1970 to 1971

THIN LIZZY are widely regarded as one of the consummate Rock bands able to marry commercial success without compromise to their Hard Rock sensibilities. The group combined the attributes of a genuine star in vocalist/bassist PHIL LYNOTT with superb songwriting and a distinctive twin lead harmony guitar sound. The band also succeeded in employing a consistent lineage of notable guitarists throughout its career.

Phil Lynott was born on August 20th 1949. The son of a Brazilian farmer and an Irish mother, Lynott's father deserted when he was only three weeks old. Soon after Lynott's mother left Ireland for England, leaving his grandmother Sarah (later to be immortalised in the song of the same name) to bring up the young boy. From this background Lynott joined his first band, THE BLACK EAGLES, as frontman. Drummer Brian Downey was later persuaded to join from the band from the LIFFY BEATS.

Before long THE BLACK EAGLES broke up and Lynott joined KAMA SUTRA before settling into SKID ROW, a band that featured guitarist GARY MOORE, bassist Brush Shiels and drummer Noel Bridgeman. This line up released two albums on CBS Records.

It was actually Shiels who taught Lynott how to play bass, but Lynott quit SKID ROW to join his friend Downey in SUGARSHACK.

SUGARSHACK would soon split up leaving Lynott and Downey to quickly put together a new band titled ORPHANAGE with guitarist John Stanton and bassist Pat Quigley. ORPHANAGE succeeded in scoring an Irish hit single with 'Morning Dew' and Lynott was later to take over bass duties from Quigley as the band added ex THEM guitarist Eric Bell to the roster.

In 1969, Lynott, Downey and Bell formed THIN LIZZY with keyboardist Eric Wrixhorn. Within a matter of weeks Wrixhorn was given the boot and the band relocated to London, signing with Decca Records in November 1970 after A&R man Frank Rogers had spotted the band supporting a headline act, DITCH CASSIDY, he had travelled to see. THIN LIZZY debuted in London at the Speakeasy club alongside WORTH and ARRIVAL. The band also signed to the management team of Bob Carroll and Brian Tuite.

THIN LIZZY's first album was recorded with American producer Scott English but, unknown to the band, was completely remixed by Nick Tauber before its release. The debut sold poorly, in spite of valuable radio support from disc jockey Kid Jenson.

1972 to 1973

THIN LIZZY's second album, 1972's 'Shades Of A Blue Orphanage', also fared badly, resulting in the band splitting with their management and resorting to a series of Irish gigs to earn money. To compound matters, all was not well within the band either and this friction saw Lynott actually come close to leaving when he was offered the position of bassist in a new band DEEP PURPLE guitarist RITCHIE BLACKMORE was trying to assemble titled BABYFACE. Projected to include ex-FREE vocalist PAUL RODGERS and DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice, BABYFACE never got beyond a few jam sessions and both Lynott and Blackmore persevered with their own bands.

DEEP PURPLE loomed large on the horizon for the band again though when, in an effort to rid themselves of their debts, the band recorded an album of DEEP PURPLE covers under the pseudonym of FUNKY JUNCTION. Released in America in 1973 on the Stereo Gold Award label the 'Funky Junction: A Tribute To Deep Purple' featured ELMER FUDD vocalist Benny White.

At this juncture manager Chris Morrison stepped in with much needed funds and in mid 1972 THIN LIZZY toured as support to SLADE in Britain and appeared on a large number of German shows supporting the likes of BECK, BOGERT & APPICE and NAZARETH.

Fortune finally smiled on THIN LIZZY when they scored a massive hit with 'Whisky In The Jar' in 1973. Based on a traditional Irish Folk song it was originally projected as a B side to the proposed A side 'Black Boys In The Corner'.

Although the next single, 'Rudolph's Tango' flopped in Britain (although it reached number 14 in Ireland), 'Whisky In The Jar' arguably single handedly saved the band's career as the band consolidated their momentum with the fine 'Vagabonds Of The Western World' album.

Unfortunately, whilst engaged in touring to promote the album Brian Downey suffered a blister so bad it meant he could no longer use his left hand. The band drafted in another drummer, Pearse Kelly of the GARY MOORE BAND, to supply secondary drums.

Amusingly, the band's last gig of 1973, at Belfast University, proved disastrous. Eric Bell got so drunk he collapsed after four numbers and was dragged offstage, leaving Lynott and Downey to finish the set as a duo.

