Thin Lizzy - The Most Fascinating Facts Anywhere

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1. The name came from a comic robot

Thin Lizzy took its name from Tin Lizzie, a robot character in the British comic The Dandy. The spelling was changed to Thin to reflect how the word sounds in a Dublin accent.

2. Phil Lynott was born in England

He was born in West Bromwich in 1949 to an Irish mother and a Guyanese father. He was raised largely by his grandmother in Dublin.

3. Whiskey in the Jar was an unwanted hit

The 1972 single was a rock arrangement of an old Irish folk song, and it reached the UK top ten. Some of the band were uneasy that it was not typical of their own writing.

4. Eric Bell quit at the end of 1973

The original guitarist left the group after a New Year's Eve show in Belfast. He was replaced by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, creating the twin-guitar line-up.

5. Lynott's bass had a mirrored plate

He played a Fender Precision Bass fitted with a mirror pickguard. It became part of his stage image.

6. Brian Robertson's injured hand changed the band

In 1977 a bar-room scuffle left Robertson with a hand injury, and Gary Moore stood in for touring. Moore had played with the band briefly before and later rejoined for a longer spell.

7. Black Rose included Irish folk melodies

The title track of the 1979 album Black Rose: A Rock Legend wove together traditional tunes such as Shenandoah and Danny Boy. It was a deliberate blend of hard rock and Irish tradition.

8. Lynott published poetry

He released two books, Songs for While I'm Away in 1974 and Philip in 1977. Both reflected the lyrical side of his songwriting.

9. Lynott sang on Parisienne Walkways

Gary Moore's 1979 hit featured Lynott's vocal and is credited as a joint composition. It remains one of Moore's best-known recordings.

10. Yellow Pearl became a TV theme

The 1981 single by Lynott's solo project was used as the theme for BBC's Top of the Pops for several years. Millions heard it every week.

11. Lynott died in January 1986

He was 36 when he died after a period of illness, having suffered from septicaemia. Thin Lizzy had already split in 1983.

12. A statue of Lynott stands in Dublin

The bronze statue on Harry Street was unveiled in 2005. It remains a popular stop for fans visiting the city.

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