Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy is an Irish hard rock band from Dublin, formed in 1969 and active in later incarnations after its original breakup in 1983. The group’s core creative force is Phil Lynott, the bassist, lead vocalist and principal songwriter, who helps shape almost all of its material. Brian Downey plays drums, and the band’s best-known line-ups also include guitarists Eric Bell, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson, Gary Moore, Snowy White and John Sykes, along with keyboardist Darren Wharton.

Style and significance

The band’s music is generally classed as hard rock, with other associated styles including celtic rock, classic rock, heavy metal, metal and pop rock. Its sound also draws on blues, soul, psychedelic rock and traditional Irish folk music. Thin Lizzy stands out for featuring musicians from both sides of the Irish border and from Catholic and Protestant communities during The Troubles.

Lynott is also notable as the first Black Irishman to achieve commercial success in rock music. He is described as writing or co-writing nearly all of the band’s songs and as the main driver of its creative output.

Line-up changes and later activity

The original line-up includes Lynott, Downey, Bell and organist Eric Wrixon, who leaves after a few months. Bell departs at the end of 1973 and is briefly replaced by Gary Moore. Moore is then replaced in mid-1974 by the twin-guitar line-up of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, with Gorham remaining until the band’s breakup and Robertson staying until 1978, when Moore returns. Moore leaves again and Snowy White takes over in 1980, before John Sykes replaces him in 1982. After Lynott’s death in 1986, different versions of the band appear, often led by Gorham and Sykes. Sykes leaves in 2009, and Gorham later continues with a new line-up that includes Downey. In 2012, Gorham and Downey choose not to record new material under the Thin Lizzy name and form Black Star Riders to tour and make new music. The band later returns for occasional concerts.

Releases and recognition

Thin Lizzy has several hit singles, including “Whiskey in the Jar”, “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Waiting for an Alibi”. Many of its albums reach the UK top ten. Its studio albums include Thin Lizzy, Shades of a Blue Orphanage, Vagabonds of the Western World, Nightlife, Fighting, Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox, Bad Reputation, Black Rose: A Rock Legend, Chinatown, Renegade and Thunder and Lightning.

The band’s label is Thin Lizzy Productions Ltd.