1974

After the Belfast University gig debacle Bell quit the band, citing health reasons as the cause. He later joined ex JIMI HENDRIX bassist Noel Redding in a band before joining SKID ROW and then forming THE ERIC BELL BAND. Meanwhile, Bell's place was taken by Lynott's ex SKID ROW colleague GARY MOORE in January 1974, the guitarist performing on an Irish tour that year. It was to be the first of three sojourns Moore was to have with the band. Moore's initial tenure was short lived. Following completion of the tour he walked out on the band during a recording session, eventually teaming up with COLOSSEUM II. THIN LIZZY duly soldiered on, undertaking a tour of Germany with stand in guitarists JOHN DU CAAN, previously with ATOMIC ROOSTER and BULLET, and Andy Gee of THE STEVE ELLIS BAND.

Morale in the band reached a low ebb and Downey left after the tour, but was enticed back to the fold after the recruitment of Brian Robertson ,whose previous pedigree included RUE MORGUE and DREAM POLICE, and Scott Gorham. Brian Robertson had actually auditioned for both THIN LIZZY as guitarist and as a drummer with another London based act, SLACK ALICE. He got both jobs, but opted for THIN LIZZY.

17 year old Scot Robertson and American Gorham, who had originally relocated to London from California on a promise of joining SUPERTRAMP, finally gave Lynott the dual harmony guitar sound he had always wanted. Prior to LIZZY Gorham was playing in a pub band called FAST BUCK, an outfit that featured Charlie Harper on bass (later of THE UK SUBS) and fellow guitarist Steve Mann (later of the McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP).

Although back up to strength, Decca Records still dropped the band. The new line up went out for a low key tour of Ireland then performed a stunning showcase at London's Marquee, which gained them a new deal with Phonogram. Also instrumental in getting onto the new label was a set of demo recordings made whilst Gary Moore was still in the band, although THIN LIZZY's management claimed it was Robertson.

The first fruits of the Robertson / Gorham liaison was the Ron Nevison produced 'Nightlife', released in late 1974, although this album still held some throwbacks to the Gary Moore era as it included such tracks as 'Still In Love With You'.

Despite a British tour which established rock solid support across the country 'Nightlife' was not a hit album (the single 'Philomena' also bombed) it would set up the band for future rewards.

Later in the year LIZZY played the Reading Festival - on a bill including TRAPEZE and PROCUL HARUM - prior to a mammoth British tour.

1975 to 1976

The band's first endeavours into America came in early 1975, with a support tour to BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE. These dates also stretched into Europe before yet more British headliners. By the 1975 album, 'Fighting', Gorham and Robertson had established the distinctive THIN LIZZY twin guitar trademark. Predictably, the year went by with a further bout of touring, another Reading Festival performance, a show at the Cardiff Castle Music festival and rounding off the year with an appearance at Olympia's Great British Music Festival alongside label mates STATUS QUO.

In 1976 the 'Jailbreak' album had made the band a household name. And as THIN LIZZY's international stature grew, so did its touring schedule. The group journeyed to America once more supporting major concert draws such as RUSH, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON and JOURNEY. Unfortunately, just as the American public seemed poised on the edge of accepting THIN LIZZY as a major band, PHIL LYNOTT contracted hepatitis midway through a set of dates opening for RAINBOW.

Still, upon returning home to Britain, THIN LIZZY set about preparing their next album 'Johnny The Fox', which saw a release a mere seven months after 'Jailbreak'.

1977 to 1978

As 1977 began with another British hit single, 'Don't Believe A Word', THIN LIZZY geared up for what was to be their biggest American tour yet supporting the mighty QUEEN. But ongoing personality clashes between PHIL LYNOTT and Brian Robertson forced the Scot out of the band, the crunch coming when Robertson slashed his hand in a pub brawl trying to protect fellow Scot and Rock performer FRANKIE MILLER from a broken glass. The QUEEN tour thus witnessed GARY MOORE returning on a temporary basis to replace Robertson.

Robertson had not been idle while THIN LIZZY's American tour was happening, involving himself with ex RAINBOW bassist Jimmy Bain in a new act titled WILD HORSES. The Scotsman had also contributed a guest guitar solo to PAT TRAVERS version of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS 'Statesboro Blues' on the Canadian's 'Making Magic' album. Later that same year Gorham too would donate his services to PAT TRAVERS, performing on the October 'Putting It Straight' record.

Robertson returned in the nick of time to record three songs for the 'Bad Reputation' album. THIN LIZZY set out on a set of European dates utilising Robertson but billing the guitarist as a special guest rather than a full band member. This line up played the Reading Festival headlining above AEROSMITH and the Irish Dalymount Park Festival in Dublin. Later dates included a headline American tour with GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR opening.

