Wish I'd Seen 'Em #8 - Phil Lynott

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Wish I'd Seen 'Em. It's a musical series about musicians that I wish I'd seen in concert, because they are now deceased, and I missed out. We are at #8: Phil Lynott (1949-1986.) Phil Lynott was best known as the vocalist/bassist/leader of the hard rock band, Thin Lizzy, while also finding success collaborating and performing with his former Thin Lizzy guitarist, Gary Moore. Lynott was, as pointed out by Wikipedia, the first black Irishman to achieve commercial success inside the rock and roll industry. Originally shy and reserved onstage, Lynott developed his charismatic stage presence during a 1972 tour with the British band Slade, after that band's manager threatened to throw Thin Lizzy off the tour due to Lynott's lack of onstage pizzazz. (Fun Fact: Phil Lynott inspired singer Huey Lewis, who, while touring as an opening act for Thin Lizzy, decided that he needed to become a better performer after watching Lynott play on a nightly basis.) What can I say? I loved this guy. Sure, he had a full-blown alcohol and drug problem, including a dependence on heroin, but I've never read or heard anything that suggests that he was anything other than a genuinely nice human being. Plus, he flat out rocked. And I never got to see him. (Info verified by Wikipedia)