Cowboy Song The Authorised Biography of Philip Lynott The Authorised Biography of Philip Lynott

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 Thomson 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, Thomson 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.