People in Dublin are just realising what Thin Lizzy means after 57 years
Thin Lizzy stands as one of Ireland's most celebrated rock bands, yet the meaning behind their name remains a puzzle to many fans. The Dublin outfit, which burst onto the scene in 1969, originally featured bass guitarist and lead vocalist Phil Lynott, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon, though Wrixon departed within months.Later, Bell also left the music group, with Gary Moore stepping in temporarily. By 1974, the band welcomed twin lead guitarists Scott Gorham, who remained until their 1983 split, and Brian Robertson, who stayed until 1978 before Moore returned.Moore's second stint ended in 1980 when Snowy White took over, before John Sykes arrived in 1982. The line-up grew further in 1980 with the addition of keyboardist Darren Wharton.Despite numerous personnel changes throughout their existence, the band delivered a string of massive hits. Classic anthems such as "Whiskey in the Jar", "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "Waiting for an Alibi" propelled them to worldwide acclaim.Yet, while their music is instantly recognisable, there's one crucial detail that eludes many fans. The origin of their name continues to baffle people.On Reddit, the subject sparked considerable debate when a user posed the question: "What does Thin Lizzy mean? I know it's an Irish band."The query generated significant discussion, with numerous people eager to offer their theories.One person explained: "The band's name came from a robot character in The Dandy called Tin Lizzie, which they adjusted to Thin Lizzy as a playful reference to the local Dublin accent, in which 'thin' would be pronounced as 't'in'."Another contributor added: "Dictionary.com: Tin Lizzie. A cheap, old, or run-down automobile (originally used as a nickname for early Ford cars, especially the Model T)."What's the real story?Despite the various theories floating about, the true origin was actually confirmed some time ago. First published back in 1937, The Dandy was a beloved children's comic magazine that remarkably stayed in print until 2012.Within its pages, The Dandy featured hundreds of comic strips, including the adventures of Tin Lizzie - a mechanical robot maid brought to life by illustrator Jack Prout.This character remained a fixture in the publication throughout the 1950s, leaving a lasting impression on the band members. During the late 1960s, when Eric Bell was searching for a band name, he suddenly recalled the vintage comic book robot and reckoned something along the lines of Tin Lizzie would work brilliantly."It was [original guitarist] Eric Bell", recalled original Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey. "We were throwing around ideas for a name after a rehearsal one night, and Eric suggested Tin Lizzie, who was a character in [children's comic magazine] 'The Dandy'."Ultimately, the name stuck, though Bell altered the spelling to Thin Lizzy as a lighthearted nod to their Dublin accent, where "Thin" would naturally be pronounced as "T'in."He recalled: "We all laughed at that one. But the next day, we were still trying to come up with a name, but nothing seemed right, so Eric again put forward Tin Lizzie."As we had nothing better, we thought why not? It was also Eric who changed the spelling to Thin Lizzy."
