Phil Lynott (1949-1986) was the co-founder, lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter of the Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, which he formed in Dublin in 1969. Raised in Crumlin, Dublin, by his grandparents, he brought a distinctly Celtic and working-class voice to rock music - and was among the first to weave poetry into the genre. Thin Lizzy's mid-1970s run of hits, anchored by the twin-guitar sound Lynott built around himself, made the band one of the era's most influential live acts; his legacy has only grown since his death at 36.
A 40th-anniversary tribute concert for Phil Lynott, featuring former Thin Lizzy members Eric Bell and Darren Wharton alongside the 45-piece RTÉ Orchestra, took place at Dublin's 3Arena on January 4, 2026.
Thin Lizzy released 'Acoustic Sessions' on January 24, 2025 - the band's first new album in over 40 years, featuring Lynott's original vocals alongside new acoustic guitar parts by founding member Eric Bell.
A six-disc box set titled '1976', featuring expanded editions of the albums 'Jailbreak' and 'Johnny the Fox', was released on September 27, 2024, and charted at #58 on the UK Album Chart.
A two-day Phil Lynott Convention was held in Dublin in August 2024 to mark what would have been his 75th birthday.
