- Music
- 12 Jan 04
In summer 2003, Ash played their biggest ever shows to date at Knebworth and the Phoenix Park alongside Robbie Willaims. Tim Wheeler chose to sport a Thin Lizzy T-shirt for the occasion, paying homage to a lifelong hero.
“Phil Lynnot is one of my biggest ever heroes,” Tim explains. “It was Thin Lizzy that turned me on to rock when I was a kid. My big brother left home and left me his old cassette player and Thin Lizzy’s Live And Dangerous and a Wings tape. Live And Dangerous blew my mind. It’s my favourite album ever and it’s up there with Nevermind.”
“The fact that he came from Ireland and that they were an Irish band was very inspiring for me and gave me a great connection,” Tim continues. “The way he brought in segments of the ‘Mountains Of Mourne’ and the line about sweeping down to the sea was amazing to me because it’s only ten miles away from where I grew up. I loved that.
“He had a great sensitivity about him as well, even though he had this tough exterior. There was a great emotional side to him which he wasn’t afraid to show. He might have been tough, but you knew that he was a good guy. He was very charismatic and unique. The fact he was a black Irish guy was very cool. Great tunes as well with a hard edge and fantastic energy. Live And Dangerous proves that they were a bad ass live band as well. I wish I had seen them.”