Grand Slam (band)
Encyclopedia
Grand Slam or Phil Lynott's Grand Slam were a rock
band, formed in 1984 as the brainchild of ex-Thin Lizzy
frontman Phil Lynott
.
The name 'Grand Slam' was invented after a plethora of other band names had been considered, including 'Reactor Factor', 'Catastrophe', 'Hell Bent On Havoc', 'Slam Anthem' and 'Slam' (which was actually the name of a song Lynott had in mind), before settling on 'Grand Slam'.
Grand Slam had little commercial success, but they did release some songs of note, most of which have been accredited to Thin Lizzy, including "Nineteen", "Sisters of Mercy", "Military Man" (which was actually released on Gary Moore
's 1985 album Run For Cover
), and "Dedication." The latter became the subject of controversy upon its inclusion as the title track of the Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy
compilation in 1991. Originally recorded as a Grand Slam demo by its authors, Laurence Archer and Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy's management had former members Scott Gorham
and Brian Downey
overdub guitar and drum tracks, respectively, and in an attempt to pass the song off as a Lynott solo composition cut out Archer uncredited. The guitarist later settled out-of-court for a share of the publishing.
Although Lynott had originally intended to include two members of the most recent Thin Lizzy lineup, guitarist
John Sykes
and (after having been turned down by Motörhead drummer "Philthy Animal" Taylor), drummer
Brian Downey
. Downey declined, saying he "didn't see the point in making a second-rate Thin Lizzy", and Sykes, after much cajoling (as well as an impressive financial offer) from David Coverdale
, left to join Whitesnake
.
Lynott, although downhearted, carried on with his project, ending up with a line-up of Laurence Archer
(lead guitar; ex-Stampede, Wild Horses
, Lautrec), Donald 'Doishe' Nagle (guitar; ex-The Bogey Boys), Robbie Brennan
(drums), Mark Stanway
(keyboards; ex-Magnum
) and himself on bass guitar and vocals, as well as chief songwriting duties.
Lynott earned the nickname Sergeant Rock at the rehearsals at the E'ZEE studios in London
, due to his almost overbearing strictness and dedication to the rehearsal drill.
Lynott was keen to shed the 'second-rate Thin Lizzy' tag, and was adamant that they should only ever perform three Lizzy songs live ("Cold Sweat", from their 1983 album Thunder and Lightning, "Sarah", from Lizzy's 1979 album Black Rose: A Rock Legend
, and the crowd favorite, "Whiskey In the Jar", which can be found on Grand Slam's Live 1984
disc).
Grand Slam split up in 1985, due to their lack of commercial success, and inability to secure a record deal, although they were rumoured to be excellent live, and had a large cult fan following.
In 2002 and 2003, keyboardist Mark Stanway produced and released a live CD, Grand Slam: Live 1984
, and a compilation of Grand Slam songs, demos and interviews, Studio Sessions
.
Frontman Phil Lynott died on 4 January 1986 from liver, heart and kidney failure, due to his lifetime of drug abuse and alcohol excess.
Guitarist Laurence Archer recorded a solo album, titled LA, in 1986, and went on to record and tour with a number of acts, including Brian Spence, Long Island Red, UFO
, and Medicine Head
before retiring from the music business in 1994. In 2009, Archer reformed his old band, Stampede, who have since played a number of UK shows and are reportedly working on a new studio album.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, formed in 1984 as the brainchild of ex-Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
frontman Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
.
The name 'Grand Slam' was invented after a plethora of other band names had been considered, including 'Reactor Factor', 'Catastrophe', 'Hell Bent On Havoc', 'Slam Anthem' and 'Slam' (which was actually the name of a song Lynott had in mind), before settling on 'Grand Slam'.
Grand Slam had little commercial success, but they did release some songs of note, most of which have been accredited to Thin Lizzy, including "Nineteen", "Sisters of Mercy", "Military Man" (which was actually released on Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
's 1985 album Run For Cover
Run for Cover (album)
Run For Cover is an album by Gary Moore, released in 1985, and is often considered as Gary Moore's breakthrough album.The album includes a remake of the hit single "Empty Rooms" , one of Moore's biggest successes and top 5 single "Out in the Fields" the album's biggest selling single.The album...
), and "Dedication." The latter became the subject of controversy upon its inclusion as the title track of the Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy
Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy
Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy is a compilation album released by rock group Thin Lizzy in 1991. The only previously unreleased track was "Dedication", which was reconstructed after Phil Lynott's death using an old 8 track demo recording of the song to provide the bass and vocal lines,...
compilation in 1991. Originally recorded as a Grand Slam demo by its authors, Laurence Archer and Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy's management had former members Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham is an American guitarist and songwriter who rose to international recognition as one of the "twin lead guitarists" of the Irish-formed rock band, Thin Lizzy...
and Brian Downey
Brian Downey (drummer)
Brian Michael Downey is an Irish drummer.Downey is the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, and a friend from childhood of co-founder and frontman Phil Lynott. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in...
overdub guitar and drum tracks, respectively, and in an attempt to pass the song off as a Lynott solo composition cut out Archer uncredited. The guitarist later settled out-of-court for a share of the publishing.
Although Lynott had originally intended to include two members of the most recent Thin Lizzy lineup, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
and (after having been turned down by Motörhead drummer "Philthy Animal" Taylor), drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Brian Downey
Brian Downey (drummer)
Brian Michael Downey is an Irish drummer.Downey is the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, and a friend from childhood of co-founder and frontman Phil Lynott. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in...
