Cowboy Song

'The truest measure of the man we have thus far' - Mojo

'Affectionate, impeccably researched biography' - Mail on Sunday

'Head and shoulders above the usual rock hagiography' - Sunday Telegraph

The first biography to be written with the cooperation of the Lynott Estate, COWBOY SONG is the definitive authorised account of the extraordinary life and career of Thin Lizzy guiding spirit, Philip Lynott.

Leading music writer Graeme Thompson explores the fascinating contradictions between Lynott's unbridled rock star excesses and the shy, sensitive 'orphan' raised in working class Dublin. The mixed-race child of a Catholic teenager and a Guyanese stowaway, Lynott rose above daunting obstacles and wounding abandonments to become Ireland's first rock star. Cowboy Song examines his key musical alliances as well as the unique blend of cultural influences which informed Lynott's writing, connecting Ireland's rich reserves of music, myth and poetry to hard rock, progressive folk, punk, soul and New Wave.

Published on the thirtieth anniversary of Lynott's death in January 1986, Thompson draws on scores of exclusive interviews with family, friends, band mates and collaborators. COWBOY SONG is both the ultimate depiction of a multi-faceted rock icon, and an intimate portrait of a much-loved father, son and husband.

“Cowboy Song goes further - uncovering how Lynott's race, country, and complex family life fed into his singular poetry and music-- Irish Post”

An affectionate and unflinching book on Lynott . . . It's the substantive flesh Thomson puts on the bones of Lynott's personal life, though, that makes COWBOY SONG the truest measure of the man we have thus far - and a must-read for anybody ever smitten by Lizzy's fatally-flawed romantic. - Mojo

Well researched . . . poignant . . . revealing - RTE Guide

A genuinely sympathetic portrait - Uncut

An admirable book . . . there are times when Graeme Thomson's prose reaches astute heights and stirs recognitions - Irish Times

Affectionate, impeccably researched biography . . . an impressively well-rounded story - Mail on Sunday

Head and shoulders above the usual rock hagiography - Sunday Telegraph

Outstanding - Belfast Telegraph

Even non-Thin Lizzy fans will find much to fascinate in COWBOY SONG. Thomson's account . . . is absorbing - Irish Examiner

Graeme Thomson is the author of several music books, including Under the Ivy: The Life & Music of Kate Bush, described by the Irish Times as 'the best music biography in perhaps the past decade'. His biography of George Harrison, Behind the Locked Door, was included in the Mail on Sunday's Best Books of 2013. One of the UK's leading music writers, his work has appeared in the Observer, New Statesman, the Guardian, Uncut, the Telegraph, GQ, MOJO and Rolling Stone.

The first biography written with the cooperation of the Lynott Estate, Cowboy Song is the acclaimed study of the extraordinary life and times of Ireland's first rock star. Thin Lizzy's singer, songwriter and guiding spirit, Philip Lynott was a complex, contradictory character who combined the instincts of a wild man with the soul of a poet. Drawing on scores of new and exclusive interviews with family, friends, band mates and collaborators, Cowboy Song is the definitive life of a multi-faceted rock icon, and an intimate portrait of a much-loved father, son and husband. 'An outstanding piece of work . . . the definitive biography' Irish Independent 'An affectionate, impeccably researched biography . . . Cowboy Song does Philip Parris Lynott very proud indeed' Mail on Sunday 'An admirable book . . . there are times when Graeme Thomson's prose reaches astute heights and stirs recognitions' Irish Times 'Heads and shoulders above the usual rock hagiography' Sunday Telegraph 'Packs a real emotional punch' Spectator 'Outstanding' Belfast Telegraph 'A ribald, authentic, entertaining tale . . . This is no eulogy, but an honest, often painful account of the price of star power' Irish Examiner 'Meticulously researched, richly detailed . . . a compelling read' Classic Rock

'The truest measure of the man we have thus far' - Mojo 'Affectionate, impeccably researched biography' - Mail on Sunday 'Head and shoulders above the usual rock hagiography' - Sunday Telegraph The first biography to be written with the cooperation of the Lynott Estate, COWBOY SONG is the definitive authorised account of the extraordinary life and career of Thin Lizzy guiding spirit, Philip Lynott.Leading music writer Graeme Thompson explores the fascinating contradictions between Lynott's unbridled rock star excesses and the shy, sensitive 'orphan' raised in working class Dublin. The mixed-race child of a Catholic teenager and a Guyanese stowaway, Lynott rose above daunting obstacles and wounding abandonments to become Ireland's first rock star. Cowboy Song examines his key musical alliances as well as the unique blend of cultural influences which informed Lynott's writing, connecting Ireland's rich reserves of music, myth and poetry to hard rock, progressive folk, punk, soul and New Wave.Published on the thirtieth anniversary of Lynott's death in January 1986, Thompson draws on scores of exclusive interviews with family, friends, band mates and collaborators. COWBOY SONG is both the ultimate depiction of a multi-faceted rock icon, and an intimate portrait of a much-loved father, son and husband.

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