Dublin, Ireland
Thin Lizzy: 1970 -1983
By: R.L.Schwinden aka MrZero
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article Nov- Dec 2011 (#9-I)
Thin Lizzy, what do you think of when this name comes to mind ??? Yea, sure “Boys are Back in Town” or maybe the only Black- Irishman Lead Singer, well there is way more to this band that that… 13 studio LPs, and a myriad of guitarists, and a load of changes.
First of all the name is pronounced “Tin Lizzy” after the comic-book character called “Tin Lizzie” from the comic “The Beano” as well as is also the nickname for the Ford Model ‘T’
*From the Trouble City…1969
It began in Dec 1969 when 2 lads from Belfast, Eric Robin Bell (3 Sep 1947 Belfast, Ire) on Guitar & Eric Wrixon (29 Jun 1974 Belfast) on Keyboards met 2 lads from Dublin; Philip Parris Lynott (20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986 Staffordshire, UK) of an Afro- Guyanese Father & an Irish Mother, on Vocals & Bass, he was tall and lean and he strummed his bass like a guitar player & Brian Michael Downey (27 Jan 1951 Dublin, Ire) on Drums. Now the fact that 2 lads from Northern Ireland hooked up with 2 lads from Dublin is a feat within itself considering the “IRA” conflict was in full bloom at this time.
*First 3, Decca Years…. 1970- 74
The band released it’s 1st 45 on EMI in Jul 1970,”The Farmer”/”I Need You”, now Wrixon left before the band recorded it’s first LP. Released Apr 1971 “Self Titled” the band signed to Decca released an EP “New Day” in Aug 1971 followed by “Shades of a Blue Orphanage” in Mar 1972. In an unlikely twist the band was asked to record an LP of ‘Deep Purple’ Covers under the name “Funky Junction” released in Jan 1972. In late ’72 saw the release of the band’s “Whiskey in the Jar” this reached #6 and lead to a “Top of the Pops” performance. Their 4th official LP “Vagabonds in the Western World came out in Sep 1973, Guitarist Bell left after a New Year’s Eve Gig due to ill health. Early 1973 guitarist Gary Moore (Robert William Gary Moore 4Apr 1952 Belfast, Ire- 6 Feb 2011 Moore died of a heart attack due to champagne and hoagie sandwich) joined the band to help finish up a tour and begin work on their 4th LP “Nightlife” in Nov 1972 Moore left in Apr 1974. The band hired 2 temporary guitarists John Cann & Berliner Andy Gee to finish up the rest of the tour.
*Messenger of Fate, Mercury years… 1975- 77
Now this is where it gets Great !!!! Lynott & Downey hired 2 new guitarists Brian David Robertson (12 Sep 1956 Renfrewshire, Scotland) & William “Scott” Gorham (17 Mar 1951 Glendale, Ca.) with a new record label Mercury, they release their 5th LP “Fighting” the 2nd using Robertson & Gorham. Thin Lizzy then unleashes their biggest success on 26 Mar 1976 “Jailbreak” is released (Fu Manchu released a great cover of this song in 1998) Stand out tracks to me are: “Emerald” & “Warriors” Robertson & Gorham had honed their patented duel guitar sound. Oct 1976 saw the release of what I consider their finest work “Johnny the Fox” the tracks I feel are the best “Rocky” “Boogie Woogie Dance” “Johnny” & “Don’t Believe a Word” this song caused some tension between Lynott & Robertson over writing credits. As well as Robertson sustained some damage to his hand in a bar fight so the band brought back Gary Moore for a 2nd time for a 1977 US Tour. In May 1977 the band records “Bad Reputation” as a trio with some help from Robertson and releases in Sep. 1977 songs I really enjoy “Killer without a Cause” & “Dear Lord” Thin Lizzy head lines the “Leeds Festival” in the UK.
*London is very Dangerous… 1978 -79
In Jun 1978 Thin Lizzy gets a new label puts out “Live and Dangerous” like many live albums of it’s day there is controversy over how much is actually live. This same year Lynott records “Daddy Rollin Stone” with former ‘New York Dolls’ Johnny Thunders. Gary Moore comes back for a 3rd and final time.The band tour Australia & New Zealand without Brian Downey who cited “fatigue” as his reason to stay home. Mark Nauseef (11 Jun 53 NYC) took his place on drums there is a DVD of this tour. In Apr 1979 the band release the 1st full LP with Gary Moore “Black Rose:A Rock Legend” stands outs: “Róisí Dubh” “My Sarah” & “Got to Give it Up” Unfortunately Moore left for the last time in Jul 1979. James “Midge” Ure (10 Oct 1953 Lanarkshire, Scotland) was brought in to take Moore’s place temporarily.
*Into the 80s brother… 1980 -81
While the Band was recording their new LP Lynott released a solo LP in Sep 1980 “Solo in Soho”. Thin Lizzy picked Snowy White (Terrance Charles White 3 Mar 1948 Barnstaple UK) Gorham had seen White playing with Pink Floyd and asked him to join. Also joining in 1980 was Darren Leigh Wharton (24 Dec 1962 Lancashire, UK) on keyboards. “Chinatown” was released Oct 1980 with “Killer on the Loose” charting because of the controversy of Peter Stucliffe aka the Yorkshire Ripper. The band went on tour for the very last time in the US. In 1981 Lynott & the band started working on songs for what would be Lynott’s 2nd solo LP and the band’s next LP tentatively titled the “Trouble Boys” and a single was released of the song in Apr 1981 however the name was dropped and changed before the LP came out. Thin Lizzy head lined the “Slane Castle” concert on 16 Aug 1981 and the next LP “Renegade” came out Nov 1981. I personally feel this was again one of the band’s finest hours stand out tracks include: “Hollywood” “Mexican Blood” “Angel of Death” .
*Do You Believe This To Be True…1982 -83
In 1982 the band was suffering from some issues. Lynott releases his 2nd solo LP in Sep 1982 “Philip Lynott Album” with some of the other band members contributing to this LP. White leaves the band in Aug 1982 stating, frustration from disorganization within the band. Sep 1982 Lynott hires former “Tigers of Pan Tang” guitarist John James Sykes (29 Jul 1959 Berkshire, UK) the band now revitalized and heading in a “heavy metal” direction records and releases their final LP “Thunder and Lightning” in Mar 1983 stand out tracks for me “Bad Habits” “Holy War’ “Sun Goes Down” a -farewell tour followed although it was not accepted to be the last, all former guitarists showed up and played various songs though out the tour, the exception being White. Concerts were recorded and a final “Live” album was released. The last 2 shows performed by the band were the “Reading Festival’ 28 Aug 1983 & “Monsters of Rock” in Nuremberg 4 Sep 1983 before they disbanded.
Phil Lynott died on 4 Jan 1986 in the hospital due multiple organ failure from excessive drug usage. Some of the members of the band “Nazareth” had said in an interview; “The only rock star we saw, who came close to the excessive (drug) usage of Tommy Bolin, was Phil Lynott”
“He’s a rebel, that has fallen down”.
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