Philip Parris Lynott (20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986) was an Irish singer, bassist, instrumentalist, poet and songwriter, and frontman of Thin Lizzy. He was also a well-known Manchester United fan and used to hang out with George Best drinking till the early hours on many occasions.

His first bands were the Black Eagles, the Liffey Beats, Kama Sutra, Orphanage and Skid Row, a band that featured guitarist Gary Moore and bassist ‘Brush’ Shiels.

In 1969, Thin Lizzy was formed with guitarist Eric Bell and keyboard player Eric Wrixon, Their first top ten hit was in 1973, with a rock version of the traditional Irish song ‘Whiskey In The Jar’, then in 1976 they had their biggest international hit song ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’.

In 1978, Phil was featured in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of ‘The War of the Worlds’, singing and speaking the role of The Parson. And in 1980, he launched a solo career while still working with Lizzy in the background with the album, ‘Solo in Soho’ and the hit single, ‘King’s Call’, a tribute to Elvis Presley, featuring Mark Knopfler on guitar.

His second solo venture, ‘The Philip Lynott Album’ was a flop, despite the presence of the single ‘Old Town’ and ‘Yellow Pearl’, which became the theme tune to Top Of The Pops. In 1980, he married Caroline Crowther, the daughter of Leslie Crowther. Phil and Caroline had two daughters, Sarah, for whom the 1979 song of the same title was written, and Cathleen.

In 1984, Thin Lizzy officially disbanded and Phil collaborated with former bandmate Gary Moore on a number of tracks including ‘Out in the Fields’ and ‘Parisienne Walkways’ then later went on to form a new band called Grand Slam that did not have much success.

Phil’s last hit, ‘Nineteen’ was released just a few weeks before his death from heart failure at the age of just 36 in 1996. Phil’s death came as a terrible shock to his millions of fans but he had been struggling with drug and alcohol dependency for a few years.

In 2005, a life-size bronze statue of Lynott was unveiled off Grafton Street, Dublin, outside Bruxelles bar. The ceremony was attended by former band members Eric Bell, Gary Moore, Brian Robertson, Brian Downey, and Scott Gorham, and by Philip’s mother Philomena.

This August, to mark what would have been Phil’s 60th birthday, there was an exhibition of limited edition art prints of the singer at the Green Gallery on the top floor of St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. His mother Philomena Lynott was the guest of honour at the opening of the event with two live bands paying tribute to the late Philo: Glyder who recently supported Metallica in Marley Park, and a band called the Rockers playing covers of some of Phil’s many hits.

Philomena was absolutely delighted with the performances and really enjoyed celebrating her son’s 60th birthday with such a large turnout of dedicated fans. Phil will never be forgotten in Dublin.

Above: Phil with Thin Lizzy in the 1970s.
Below: Jason McDonnell, Diarmuid Graham and Philomena Lynott (Mother of the late great Philip Lynott) at an art exhibition in St. Stephen’s Green Dublin to commemorate Philip’s 60th Birthday.