THIN LIZZY's 'Live And Dangerous' tour of America included Moore on guitar, but Brian Downey had laid down his sticks so the band were forced to draft in IAN GILLAN BAND drummer Mark Nauseef as they opened for KANSAS and then STYX, prior to the band's first tour of Australia.

1979 to 1980

GARY MOORE had his debut solo album, featuring many songs written by Lynott, released just as THIN LIZZY went into EMI's Paris studios to record 'Black Rose'. The album gave the band another clutch of hit singles in 'Waiting For An Alibi' and 'Do Anything You Want To'. It also boasted THIN LIZZY's near epic opus 'Roisin Dubh: A Rock Legend', which was spread over four parts and inspired by Gaelic poet James Clarence Mangan's 'My Dark Rosaleen'.

No sooner had the album been finished than THIN LIZZY were off to America to open for NAZARETH. British dates were buoyed by THIN LIZZY's hit singles and the further chart success of GARY MOORE's solo hit 'Parisienne Walkways', which featured Lynott on lead vocal.

Yet another American tour beckoned as THIN LIZZY slogged around the States opening for such major names as AC/DC and the DOOBIE BROTHERS. Unexpectedly, Moore quit after a festival in San Francisco where THIN LIZZY had performed alongside UFO and JOURNEY.

Although Moore was persuaded to stay the course to round off the American dates he failed to show for an arena date in Reno, Nevada supporting JOURNEY. The band continued the tour as a trio before enlisting RICH KIDS man Midge Ure as a stop gap measure to finish the dates.

Although the band completed their allotted dates with JOURNEY, a guaranteed headliner at the 1980 Reading Festival had to be pulled as the band did not feel the temporary line-up could pull off the show. German act SCORPIONS filled the slot. It was during this time in 1980 that a legendary jam took place. Support act to the SCORPIONS, US Southern Rockers BLACKFOOT, were rehearsing in London and during downtime drummer Jakson Spires, Phil Lynott, renowned ex-UFO guitarist Michael Schenker and RAINBOW's legendary Cozy Powell spent many hours jamming. Sadly this session was never recorded and progressed no further than a friendly jam.

THIN LIZZY and their erstwhile guitarist Moore's careers continued on a parallel course amid much bitterness vented in the press Lynott and co scored another hit with the ballad 'Sarah'. GARY MOORE also hit the charts with 'Spanish guitar', a song that had originally featured Lynott on lead vocals, but the incensed Moore had wiped these and dubbed his own vocals on top. Somehow versions complete with Lynott on lead vocals made their way to release, but only in Sweden. Meantime, THIN LIZZY's headline tour of Japan saw the band elevated to a quintet with the recruitment of guitarist Dave Flett. This move allowed Midge Ure to concentrate on keyboards.

For 1980's 'Chinatown' album THIN LIZZY had its guitar power back up to strength with the addition of ex IMPS, PINK FLOYD and CLIFF RICHARD guitarist SNOWY WHITE. Also in contention, and apparently only just pipped to the post by White, would be Lynott's erstwhile ELMER FUDD companion Jody Pollard, also an ex-SKID ROW man. With SNOWY WHITE duly installed though, the revised THIN LIZZY line up cut its teeth with a series of Irish shows which saw White alongside Ure and Gorham.

1981 to 1982

In order to replace Midge Ure, who was by now fully committed to his 'New Romantic' project ULTRAVOX and on the verge of gaining a huge hit single in early '81 with 'Vienna', 17 year old keyboard player Darren Wharton was added, although at first on a probationary basis. Wharton toured as a sideline musician on THIN LIZZY's Scandinavian leg of the 'Chinatown' tour and the British tour that came upfront of the release of the new album. Support came from Irish act THE LOOKALIKES.

Phil Lynott also had his solo project running consecutively with these dates and used the opportunity to include a few tracks of solo material into THIN LIZZY's live set. Despite the undoubted strength of the latest album, both critics and fans alike were dumbfounded by White's almost torpid onstage presence.

Although White left to fulfill some previous commitments with PINK FLOYD, but returned for a set of THIN LIZZY shows at London's Earls Court.

The release of 'Chinatown', backed by a monumentous marketing campaign, provided a useful hit single with 'Killer On The Loose', but almost immediately landed the band in controversy. By pure coincidence the single's release coincided with the infamous 'Yorkshire ripper' murders and many in the media felt Lynott's lyrics were too close for comfort. Denying any comparison the band nevertheless dropped the song from their live set as the tour journeyed from Japan, a welcome return to Australia and New Zealand before another gruelling trek across America, finalising events in Scandinavia.

LIZZY now hit a rough patch. Although their stature was reinforced with the huge sales of their 'Best Of' album - titled 'The Adventures Of Thin Lizzy' - gigs to promote the album proved a disaster. To make matters worse, the next single - a weak affair by previous standards - 'Trouble Boys' charted badly. A successful headline appearance at Ireland's Slane Festival got the band back in gear for the release of new album 'Renegade'.

Regrettably, 'Renegade' made a poor showing in the British charts and a further single in 'Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)' failed to chart completely. THIN LIZZY were in a quandary.

Live shows throughout Europe once more witnessed Downey abandoning his drum stool after a fight with a bouncer. For the Scandinavian dates Mike Mesbur of support act THE LOOKALIKES had to fill in before Downey was back to full health in time for the remainder of the tour. This was not to be the last setback though, as Scott Gorham collapsed after a Portuguese show.

1983

Inevitably SNOWY WHITE was to depart after the tour to concentrate on his Blues based solo projects as THIN LIZZY contemplated their next move. In the downtime Lynott undertook a brief Irish tour billed as PHILLIP LYNOTT AND THE SOUL BAND, performing songs from his forthcoming second solo album. The band included Darren Wharton, guitarist Gus Isadore and AUTO DE FAE members drummer Robbie Brennan and keyboardist Trevor Knight. Further Scandinavian shows saw the addition of ex-WILD HORSES and RAINBOW bassist Jimmy Bain.

By this time the alcohol and drug problems that were well known to have been a major factor in the erratic nature of THIN LIZZY's climb to the top were seriously affecting the main members of the band. With this in mind Lynott, persuaded also by the financial factors put to him by the band's management, decided to go out with a bang with one last album and tour. Initially announced a regular tour the 'Thunder And Lightning' dates had seen poor ticket sales. As soon as it was revealed this was to be the final fling for THIN LIZZY the tour sold out within days.

Ex-STREET FIGHTER and TYGERS OF PAN TANG guitarist JOHN SYKES, who had aided Lynott on his second solo album, was enrolled into the band to record the momentous 'Thunder And Lightning' album. Coincidentally Sykes had recently been flown out to America at the behest of OZZY OSBOURNE to audition for his band in the wake of Randy Rhoads death. Reportedly Osbourne, in no fit state to view guitarists following his close friend's demise, turned Sykes down. A phone call was made upon Sykes' return to England asking him back but Sykes opted for THIN LIZZY.

Initial copies came with a free four track live EP featuring 'Emerald', 'Killer On The Loose', 'The Boys Are Back In Town' and 'Hollywood'. The album saw a return to the aggressive stance of THIN LIZZY at their late 70s peak and had many wondering just why the band were seemingly intent on breaking up after such a fine effort.

The British tour threw Sykes in at the deep end, with a filmed show at Hitchin before a further T.V. appearance on Channel 4's music programme 'The Tube'. The rest of the dates ran smoothly and climaxed with a London Hammersmith Odeon gig that nostalgically saw, not only Gary Moore and Brian Robertson returning for an encore, but also Eric Bell. Scandinavian and Japanese shows followed before a brief respite.

However, Lynott soon had a band back in action, a short batch of Swedish dates saw an anonymous line up intended to be the next THIN LIZZY incarnation. The band comprised of Lynott, Sykes, Downey, MAGNUM keyboard player Mark Stanway and guitarist Doish Nagel. Although at many shows the new outfit was correctly billed as THE PHIL LYNOTT BAND, many gigs announced the band in the local press beforehand as THIN LIZZY. (Early 2002 would deliver a treat for PHIL LYNOTT fans with the release by Zoom Club Records of 'Live In Sweden 1983'. A limited edition digipack box set, restricted to just 1'000 copies, would include the previously unreleased track 'Look At These Eyes'.)

THIN LIZZY's British swansong was a headline appearance at the Reading Festival in August, on a bill above TEN YEARS AFTER and CLIMAX BLUES BAND. The final shows came the following month, the band playing festivals in Germany on bills that also included MOTÖRHEAD and WHITESNAKE. The last show was in Nuremburg on September 4th 1983.

A final gesture was the double live album 'Life'. Although crammed with a veritable tour de force of classic material, the album proved a damp squib, mainly due to its poor production and overall mix.

