The best Brian Downey’s movies

This is the long awaited 'Thunder And Lightning Tour'; the tour that was to prove Phil Lynott's and Thin Lizzy's last. The year is 1983, the venue Dublin and the stage is rockin'! To add to the already charged atmosphere of a concert in waiting, we have fast-forwarded in time to include nostalgic comment from Phil's band mates Brian Robertson and Eric Bell recalling their eventful times together, plus the indestructible footballing legend George Best and musician Brush Shiel, recalling their many memories of the rocker and friend. But all this is merely a prelude to what is a pulverising gig containing all conquering favourites such as 'Whiskey In The Jar' and 'Dancing In The Moonlight' and many more. The 'Thunder And Lightning Tour' is quite simply the greatest performance from a group who were at their electrifying best.

Filmed in front of a huge crowd at Germany's Rockpalast Festival, this 1981 Thin Lizzy performance is one of very few live DVD recordings out there that is an entire show. The band at the time consisted of Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, Brian Downey, Darren Wharton and Snowy White (guitars) who was brought in a year or so earlier to replace Gary Moore for the Chinatown album. Renegade had just been released and the band was in the midst of a world tour in support of the album.

Extremely limited eight disc (seven CDs plus NTSC/Region 0 DVD) collection of rare recordings from the Irish rockers. This release is collated from all of the BBC owned Lizzy recordings that still exist in the archive and charts the inexorable rise of the band: from the first steps as a three piece on the Decca label, to the glory days as one of the greatest live acts of all time. This collection brings together a raft of sessions and live recordings form throughout the band's career including the last concert with Phil Lynott from the Reading festival in 1983. Included also is a DVD of the bands sought after appearances on Top of the Pops and the Old Grey Whistle Test a well as concerts from throughout the band's career. This is a first for the band as these recordings have never been available in one place before. With comprehensive notes by Classic Rock's Malcolm Dome who tells the story of the bands history at the BBC. Universal.

Affectionate but honest portrait of Thin Lizzy, arguably the best hard rock band to come out of Ireland. Starting with the remix of the classic album Jailbreak by Scott Gorham and Brian Downie, the film takes us through the rollercoaster ride that is the story of Thin Lizzy. From early footage of singer Phil Lynott in Ireland in his pre-Lizzy bands the Black Eagles and Orphanage, it follows his progress as he, guitarist Eric Bell and drummer Brian Downie form the basic three-piece that was to become Thin Lizzy - a name taken from the Beano. Using original interviews with Bell, Downie, the man who signed them and their first manager, it traces the early years leading to the recruitment of guitarists Brian 'Robbo' Robertson and Scott Gorham - the classic line-up. The film uses a number of stills, some seen on TV for the first time, archive from contemporary TV shows and a range of tracks both well known and not so famous.