Thin Lizzy Biography

Thin Lizzy combined working class romanticism and Irish folk law with piercing dual guitar lines. Like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, Lynott was a poet of the downtrodden. And as a rare black man in the white dominated business of hard rock, his lyrics described the bitter familiarity of alienation.

The first couple of early albums failed to make it to the charts, then 'Fighting', released in 1975, caused more of a stir. The band’s compact harmonic sound and Lynott’s deep voice, perfect for his soulful lyrics, came together in 'The Boys are back in town'. The runaway success ensured record contracts and media attention for the next decade.

Frantically energetic, Lizzy went on a relentless tour that gained them a reputation as a superb live act. Lynott’s output was prolific. Lizzy turned out record after record, even though the lead guitar spot was a revolving door, with musicians lasting as little as a few months.

Moving away from solid working class angst, Lynott turned to writing more ambitious, literary songs and many of the fans drifted away, though the hardcore remained enthusiastic.

The band was wrung out by the mid 1980’s, and Lynott moved on to write solo tracks that dug into issues of class and race. In 1986 a cocktail of heroine, cocaine and alcohol stopped his heart. He was 35.