesn't show, as his tasty soloing betrays any signs of fatigue. Having played together for a number of years, they're the tightest, musically of all of tonight's acts. with highlight's including a storming 'Are you Ready'. a rare outing for 'Do Anything You Want to', and a magical 'Cowboy Song'.
Reminding everyone why we're here, Warwick offers; "tonight is a celebration of the greatest fuckin front man that ever was!", to huge cheers.
Bringing a complete change of pace, the RTE Orchestra give the Lynott songbook a different feel entirely. It works best on the genteel numbers, such as the stunning 'A Song For While I'm Away' and ode to his hometown, 'Dublin', which are sang with convection and reverence by star of musical 'Moonlight - the Philip Lynott Enigma', Peter M. Smith. Elsewhere, Wharton joins for an epic take on 'The Sun Goes Down', while Warwick's return for 'Dancing in the Moonlight' brings the loudest cheers so far.
In the most unexpected turn of the evening, members of the Nation Children's Choir - consisting of around 100 young singers - follow, with a brace of tracks including a most unique take on 'The Boys are Back in Town'.
Taking to the stage ahead of the final act, organiser Lloyd Barber expresses his thanks to all for attending and taking part, while offering his own thoughts on what Phil Lynott meant to him, while DJ and compare Dave Fanning shares some personal stories about working with the band leader over the years.
And so it falls to Darren Wharton's Renegade to close out the night. Kicking off with a masterful 'Angel of Death', the man who once stood at the back of the stage with Thin Lizzy looks to be having a whale of a time out front and centre, foot on monitor and mic in hand. With a faithful take on 'Jailbreak' and 'Emerald' following, and later, a surprisingly brilliant 'Chinatown' - featuring a rogue appearance from Mendoza on vocals - and a moving 'Black Rose', Wharton takes it all in, confessing; "this is probably the proudest moment of my life".
All that's left is an all-star run through 'Whisky in the Jar' featuring original Lizzy six-stringer Eric Bell, as well as most of the performers who've been on stage tonight.
Sadly, there's no Scott Gorham or Brian Downey, and with at least fourteen albums of original material to choose from, the repetition of some of the songs could have been avoided, but these are small niggles.
A fitting celebration of the life and works of one of Ireland's most beloved sons.
Those incarnations he's referring to include the post-Phil years - which Wharton qualified, saying; "any of the versions without Phil was always a tribute to the legacy and music" - and tonight, half of one of those will play a rip-roaring set that arguably steals the show.
First up though, is Grand Slam; Lynott's post-Lizzy vehicle, who in recent years have been reactivated under the direction of riff machine and Lynott writing partner Lawrence Archer. The last of Phil's right-hand men, it's Archer who kicks things off, firing though a number of familiar Thin Lizzy riffs before the show proper opens. Appropriately, it's 'Dedication'. that gets the evening started, before a rollocking 'Nineteen', and a ferocious 'Military Man'. Grand Sleam seem utterly delighted to be playing what is surely their biggest indoor show, and the audience respond in kind, lapping it up.
Next is the supergroup dubbed 'The Rockers' for the night, featuring 2010s' Lizzy members Ricky Warwick, Marko Mendoza, and Guns n' Roses man Richard Fortus. The latter may have only just made it into the the country following two days of flight issues, but it doesn't show, as his tasty soloing betrays any signs of fatigue. Having played together for a number of years, they're the tightest, musically of all of tonight's acts. with highlight's including a storming 'Are you Ready'. a rare outing for 'Do Anything You Want to', and a magical 'Cowboy Song'.
Reminding everyone why we're here, Warwick offers; "tonight is a celebration of the greatest fuckin front man that ever was!", to huge cheers.
Bringing a complete change of pace, the RTE Orchestra give the Lynott songbook a different feel entirely. It works best on the genteel numbers, such as the stunning 'A Song For While I'm Away' and ode to his hometown, 'Dublin', which are sang with convection and reverence by star of musical 'Moonlight - the Philip Lynott Enigma', Peter M. Smith. Elsewhere, Wharton joins for an epic take on 'The Sun Goes Down', while Warwick's return for 'Dancing in the Moonlight' brings the loudest cheers so far.
In the most unexpected turn of the evening, members of the Nation Children's Choir - consisting of around 100 young singers - follow, with a brace of tracks including a most unique take on 'The Boys are Back in Town'.
Taking to the stage ahead of the final act, organiser Lloyd Barber expresses his thanks to all for attending and taking part, while offering his own thoughts on what Phil Lynott meant to him, while DJ and compare Dave Fanning shares some personal stories about working with the band leader over the years.
And so it falls to Darren Wharton's Renegade to close out the night. Kicking off with a masterful 'Angel of Death', the man who once stood at the back of the stage with Thin Lizzy looks to be having a whale of a time out front and centre, foot on monitor and mic in hand. With a faithful take on 'Jailbreak' and 'Emerald' following, and later, a surprisingly brilliant 'Chinatown' - featuring a rogue appearance from Mendoza on vocals - and a moving 'Black Rose', Wharton takes it all in, confessing; "this is probably the proudest moment of my life".
All that's left is an all-star run through 'Whisky in the Jar' featuring original Lizzy six-stringer Eric Bell, as well as most of the performers who've been on stage tonight.
Sadly, there's no Scott Gorham or Brian Downey, and with at least fourteen albums of original material to choose from, the repetition of some of the songs could have been avoided, but these are small niggles.
A fitting celebration of the life and works of one of Ireland's most beloved sons.