Thin Lizzy - 'Inside Thin Lizzy (1971 - 1983)' DVD
                                                                                                            Released in 2004 by Classic Rock Productions


A brief history:
    Thin Lizzy, like most bands was actually formed guitarist Eric Bell.  But by 1972, with the release of the bands second L.P. 'Shades of a Blue Orphanage'.  Lead singer Phil Lynott took the band over writing such classics as "Sara".  Looking back on this L.P. it was a sample of the great songwriting that was to come from Phil.  After touring with the band Slade Phil along with the rest of Lizzy would hit the studio to begin work on their third release.  After hearing the quality of what was suppose to be the a-side of the first single "The Rocker" compared to the quality of the b-side.  Decca, against Phil's wishes, made the decision to reverse the two.  Even though "Whiskey in a Jar" is an Irish folk classic.  The mixture of Phil's acoustic guitar along with Eric's lead guitar rhythm will make the song Lizzy's.   Shortly after the release of 'Vagabonds of the Western World'  Eric Bell will leave Thin Lizzy.  Not giving up Phil asked long time friend Gary Moore to step in for Eric on the up and coming tour.  This is something Phil is going to have to do for the remainder of Thin Lizzy.  After a hard English tour Gary Moore also left the band. "Ultimately I left Thin Lizzy because I realized I was killing myself" Gary Moore.  Guitarist Brian Robertson and William Scott Gorham will join Thin Lizzy for the bands next release. It would take two releases 'Night Life' and 'Fighting' for the new line up to really get comfortable with the twin guitar style.  These days it is very common for a band to have two different lead guitarist.  But in 1974 'Wishbone Ash' was the only band to be doing this outside of Lizzy.  All the pieces of the Thin Lizzy master piece feel together with the release of  'Jailbreak'.  Still to this day almost twenty years later and the song "The Boys are back in Town" is still one of the greatest twin guitar songs ever written.  After a ballroom brawl  injuring the hand of Brain Robertson Phil once again enlisted the help of Gary Moore to do the tour guitar work.  Moore once again left the group at the end of the tour.  By the time the band released 'Bad Reputation' was released tensions had became so stressed between Brain and Phil, mainly due to alcohol and excessive drug use from all members, this would be the last Thin Lizzy release to feature Brian Robertson on guitar.  For the next couple of years Thin Lizzy will go through several guitar players.  Not long after announcing the hiring of  guitarist 'Snowy White' and releasing 'Chinatown' the band found themselves once again guitaristless.     Not only was Thin Lizzy without a guitarist but they where also on the verge of bankruptcy.   Manager Chris Morrison recalled, "In those days it was costing about 50,000 pounds a year to run Thin Lizzy.  Every person on that crew was on a bloody retainer, and the wages bill was enormous.  I work with bands today (1993) that cost 50,000 pounds a year to keep together, so you can imagine the extravagance of the Lizzy operation."  Thin Lizzy will hit the studio one last time.  1983's 'Thunder and Lighting' fans got a chance to hear new Thin Lizzy guitarist and future Whitesnake member John Sykes.  By many fans 'Thunder and Lighting' will be considered the bands best work since 'Jailbreak'.  The tour that followed was timely named Thin Lizzy's farewell tour.  sadly on Christmas Day, 1985, Phil Lynott was found lifeless in his London home.  Official report states that he had developed multiple internal abscesses and blood poisoning, as a result of which he suffered kidney, liver, and heart failure. 

Inside Thin Lizzy DVD:
    The DVD consist of interviews with five music business insiders; John Mckenzie, Rob Corich, Malcom Dome, Les Davidson, and Michael Heartley.  The five music business insiders break Thin Lizzy down album by album.  Laced within the interviews are pictures and live video shots of Lizzy.  The DVD is more along the lines of a documentary than anything.  I really have only two complaints.  The first is with Classic Rock Productions, I though they should have included a lot more interview segments with band members.  Outside of I think one interview with Phil Lynott none of the former band members of Lizzy are on here.  Which is a same because even though you do get a feel of where Thin Lizzy was coming from.  It is set up like third party information.  The second, is a comment made about John Sykes reforming Thin Lizzy.  Here is my thought, John Sykes reformed Thin Lizzy as a touring band only mainly for fan reasons.  If John was really wanting to capitalize on Thin Lizzy and/or Phil Lynott then the band would record a studio release.  Outside of these two minor complaints this is an excellent DVD that every Thin Lizzy fan should own.