Phil Lynott

Philip Parris Lynott (/ˈlaɪnɒt/, LIE-not; 20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986) was an Irish musician who was the co-founder, lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter of the hard rock band Thin Lizzy. He was noted for his distinctive pick-based style on the bass and for his imaginative lyrics, including working-class tales and numerous characters drawn from personal influences and Celtic culture.

Lynott was born in the West Midlands of England and grew up in Dublin with his grandparents. He remained close to his mother, Philomena, throughout his life. He fronted several bands as a lead vocalist, including 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 had several hits in the mid-1970s, such as "The Boys Are Back in Town", "Jailbreak" and "Waiting for an Alibi", and became a popular live attraction combining Lynott's vocal and songwriting skills with dual lead guitars. Towards the end of the 1970s, Lynott embarked upon a solo career and published two books of poetry. After Thin Lizzy disbanded, he assembled and fronted the band Grand Slam.

During the 1980s, Lynott increasingly suffered from drug addiction, particularly to heroin. He and Moore had one more chart success with "Out in the Fields" in 1985, before Lynott died of septicaemia-induced pneumonia and heart failure early the following year. He remains a popular figure in rock music, and a statue in his memory was erected in Dublin in 2005.

Philip Parris Lynott was born at Hallam Hospital in West Bromwich on 20 August 1949. His Irish mother, Philomena Lynott, was born in Dublin. His Guyanese father, Cecil Parris, was from Georgetown. The two met in Birmingham in 1948 after Cecil had moved to England for work, beginning a relationship for a few months until Cecil was transferred to London. Philomena soon found out she was pregnant; after Lynott was born, she moved with him to a home for unmarried mothers in Selly Park, where Philip was baptised on 4 September. She subsequently moved to Manchester but stayed in touch with Parris, who helped pay for his son's support. She subsequently had two more children who were put up for adoption.

Lynott first attended school in Manchester's Moss Side. In 1957, Philomena sent him to live with her parents, Sarah and Frank in the Crumlin area of Dublin. Frank's presence gave him a father figure for the first time in his life. He knew he was different from his peers, but did not suffer any major racist attacks. Philomena stayed in Manchester and remained close to Lynott. She and her partner, Dennis Keeley, later took over the management of the Clifton Grange Hotel in Whalley Range. The hotel, nicknamed "The Biz", became popular with show business figures and was later referred to in a song on Thin Lizzy's debut album. Lynott had a happy childhood growing up in Dublin and was popular at school.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.