. Downey declined, saying he "didn't see the point in making a second-rate Thin Lizzy", and Sykes, after much cajoling (as well as an impressive financial offer) from David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, left to join Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
.
Lynott, although downhearted, carried on with his project, ending up with a line-up of Laurence Archer
Laurence Archer
Laurence Archer is a guitarist. He is notable for his work with British rock bands, UFO and Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He was also a member of Wild Horses, Medicine Head and Rhode Island Red with Gary Leiderman Bass , Manolo Antonana Drums and frontman/actor/writer Mike Dyer before temporarily...
(lead guitar; ex-Stampede, Wild Horses
Wild Horses (British band)
Wild Horses were a British rock band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Wild Horses was formed in the summer of 1978 by ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson and ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain...
, Lautrec), Donald 'Doishe' Nagle (guitar; ex-The Bogey Boys), Robbie Brennan
Robbie Brennan
Robbie Brennan is an Irish drummer and a former member of Phil Lynott's bands Grand Slam Soul Band. Brennan has played with several of Ireland's musicians, such as, Christy Moore, Skid Row, Auto Da Fe, Jimi Slevin and the Electric Band, Paul Brady and Clannad....
(drums), Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway
Mark Stanway is a keyboardist. He is famous for his work with British rock band Magnum, and also with Phil Lynott's Grand Slam. He also plays with M3 Classic Whitesnake, featuring ex-Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray and Mick Moody....
(keyboards; ex-Magnum
Magnum (band)
Magnum are a British progressive rock band from Birmingham, England. Formed as a four piece by Tony Clarkin , Bob Catley , Kex Gorin and Bob Doyle in order to appear as the resident band at The Rum Runner night club Birmingham...
) and himself on bass guitar and vocals, as well as chief songwriting duties.
Lynott earned the nickname Sergeant Rock at the rehearsals at the E'ZEE studios in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, due to his almost overbearing strictness and dedication to the rehearsal drill.
Lynott was keen to shed the 'second-rate Thin Lizzy' tag, and was adamant that they should only ever perform three Lizzy songs live ("Cold Sweat", from their 1983 album Thunder and Lightning, "Sarah", from Lizzy's 1979 album Black Rose: A Rock Legend
Black Rose: A Rock Legend
Black Rose: A Rock Legend is the ninth studio album by Irish band Thin Lizzy. Released in 1979, it has been described as one of the band's "greatest, most successful albums"....
, and the crowd favorite, "Whiskey In the Jar", which can be found on Grand Slam's Live 1984
Grand Slam: Live 1984
Live 1984 is a live album by Irish rock band Grand Slam, released in 2003 but recorded in 1984.Issued as both a single disc and an extremely limited double disc version, the first disc is a collection of live recordings from Grand Slam's first three concerts, recorded from 30 March to 1 April in...
disc).
Grand Slam split up in 1985, due to their lack of commercial success, and inability to secure a record deal, although they were rumoured to be excellent live, and had a large cult fan following.
In 2002 and 2003, keyboardist Mark Stanway produced and released a live CD, Grand Slam: Live 1984
Grand Slam: Live 1984
Live 1984 is a live album by Irish rock band Grand Slam, released in 2003 but recorded in 1984.Issued as both a single disc and an extremely limited double disc version, the first disc is a collection of live recordings from Grand Slam's first three concerts, recorded from 30 March to 1 April in...
, and a compilation of Grand Slam songs, demos and interviews, Studio Sessions
Studio Sessions (Grand Slam)
Grand Slam: Studio Sessions is a compilation album by Irish rock band Grand Slam, released in 2002 , but recorded in 1984 ....
.
Frontman Phil Lynott died on 4 January 1986 from liver, heart and kidney failure, due to his lifetime of drug abuse and alcohol excess.
Guitarist Laurence Archer recorded a solo album, titled LA, in 1986, and went on to record and tour with a number of acts, including Brian Spence, Long Island Red, UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, and Medicine Head
Medicine Head
Medicine Head were a British blues rock band, active in the 1970s. Their biggest single success was in 1973, with "One and One is One", a Number 3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.-Main personnel:The group worked as a duo for most of its career, consisting of...
before retiring from the music business in 1994. In 2009, Archer reformed his old band, Stampede, who have since played a number of UK shows and are reportedly working on a new studio album.
Albums
- 2002 - Grand Slam: Live 1984Grand Slam: Live 1984Live 1984 is a live album by Irish rock band Grand Slam, released in 2003 but recorded in 1984.Issued as both a single disc and an extremely limited double disc version, the first disc is a collection of live recordings from Grand Slam's first three concerts, recorded from 30 March to 1 April in...
- 2003 - Twilight's Last Gleaming (Live album, the bulk recorded in London at the Marquee Club on December 4, 1984.)
- 2003 - Studio SessionsStudio Sessions (Grand Slam)Grand Slam: Studio Sessions is a compilation album by Irish rock band Grand Slam, released in 2002 , but recorded in 1984 ....
- 2007 - The Grand Slam Years (3CD box set collection of live and studio tracks.)
- 2008 - Glasgow Kiss (Live album recorded at Glasgow Mayfair on October 30, 1984.)
- 2009 - The Collection (4CD longboxLongboxA longbox is a form of exterior paperboard packaging for musical compact discs in widespread use in the 1980s and early 1990s in North America.- Background :...
collection of live and studio tracks.)
Singles
- 2002 - Whiter Shade of Pale
- 2003 - Whiskey in the Jar - Live