Brian Robertson (guitarist)

Brian Robertson
Robertson playing in a Thin Lizzy tribute band in Nottingham, 10 November 2007
Background information
Also known as	"Robbo"
Genres	Hard rock, blues-rock, heavy metal, rock and roll
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, cello, drums
Years active	1974–present
Website	Official website

Brian "Robbo" David Robertson (born 12 September 1956) is a Scottish rock guitarist, best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Motörhead.

Early life

Robertson was born in Clarkston, Renfrewshire (now part of East Renfrewshire), where he was educated, attending Eastwood High School and became a musician. He studied cello and classical piano for eight years before switching to the guitar and drums. He played in gigs around his local area with bands like Dream Police, who later evolved into the Average White Band.

Career

In June 1974, Thin Lizzy were auditioning for a new guitarist and a try-out for Robertson was arranged. Aged 18, Robertson was taken on along with Scott Gorham on the other lead guitar. The two lead guitarists provided a critical part of Thin Lizzy's signature sound, referred to by critics as their "twin guitar attack". During his time in the band, Robertson was a contributing member to five studio albums released by Thin Lizzy: Nightlife (1974), Fighting (1975), Jailbreak (1976), Johnny the Fox (1976), Bad Reputation (1977) and a live album Live and Dangerous (1978).

Although frontman, bassist/lead vocalist Phil Lynott was the primary songwriter for Thin Lizzy's material, Robertson contributed a substantial share of songwriting for the band, sometimes collaborating with Lynott and the band. Bad Reputation was the only record that did not feature his song writing and he performed on only two tracks from this album.

In Thin Lizzy, the unique twin harmony lead guitar sound instigated by Robertson and Gorham, contributed much to the distinctive sound of the band and influenced subsequent bands such as, Iron Maiden, Metallica and The Darkness. Robertson's pioneering, unconventional use of the wah-pedal as an extension of the instrument during soloing rather than as a purely rhythmic effect provided a boost to the band as well. In 1978 Robertson finally left the band and was replaced by guitarist Gary Moore, whom he had replaced in 1974.

Robertson formed Wild Horses along with Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain. Achieving only partial success in the UK, the band split up after releasing two albums, Wild Horses (1980) and Stand Your Ground (1981). In 1980 Robertson was featured on the Eric Burdon album Darkness Darkness. Robertson appeared for one performance of Thin Lizzy's final tour in 1983, alongside other former guitarists. In 1986 he recorded a cover of "Still in Love with You" as a tribute to Phil Lynott, appearing alongside Bobby Tench.

After this brief appearance with Thin Lizzy he replaced "Fast" Eddie Clarke in Motörhead, . He appeared with them on 21 May 1982 at Harpo's Inn Detroit and also recorded the band's King Biscuit Flower Hour sessions, remaining to record Another Perfect Day (1983). His last appearance with Motörhead was at the Metropol in Berlin, on 11 November 1983. His resistance to playing "classic" Motörhead songs, coupled with his relatively mellow playing style (by Motörhead standards) did not fit with Motörhead's music, resulting in sales of singles and the studio album coming in less successful than hoped for. He moved on to join Gary Barden's band Statetrooper until they disbanded.

In 2004 Robertson made a guest appearance with the band Ash at the Oxegen music festival in Ireland, playing guitar on their version of Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town". He was reunited with Lizzy band mates in August 2005 for a tribute show in memory of Phil Lynott, in a line fronted by Gary Moore. Robertson and Moore appeared with Brian Downey, Scott Gorham, Eric Bell and Jethro Tull bassist Jonathan Noyce.

During February 2008 Robertson returned to the studio to work on new material. He also made a guest appearances on The Bitter Twins debut album Global Panic!, which was released in 2009.

His first solo album Diamonds and Dirt, featuring Ian Haugland of the band Europe, Nalle Pahlsson from Treat, Leif Sundin from MSG and Liny Wood, was recorded in Stockholm at Polar Studios over a two year period. It was produced by Robertson, Soren Lindberg and Chris Laney. The album features thirteen songs, written by Robertson and others including Phil Lynott, Frankie Miller and Jim White. It was released in Europe through Steamhammer Records in March 2011.

He currently lives in Essex, England when he is not on tour or recording in Scandinavia, where he spends a lot of his working time.

Influences

Like many British rock guitarists, Brian Robertson was significantly influenced by earlier blues guitarists. Robertson's influences include Freddie King, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Peter Green. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons is also mentioned as a later influence.

Guitars

Robertson is often associated with the Black 1960 Les Paul Custom, with white/parchment (rather than black) coloured pick guard, featured in photographs on the Live and Dangerous album and subsequent video. However, in an interview Robertson explained that his main guitar remains his original Thin Lizzy Sunburst 1973 Les Paul Deluxe, albeit re-fretted (due to wear) and with 1959 vintage Gibson Seth Lover PAF humbucker pickups fitted roughly by his guitar technician. The pickups are sans the normal German-silver pick-up covers, a popular modification.

Although strongly associated with British Marshall amplifiers (100 watt non-Master Volume Superlead heads and 25W Celestion Greenback speakers), Robertson has been known to use Mesa Boogie (100W Dual Rectifier head) and Soundman amplifiers. The Jailbreak album was recorded using a Carlsbro combo. Robertson's original wah-pedal is a UK made Colorsound (rather than the CryBaby or Vox, which were more expensive at the time), although he sometimes used a Cry Baby wah wah in the 1990s and a borrowed Vox Wah in the "Still in Love with Blues" video (which he cut the rubber feet off, to the dismay of host Stuart Bull).

Robertson's use of the WEM Copycat tape echo unit was later replaced by a modern rack mounted digital delay unit. He used a Black Les Paul custom and mentions he experimented with "Boss Analog Chorus Delay, an MXR Pitch Transposer, Yamaha analog delays, and MXR 32 band Graphic EQ" during his Motörhead days.

Record producer Tony Visconti mentioned that for "Killer Without A Cause":

... Robertson plays guitar through the strange talk box, the simple gizmo that Peter Frampton made famous on his successful live album."

Discography

• Diamonds and Dirt (2011)

With Thin Lizzy

• Night Life (1974)
• Fighting (1975)
• Jailbreak (1976)
• Johnny the Fox (1976)
• Bad Reputation (1977)
• Live and Dangerous (1978)

With Wild Horses

• Wild Horses (1980)
• Stand Your Ground (1981)

With Motörhead

• Another Perfect Day (1983)
• :No Remorse (1984)
• The Birthday Party 1990

With The Clan

• That's All.... 1995

With The Bitter Twins

• Global Panic! (2009)

Interviews on DVD's

• Gary Moore and Friends: One Night in Dublin – A Tribute to Phil Lynott (2005)
• Motorhead Videobiography - double DVD (2007)
• Motorhead Overkill - double DVD (2008)

Interviews on VHS video (and YouTube)

• Still in Love with the Blues a JamTrax guitar tuition video/masterclass featuring Brian Robertson with Stuart Bull. The title is a play on Brian's signature Thin Lizzy track, "Still In Love with You".

External links

• Brian Robertson's Thin Lizzy era rig