Phil Lynott

Phil Lynott
Lynott performing in Oslo, Norway on 22 April 1980.
Background information
Birth name	Philip Parris Lynott
Born	(1949-08-20)20 August 1949 West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England
Origin	Dublin, Ireland
Died	4 January 1986(1986-01-04) (aged 36) Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Genres	Rock, pop, folk, blues rock, blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, producer, poet
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, guitar
Years active	1965–85
Labels	Vertigo, Mercury, Warner Bros.
Associated acts	Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, Wild Horses, The Greedies, Skid Row, Grand Slam
Notable instruments
Early Dan Armstrong Lucite Bass Rickenbacker 4001 bass Mid Fender Precision Bass Late Ibanez Roadstar Bass

Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott (/ˈlaɪnət/; 20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986) was an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. His most commercially successful group was Thin Lizzy, of which he was a founding member, the principal songwriter, lead vocalist and bassist. He later also found success as a solo artist.

Growing up in Dublin in the 1960s, Lynott fronted several bands as a lead vocalist, most notably Skid Row alongside Gary Moore, before learning the bass guitar and forming Thin Lizzy in 1969. After initial success with "Whiskey in the Jar", the band found strong commercial success in the mid-1970s with hits such as "The Boys Are Back in Town", "Jailbreak" and "Waiting for an Alibi", and became a popular live attraction due to the combination of Lynott's vocal and songwriting skills and the use of dual lead guitars. Towards the end of the 1970s, Lynott also embarked upon a solo career, published two books of poetry, and after Thin Lizzy disbanded, he assembled and fronted the band Grand Slam, of which he was the leader until it folded in 1985.

He subsequently had major UK success with Gary Moore with the song "Out in the Fields", followed by the minor hit "Nineteen", before his death on 4 January 1986. He remains a popular figure in the rock world, and in 2005, a statue to his memory was erected in Dublin.

Lynott was born in Hallam Hospital (now Sandwell General Hospital) in West Bromwich (then in Staffordshire), England, and christened at St. Edwards Church in Selly Park, Birmingham. His mother, Philomena Lynott was born in Dublin on 22 October 1930, and his father, Cecil Parris, was from Georgetown, British Guiana. Philomena met Parris in Birmingham in 1948, having moved to England to seek work and they were in a relationship for a few months, until Parris was transferred to London. Shortly afterwards, Philomena found she was pregnant and, after Philip was born, she moved with her baby to a home for unmarried mothers in Selly Oak, Birmingham. When Parris learned of Philip's birth, he returned to Birmingham and arranged accommodation for Philomena and Philip in nearby Blackheath. Her relationship with Parris lasted two more years although he was still working in London and they did not live together. Philomena subsequently moved to Manchester but stayed in touch with Parris and, although she turned down a marriage proposal from him, he agreed to pay towards his son's support.