On This Day: Phil Lynott, visionary front man of Thin Lizzy passed away
Fans across the world are reflecting on the incredible life of the Dublin poet and musician who passed away on January 4, 1986. His massive influence continues to shape the identity of Irish music and inspire countless artists today. Raised in Dublin, he would go on to found and lead Thin Lizzy, crafting enduring anthems like “Whiskey in the Jar,” “The Boys Are Back in Town,” and “Jailbreak.”
Phil Lynott, the frontman for the iconic Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, was born on August 20, 1949, in West Bromwich, England, to his Irish mother, Philomena Lynott, and his British Guianese father, Cecil Parris. By the age of four, Lynott was in Dublin, where his grandmother raised him in Crumlin.
Following a relatively happy childhood, Lynott fronted several bands, most notably Skid Row alongside Gary Moore, before learning the bass guitar and forming Thin Lizzy in 1969. The band had initial success with "Whiskey in the Jar," and then again in the mid-1970s with hits such as "The Boys Are Back in Town," "Jailbreak," and "Waiting for an Alibi."
Towards the end of the 1970s, Lynott also embarked upon a solo career and published two books of poetry.
After Thin Lizzy disbanded, he assembled and fronted the band Grand Slam, which he led until it folded in 1985.
Phil Lynott. (Getty Images)
Before his death on January 4, 1986, Lynott had a major UK success with Moore with the song "Out in the Fields," followed by the minor hit "Nineteen."
Despite his success in Ireland and the UK, it seems that Lynott was constantly trying to match his success in the US, where “The Boys are Back in Town” had hit the number 12 slot. He never charted higher than number 77 with the 1976 song “Cowboy Song."
According to Thin Lizzy’s Scott Gorham, the frontman had turned increasingly to alcohol or worse. Gorham said, at the time of his death, “I suppose he thought drugs would help him out of the low spots.”
Lynott died from heart failure and pneumonia after having been admitted to Salisbury Hospital in Wiltshire, England, on Christmas Day following “a drink and drug binge” at his home. He was survived by his two daughters and an estranged wife. Hundreds of mourners attended his memorial service, and he was buried in Dublin.
After Lynott’s untimely death, Thin Lizzy continued but ultimately retired in 2012. Several members of the group, including Gorham, now record as Black Star Riders.
Lynott remains a popular figure in the rock world, and in 2005, a statue to his memory was erected in Dublin, just off Grafton Street:
A statue dedicated to Phil Lynott in Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
Here are some of Thin Lizzy's most popular songs, all together on an IrishCentral Spotify playlist:
* Originally published in 2017, updated in 2026.
