Black History Month: Phil Lynott

Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images

For Black History Month this week we honor the life of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott.

Lynott was born on August 20, 1949, in West Bromwich, England and moved to Dublin, Ireland at the age of four. Growing up, Lynott became obsessed with music and fronted several bands with his spectacular stage presence. After leaving Irish band Skid Row (not to be confused with the later group fronted by Sebastian Bach), Lynott picked up the bass and formed Thin Lizzy in 1969.

Under the guidance of Lynott, Thin Lizzy experienced great success with their hard rock hits including The Boys Are Back In Town, Jailbreak, and Don’t Believe A Word. Lynott veered into a solo career when Thin Lizzy split up in the ’80s and also released two poetry books.

Unfortunately, Lynott turned to drugs and alcohol for dependency during the last years of his life and passed away on January 4th, 1986 of pneumonia and heart failure due to septicaemia at the age of 36.

Lynott is still so missed today even as Thin Lizzy continues to perform with a new lineup. We will always honor the legacy and music he left behind.

Watch Phil Lynott perform Jailbreak with Thin Lizzy in the 1970s here: