Thin Lizzy was huge in the 1970s, though that fame would be short-lived. Phil Lynott, the famed frontman, guided the band through multiple evolutions and lineup changes. The result was a handful of incredible albums and songs, notably the immortal “The Boys Are Back In Town”.
Videos by American Songwriter
Phil Lynott represented a lot, though he’d still be sorely underrated while alive. He was the first black man from Ireland to make it big in the music world, and his talents as a vocalist, songwriter, and bassist were unmatched. One can’t help but wonder what would have come of him and Thin Lizzy if he had not died far too young at the age of 36 in 1986.
Phil Lynott didn’t really get to enjoy his ascend to fame the way he deserved. The powerhouse hard rock singer struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. And like many rock stars, his habits began to fly out of control.
According to the director of Phil Lynott: Scealta On Old Town, Gerry Greg, the writing was on the wall for a while.
“We were due there early in the morning, about 8:00 am,” said Greg of filming the documentary when Lynott was still alive. “We got there and waited for Phil and we waited and we waited… Anyway. he arrived. He had a brown paper bag and he was regularly nipping out of it.”
The Tragic Story of Phil Lynott
No one becomes an addict for no reason. Lynott struggled with loneliness. He grew up with his grandparents as a child and had a father who wanted little to do with him.
When Thin Lizzy broke up in 1983, that additional betrayal likely left him feeling abandoned once again. When Lynott endured a divorce the following year, mainly due to his substance abuse, it only furthered his spiral into oblivion.
Lynott formed Grand Slam shortly after, and it was doomed from the start. Nobody wanted to sign them, considering most of the members were on copious amounts of drugs. Lynott continued to hope that Thin Lizzy would get back together.
Sadly, Lynott refused rehabilitation and therapy in favor of continuing to nurture a solo career. But by that time, h*roin more or less had its hold on the talented young singer. After a failed Spanish concert and the lackluster release of his single “Nineteen”, Lynott locked himself in his home in Richmond until he died. While opening Christmas presents with his children, he fainted. He was then rushed to a hospital, diagnosed with septicemia, and died just 10 days later from heart failure.
Decades after his death, fans of the famed Irish band still mourn the loss of one of the greats who deserved to stick around for longer. Let this be a lesson that if a loved one seems lonely, they probably need you more than you know.
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.