Thin Lizzy

No Irish band in the 1970s made a mark like Thin Lizzy. The charismatic creative force of Phil Lynott was actually born in England, but his Irish accent revealed his roots and he inspired not only many Irish bands - including U2 - but many British heavy metal acts.

Eric Bell and Eric Wrixon, who had played with Them, met Lynott and drummer Brian Downey playing in Dublin with the band Orphanage. They pooled their forces into Thin Lizzy and, with a no holds barred musical approach, quickly built an avid following. After Wrixon's departure, the band moved to London and had a breakthrough hit in 1972 with a rock cover of the old folk song 'Whiskey in the Jar'. Although hampered by regular personnel changes, the band then came back powerfully with the 1976 album 'Jailbreak' and its anthemic single 'The Boys Are Back in Town'. Other storming hits followed but they had dried up by the end of the decade and the band split in 1982.

Lynott went on to make two solo albums although drug addiction took its toll and he died in 1986. The remaining members have sporadically re-formed the band in Lynott's absence, performing at rock festivals and supporting AC/DC on tour. In 2009 a new line-up was announced along with a European tour and again in 2016 to mark the band's 40th anniversary.