Phil Lynott: A Life in Pictures

After Thin Lizzy’s first two albums failed to chart in the early seventies, all three members released an album of Deep Purple covers under the title Funky Junction Play a Tribute to Deep Purple. Unable to mimic Ian Gillan, Phil opted out of performing vocals with Benny White of Dublin band Elmer Fudd standing in.

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Thin Lizzy’s debut single The Farmer/I Need You via EMI in July 1970. Shifting less than 300 copies, it’s now a highly sought after collectors’ item.

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Formed alongside Brian Downey, Eric Bell and Eric Wrixon in 1969, Thin Lizzy took their name from a 1950s Dandy comic strip character called Tin Lizzie – they adopted the ‘h’ as a play on how Irish people pronounce ‘Thin’ as ‘Tin’.

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A teenage Phil Lynott in Dublin in the 1960s. He moved to the Crumlin area of the city aged four in 1953 to live with his grandmother, Sarah Lynott. (Photo: PA)

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Born in West Bromwich on 20th August 1949, this confirmation of Phil’s christening two weeks later formed part of an exhibition in Dublin in 2011 looking back on his early days. (Photo: PA)

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A miniature version of the famous Phil Lynott statue forms part of an exhibition of fan art on loan to the Balla Ban art Gallery in Dublin in 2013. (Photo: PA Images)

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Phil’s mum Philomena unveils his statue on the corner of Grafton Street and Harry Street in Dublin's city centre in August 2005. (Photo: PA Images)

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Phil Lynott's grave in St Fintan's cemetery in Sutton, Dublin. The legend died of pneumonia and heart failure due to septicaemia at Salisbury District Hospital on 4th January 1986. He was just 36. (Photo: PA Images)

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Phil in London in 1983 to announce Thin Lizzy’s split (Photo: PA Images)

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With members of Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Bad Company and Electric Light Orchestra plus Eric Clapton at the launch of the compilation charity LP ‘The Summit’ in 1980. Proceeds went to sick and disabled children. (Photo: PA Images)

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Looking dapper at Richmond Magistrates Court in 1980 where he was accused of possessing cocaine and cannabis resin and with cultivating a cannabis plant at his home in Kew Road, Richmond. (Photo: PA Images)

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A spoof lonely hearts advert penned by Phil for a magazine in 1978. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

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The cover of Thin Lizzy’s biggest single, ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’, released in April 1976.

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Performing live in Chicago in August 1979. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

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Rocking alongside Scott Gorham at The Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco in 1978. (Photo by Richard McCaffrey/ Michael Ochs Archive/ Getty Images)

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A triumphant live photo from the late 1970s. (Photo by Erica Echenberg/Redferns)

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Laying down music old school style at his home in Embassy Court, West Hampstead, London in 1976 (Photo by Ian Dickson/Redferns)

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Phil with Brian Robertson, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham at Cardiff Castle in Wales, 1975. (Photo by Erica Echenberg/Redferns)

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Performing at Reading Festival on 24th August 1974. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

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Phil at his imperious live best in London in 1973. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)

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Phil alongside his Thin Lizzy bandmates Gary Moore and Brian Downey at a London photoshoot in 1974. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

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Despite Thin Lizzy’s protests, Decca released the band’s cover of the tradition Irish song ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ in late 1972 and the following February it dented the UK charts at number six becoming their breakthrough smash.

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After Thin Lizzy’s first two albums failed to chart in the early seventies, all three members released an album of Deep Purple covers under the title Funky Junction Play a Tribute to Deep Purple. Unable to mimic Ian Gillan, Phil opted out of performing vocals with Benny White of Dublin band Elmer Fudd standing in.

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Thin Lizzy’s debut single The Farmer/I Need You via EMI in July 1970. Shifting less than 300 copies, it’s now a highly sought after collectors’ item.

undefined

Formed alongside Brian Downey, Eric Bell and Eric Wrixon in 1969, Thin Lizzy took their name from a 1950s Dandy comic strip character called Tin Lizzie – they adopted the ‘h’ as a play on how Irish people pronounce ‘Thin’ as ‘Tin’.

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A teenage Phil Lynott in Dublin in the 1960s. He moved to the Crumlin area of the city aged four in 1953 to live with his grandmother, Sarah Lynott. (Photo: PA)

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Born in West Bromwich on 20th August 1949, this confirmation of Phil’s christening two weeks later formed part of an exhibition in Dublin in 2011 looking back on his early days. (Photo: PA)

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A miniature version of the famous Phil Lynott statue forms part of an exhibition of fan art on loan to the Balla Ban art Gallery in Dublin in 2013. (Photo: PA Images)

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Phil’s mum Philomena unveils his statue on the corner of Grafton Street and Harry Street in Dublin's city centre in August 2005. (Photo: PA Images)

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Phil Lynott's grave in St Fintan's cemetery in Sutton, Dublin. The legend died of pneumonia and heart failure due to septicaemia at Salisbury District Hospital on 4th January 1986. He was just 36. (Photo: PA Images)

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Phil in London in 1983 to announce Thin Lizzy’s split (Photo: PA Images)

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With members of Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Bad Company and Electric Light Orchestra plus Eric Clapton at the launch of the compilation charity LP ‘The Summit’ in 1980. Proceeds went to sick and disabled children. (Photo: PA Images)

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Looking dapper at Richmond Magistrates Court in 1980 where he was accused of possessing cocaine and cannabis resin and with cultivating a cannabis plant at his home in Kew Road, Richmond. (Photo: PA Images)

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A spoof lonely hearts advert penned by Phil for a magazine in 1978. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

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The cover of Thin Lizzy’s biggest single, ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’, released in April 1976.

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Performing live in Chicago in August 1979. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

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Rocking alongside Scott Gorham at The Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco in 1978. (Photo by Richard McCaffrey/ Michael Ochs Archive/ Getty Images)

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A triumphant live photo from the late 1970s. (Photo by Erica Echenberg/Redferns)

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Laying down music old school style at his home in Embassy Court, West Hampstead, London in 1976 (Photo by Ian Dickson/Redferns)

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Phil with Brian Robertson, Brian Downey, Scott Gorham at Cardiff Castle in Wales, 1975. (Photo by Erica Echenberg/Redferns)

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Performing at Reading Festival on 24th August 1974. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

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Phil at his imperious live best in London in 1973. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)

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Phil alongside his Thin Lizzy bandmates Gary Moore and Brian Downey at a London photoshoot in 1974. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

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Despite Thin Lizzy’s protests, Decca released the band’s cover of the tradition Irish song ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ in late 1972 and the following February it dented the UK charts at number six becoming their breakthrough smash.

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After Thin Lizzy’s first two albums failed to chart in the early seventies, all three members released an album of Deep Purple covers under the title Funky Junction Play a Tribute to Deep Purple. Unable to mimic Ian Gillan, Phil opted out of performing vocals with Benny White of Dublin band Elmer Fudd standing in.

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