Republicans Vs Thin Lizzy: Get Out Of Town

"I am really upset at Philip's music being used in Mitt Romney's campaign in a political way that Philip would not have approved of. As far as I am concerned, Mitt Romney's opposition to gay marriage and to civil unions for gays makes him anti-gay – which is not something that Philip would have supported. He had some wonderful gay friends, as indeed I do, and they deserve equal treatment in every respect, whether in Ireland or the United States.

"Neither would Philip have supported his policy of taxing the poor and offering tax cuts to the rich, which Paul Ryan is advocating. There is certainly no way that I would want the Lynott name to be associated with any of those ideas.

"There is nothing I can do about it except express my views, but I do want to be clear that I would not want Philip's music to be used in any way that could hurt a single person, and this is the effect of what happened with Paul Ryan using and abusing my son's music in that way. A lot of fans and musicians are very angry about it and I can fully understand why.

"There is a black President of America, which to me – as it would have been to Philip, as a proud, black Irishman – is wonderfully symbolic. I have a lot of time for Barack Obama, so to hear 'The Boys Are Back in Town' being appropriated by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in their campaign against him is deeply upsetting."

Phil Lynott's mum, Philomena, on Thin Lizzy's The Boys Are Back In Town being used to soundtrack the Republican convention. 

Quoted in Hot Press.

You'd think Republicans would have learnt by now that if they try and hijack Rock music, it'll turn round and bite them on the bum.

Ian Paisley Jr: It's A Sin (Still)

“I have huge respect for people no matter what their religious and social background. [When asked about his earlier outspoken views on homosexuality, Paisley Jr now says] I think I have grown up since then. I have strong Christian beliefs and moral viewpoints, but you have to realise that while sin is black and white, life is a lot of grey. You have to be mature about these things. I can strongly disagree with those viewpoints, but the point is how you disagree.”

House Magazine talks to Ian Paisley Jr, Democratic Unionist MP for County Antrim and Northern Ireland Assembly member.
In 2005 Paisley commented on the (Canadian) same-sex marriage of an aide to David Trimble; "It is really astounding that David Trimble should have had a man such as this giving him advice - and must surely cast grave doubts on his own political judgement. I think these sorts of relationships are immoral, offensive and obnoxious."
He told Hot Press magazine in 2007; "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong.
"I think that those people harm themselves and - without caring about it - harm society.
"That doesn't mean to say that I hate them. I mean, I hate what they do."
I still hate you, Mr Paisley.
His father, the former DUP leader and crazed loyalist windbag "Dr" Ian Paisley, founded the brilliantly named camapign 'Save Ulster From Sodomy'.
They didn't.