1984 to 2007

Post THIN LIZZY there was an attempted band comprising of Lynott, Robertson and MOTÖRHEAD drummer Phil Taylor, but this never got beyond the discussion stage. More concrete was a union of Lynott, JOHN SYKES and Mark Stanway, but this was soon put paid to by an irresistible offer to the lead guitarist from WHITESNAKE.

Having lost Sykes to DAVID COVERDALE's employ, PHIL LYNOTT formed a new band, later to be titled GRAND SLAM, with Stanway, Downey and erstwhile STAMPEDE, LAUTREC and WILD HORSES guitarist Laurence Archer. Downey soon departed, citing his discontent at being involved in a project that could not hope to match THIN LIZZY. Stanway left the fold shortly after as his previous act MAGNUM offered him a return position based on a new record deal. However, Stanway was to flirt between GRAND SLAM and MAGNUM for some time.

To former THIN LIZZY fans, the fact that GRAND SLAM found it difficult to get signed, despite a clutch of excellent gigs and strong songs, was an enigma. What the public was unaware of was that Lynott was viewed by the record industry as a whole as too great a risk. Inevitably the group split, Stanway returning to MAGNUM and Archer later formed RHODE ISLAND RED then joined UFO for their 'High Stakes And Dangerous Men' album.

Meanwhile, Scott Gorham's first post THIN LIZZY project was a union with BRONZ guitarist Shaun Kirkpatrick. Attempting to sustain the band this proposed union faltered upon the demise of Bronze Records. Gorham would have more success with his own venture entitled THE WESTERN FRONT which featured guitarist Marty Walsh, vocalist Moon Calhoun (previously with American AOR band THE STRAND), keyboardist Dick Bergman and drummer Del Vertusco. Gorham later signed to RCA Records with his 21 GUNS project and also produced a three track EP for ex-TIGERTAILZ vocalist Steevi Jaimz's outfit ST. JAIMZ.

Lynott did actually get THIN LIZZY back together as a band, comprising Brian Downey and ex-MAGNUM and DAVID BYRON BAND guitarist ROBIN GEORGE, but the liaison was brief. One song from these sessions 'Crying Diamonds' would later turn up on one of George's solo works. Having been ill for some time Phil lapsed into a coma after a drugs overdose and died on January 4th 1986.

Before 1987 has run its course Gorham and 21 GUNS drummer Michael Sturgis were ensconced in a studio with JOHN WETTON and GEOFF DOWNES for a projected new line up of the AOR supergroup ASIA. This line up splintered though when no record deal outside of Japan could be found.

A posthumous THIN LIZZY single, 'Dedication', emerged in 1991 and was the subject of some controversy when it transpired it was not in fact a THIN LIZZY song at all but had in fact been written by GRAND SLAM guitarist Laurence Archer for that band.

Later the same year a band going under the title of 'An Evening Of Thin Lizzy Music' toured featuring Brian Downey, Brian Robertson, ex-GINGER BAKER band guitarist Doug Brockie, former GRAND SLAM guitarist Doish Nagle on bass and former HUMBLE PIE, JEFF BECK and VAN MORRISON vocalist Bobby Tench. The shows did little to rekindle the legend.

Brian Robertson turned up during 1995 having formed touring outfit the BRIAN ROBERTSON BAND. This group duly evolved into THE CLAN, releasing a very limited CD EP entitled 'That's All'. In an echo of the past THE CLAN's projected tour was cancelled when Robertson damaged his hand.

1996 witnessed the enduring myth of THIN LIZZY when Gorham was finally persuaded to involve himself in a tribute. Assembled by JOHN SYKES, who had the uncanny ability to mimic Lynott's distinctive vocal some of his on the debut BLUE MURDER album highlighting this fact, a band was created going under the title of THIN LIZZY. Other members included Brian Downey, Darren Wharton (having long since formed his own band DARE) on keyboards and bassist Marco Mendoza. This band put in highly successful shows in Japan, Ireland and London with Sykes, naturally, on lead vocals. German gigs in December of 1999 saw strong support from MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP and GLENN HUGHES.

Ironically Lynott's least favourite THIN LIZZY track received the honour of a prestigious Grammy award when METALLICA's cover version of 'Whiskey In The Jar' won the 'Best Metal Performance' category. Also keeping the name in the spotlight, Gorham, Robertson and Wharton reunited for a set of THIN LIZZY songs to celebrate the Jordan Formula One team's tenth anniversary concert in 2000. Mendoza meantime hooked up with TED NUGENT for his summer American dates.

Rather more low key was Robertson's guest appearance with Swedish act LOTUS on a song contributed to a CAPTAIN BEYOND tribute album. May of 2001 found Robertson embarking on a short Norwegian tour in a band performing THIN LIZZY tracks assembled with erstwhile EUROPE guitarist JOHN NORUM. American Rockers WARRANT would step next in line to honour THIN LIZZY's memory cutting the less than predictable 'Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)' for their 2001 album 'Under The Influence'.

THIN LIZZY fans would be rewarded in November the same year with the release of the mammoth 4 CD box set 'Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels'. The collection included the notoriously scarce debut Irish single 'The Farmer' along with an unreleased track 'Try A Little Harder', the rare German B side 'Cruising In The Lizzymobile' and the GRAND SLAM demo 'Sisters Of Mercy'.

Early 2002 would deliver a treat for PHIL LYNOTT fans with the release by Zoom Club Records of 'Live In Sweden 1983'. A limited edition digipack box set, restricted to just 1'000 copies, would include the previously unreleased track 'Look At These Eyes'. The tapes were compiled from two consecutive concerts featuring JOHN SYKES on guitar. The same year also saw long established plans for a movie centred upon Lynott's life coming to fruition with American actor Gary Dourdan selected to perform the lead role.

The Sykes led THIN LIZZY undertook a lengthy series of North American dates throughout October and November of 2002. Further shows into 2003 were mooted in league with DEF LEPPARD. With both Mendoza and Aldridge having joined the resurrected WHITESNAKE press reports suggested that both DIXIE DREGS and WINGER man Rod Morgenstein or Brian Tichy of FOREIGNER and OZZY OSBOURNE repute were to man the drums. Bass was briefly delegated to Gary Liederman, a veteran of RHODE ISLAND RED and ASIA, then Randy Gregg. However, by February it was revealed that PINK FLOYD and GARY MOORE band member Guy Pratt was to take command of bass and former LITTLE ANGELS, THE CULT and ROBERT PLANT man Michael Lee enrolled as drummer.

THIN LIZZY set out on a run of headline dates in February of 2004 before uniting with DEEP PURPLE. However, it was announced by the band's management that Michael Lee was forced to pull out due to illness but within days of this report a further statement indicated he had recovered. The tour got underway but saw the last three dates, in New Jersey and New York, pulled due to a relapse in Lee's health condition.

THIN LIZZY, hooking back up with DEEP PURPLE, returned to touring the USA once again in August. By early 2005 the band was once again touring across the UK, with support from WINTERVILLE, Europe, seeing German act JADED HEART as openers, and Scandinavia.

August 20th saw The Roisin Dubh Trust unveiling a life size bronze statue of Lynott in Grafton Street, Dublin. To coincide, an all-star concert billed as 'The Boy Is Back In Town' would be held at The Point in Dublin. Performers included GARY MOORE, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson, the ERIC BELL BAND, Brian Downey, Brush Shiels, DARE, WHEATUS and THERAPY?

Brian Robertson and Eric Bell announced they were to put in joint Irish club dates in January 2006. Meantime, THIN LIZZY, comprising JOHN SYKES, Scott Gorham, Marco Mendoza and Michael Lee, announced UK tour dates for March and April. The group was announced as co-headliner alongside the SCORPIONS for US summer dates, but then withdrew.

The group was set to partner with CHEAP TRICK for Australian concerts in December but these shows, although announced, would be cancelled. DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY and STYX teamed up for a UK tour in April 2007. URIAH HEEP partnered with THIN LIZZY for concerts across Europe in October.

Former drummer Michael Lee died on 24th November 2008. He was just 39 years old. 

THIN LIZZY was to have supported AC/DC at concerts at June 2009 shows at London's Wembley Stadium, Dublin's Punchestown Racetrack and Glasgow's Hampden Park. However, Tommy Aldridge suffered a broken collar bone, forcing the group's withdrawal from these shows as well as performances at the 'Kobetasonik' festival in Bilbao, Spain and two UK headline shows, Liverpool O2 Academy and Nottingham Rock City.

Surprisingly it was then learned that John Sykes had left the fold. THIN LIZZY guitarist Scott Gorham duly commented "It's been a very tough time of late for myself and the band, firstly with drummer Tommy Aldridge's injury and now the subsequent decision for John and the rest of the group to go their separate ways. I can only apologize to everyone who has supported us over the years, but we will be back up to full speed soon."

Garry Sharpe-Young