Surely, Thin Lizzy will stand out in most people’s minds when you mention Ireland and rock music. They have released timeless classics such as “Whiskey in the Jar” which came from an old Irish folk song that they never really wanted to do, and “The Boys Are Back in Town” which is probably there biggest hit between 1976 and 1980. In 1975, an Irish musician called Phil Lynott started a band called Thin Lizzy. He was unique among his generation in Ireland as he had black skin, although he had a strong Irish accent. He was born in Dublin 1951 with Brazilian and Irish parents.
The bands main influences came from folk music, on which they had been brought up. They started when he and Brian Downey, a school friend, began playing drums. They were playing in school bands frequently for the second half of the 60’s. Lynott joined Skid Row for a period as singer, and that is where he was taught bass properly.
When he left Skid Row, he formed a new group, Orphanage, with long time friend Brian Downey but they were still without a guitarist. In 1969, that had their work cut out as the scene was thriving. Looking back at their folk influences, Lynott remembered meeting a guitarist called Eric Bell, from Belfast. Bell had already played in a band called Them with Van Morrison. At the time Lynott contacted him, he was playing in an Irish show band. He was delighted when they asked him to join their current project. For a short period, they added a keyboard player but soon realised, they didn’t need him! They called themselves Thin Lizzy and were a popular live act.
Before long, word had spread across the sea and an offer from Decca records was soon announced. They had signed Lynott’s old band Them while he was working with Van Morrison. They signed the contract and moved to England. They made little impression on London’s audiences. Their debut album, released in the spring of 1971, was self-titled and became a big hit with their fans. It featured two of their best compositions, “Look What The Wind Blew In,” and “Return Of The Farmers Son.” Chart success was still a dream, as the other eight tracks never really hit the spot. Three months later, Decca went on to release a 4 track EP by the band, which featured new songs including a second part of the last song on their debut. None of these were chart successes either.
About a year later, they released its follow up, which is one of their best known. “Shades Of A Blue Orphanage.” Again, they failed to make chart success, although there were a few stand out tracks, which many Thin Lizzy fans will know. By now, they were under some pressure to prove that they did have what it takes, so they agreed to some reluctance to record a traditional Irish song. “Whiskey In The Jar.” This was released as a single in late 1972 and finally made a hit and came in the top 10 in early 1973. After this they were feeling confident again and decided to record a follow-up single. Again, this didn’t work for them and they were back to the drawing board. They recorded another album in the summer of 1973 entitled “Vagabonds Of The Western World.” This didn’t reach the charts either. Later that year, they recorded another single which didn’t seem to go anywhere either. By this time, Decca were getting fed up and gave them one last chance to prove themselves.
They recorded single “Little Darling” in the spring of 1974. This is when both sides said goodbye and Thin Lizzy were no longer signed with Decca. Their guitarist Bell was sick of all this messing around, so he quit and was replaced temporarily by Gary Moore. Whilst on the search for another record label, they came across a two new guitarists and moved to a 4 piece. Scottish Brian Robertson and Californian Scott Gorham. They found their new label Vertigo and finally achieved the success they had deserved all along.
Thin Lizzy came a long way since they started and although they went through many line-up changes and difficulties they came through and became one of the most well known classic rock bands.
R.I.P – Phil Lynott who died on the 4th of January 1986.
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