Prior to 1976, they only had one hit with an Irish folk song in “Whiskey in the Jar” which they fashioned into a rock tune. Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy continued plugging along. SUCCESS AND THE END OF LYNOTT-ERA THIN LIZZY The approach would become a regular part of pre-New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Judas Priest. Phil Lynott had become a stronger singer and bass player and the band was one of a few pioneers of the lead dueling guitars style in the UK. By the middle of the 1970s they floated more into hard rock territory. Early on they did a mix of folk rock and rock n roll. The threat of canning Thin Lizzy saw Lynott turn things around and connect more with the audience at shows.Īlso important during the time was Thin Lizzy coming together as a cohesive band. It was when he was confronted by Slade’s manager over his lack of appeal. It was during this tour that he put his trademark mirror on his bass. Thin Lizzy would tour with popular British band Slade-known for the hit song Cum On Feel the Noize, which became an even larger hit in 1983 when covered by Quiet Riot. Lynott didn’t fully find himself as frontman until late 1972. Lacking stage presence, Lynott was planning to leave the band around 1972 to join a new band guitar virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore was forming.

With Lynott having a grasp of bass guitar and meeting guitarist Eric Bell and keyboard player Eric Wrixon, Orphanage became Thin Lizzy. Lynott took up rhythm guitar and lead vocals while still learning bass guitar.

BECOMING A FRONTMANįollowing his departure from Skid Row, Phil Lynott and Brian Downey formed a band named Orphanage which did covers of Bob Dylan and Jeff Beck.

Lynott was dropped as lead singer for singing off key but the lead singer/bassist and his best friend Brendan Shiels sold him a bass guitar and taught him to play. His most significant band before forming Thin Lizzy was as a singer for the psychedelic rock band Skid Row. Prior to that, he formed the cover band the Black Eagles in 1965.ĭrifting through a variety of bands at the time, he found his strengths early as not just a vocalist but a front man. During his time at Christian Brothers School, he would meet his friend and future Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey. His initial inspirations were folk rock and Motown. Young Lynott grew up in Dublin, Ireland and it was here that he was introduced to music from the U.S. His mother Philomena Lynott was born in Ireland while his father Cecil Parris was born in British Guiana-now Guyana. Lynott was born Augin Staffordshire, England. Philip Parris Lynott-best known as Phil Lynott-was the lead singer and bassist of the Irish hard rock and later heavy metal band Thin Lizzy.

Phil from skidrow