Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1969, the group originally consisted of bassist and vocalist Phil Lynott, guitarist Eric Bell, drummer Brian Downey and keyboardist Eric Wrixon. The band broke up in September 1983, at which point the lineup included Lynott and Downey, guitarists Scott Gorham and John Sykes, and keyboardist Darren Wharton. In 1996, ten years after Lynott's death, the group reformed as a touring outfit with new bassist Marco Mendoza, and Sykes taking over lead vocal duties. The most recent lineup, which performed in 2019, consisted of Gorham, Wharton, vocalist Ricky Warwick (since 2010), guitarist Damon Johnson (since 2011), drummer Scott Travis (since 2016), and bassist Troy Sanders, who has so far only featured that year.

History 1969–1983 Thin Lizzy were formed in December 1969, with four members joining from two bands: guitarist Eric Bell and keyboardist Eric Wrixon from Them, and bassist and vocalist Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey from Orphanage. Wrixon performed on the band's debut single "The Farmer", but left before it was released in July 1970. Bell left the band after a concert on New Year's Eve 1973, later citing "ill-health caused by the band's lifestyle" as the reason for his departure. The guitarist was replaced by Gary Moore, although he would only remain with the band for a matter of months. Andy Gee and John Du Cann took over for a tour in May, before Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham were enlisted later in the year as Bell's first full-time replacements.

The lineup of Lynott, Gorham, Robertson and Downey released five studio albums and one live album, all but two of which reached the top ten of the UK Albums Chart, before Robertson left in 1978 and was replaced by the returning Moore. Downey also briefly took a break from Thin Lizzy around the same time, with Mark Nauseef replacing him for a tour in late 1978. Moore left again in July 1979, and was temporarily replaced by Midge Ure. Dave Flett was brought in for a Japanese tour later in the year, as Ure moved over to keyboards, and in early 1980 Snowy White took Flett's place on a more permanent basis. Darren Wharton replaced Ure in April, initially as a touring member. White left the band in August 1982, and was replaced by John Sykes in September 1982, who featured on their last studio album Thunder and Lightning. Thin Lizzy broke up in 1983, with their final performance taking place on 4 September on the German Monsters of Rock Tour; Lynott later died of heart failure and pneumonia on 4 January 1986.

1996 onwards Thin Lizzy reformed in 1996, with Sykes taking over lead vocals and Marco Mendoza joining on bass, alongside returning members Gorham, Wharton and Downey. Tommy Aldridge replaced Downey in 1998, and Wharton left in 2001 to focus on his own band Dare. Mendoza and Aldridge left in 2003 to join Whitesnake, with their places taken by Guy Pratt and Michael Lee, respectively. Pratt was replaced later in the year by Randy Gregg. Mendoza had returned to the band by early 2005, as had Aldridge by early 2007. Mendoza was replaced by Francesco DiCosmo later in 2007. After more touring, Sykes departed Thin Lizzy in mid-2009, with DiCosmo and Aldridge leaving at the same time; speaking about the future of the band, Gorham claimed that "we will be back up to full speed soon".

Gorham reformed Thin Lizzy in 2010 with former members Mendoza, Downey and Wharton, in addition to new guitarist Vivian Campbell and lead vocalist Ricky Warwick. Campbell was replaced by Richard Fortus after returning to Def Leppard in mid-2011, before Damon Johnson became his permanent replacement later in the year. The band was put on hiatus in December 2012, when all members formed Black Star Riders, before returning in 2016 with Mikkey Dee initially announced on drums. Without performing with the band, Dee was replaced three months later by Judas Priest's Scott Travis, as Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton also replaced Mendoza. In April 2019, Mastodon's Troy Sanders took over from Hamilton on bass.

Original tenure (1969–1983) Official members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPhil Lynott1969–1983 Brian Downey1969–1983all Thin Lizzy releases to date, except The Boys Are Back in Town (1997) and One Night Only (2000)Eric Bell1969–1973Eric Wrixon1969–1970 "The Farmer" (1970)Gary MooreScott Gorham1974–1983all Thin Lizzy releases from Nightlife (1974) onwardsBrian RobertsonSnowy White1980–1982Darren Wharton1980–1983John Sykes1982–1983

Touring members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAndy Gee1974noneJohn Du Cann1974 Mark NauseefThe Boys Are Back in Town (1997)Midge Ure1979–1980 The Continuing Saga of the Ageing Orphans (1979) – two tracksDave Flett1979none

Recent years (1996 onwards) Most recent lineup (2019) ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsScott Gorham1996–2019all Thin Lizzy releases from Nightlife (1974) onwardsDarren WhartonRicky Warwick2010–2019all Thin Lizzy releases from Live in London 2011: 22.01.2011 (2011) onwardsDamon Johnson2011–2019Live 2012 (2012)Scott Travis2016–2019noneTroy Sanders2019

Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Sykes1996–2009 Marco MendozaBrian Downeyall Thin Lizzy releases to date, except The Boys Are Back in Town (1997) and One Night Only (2000)Tommy AldridgeOne Night Only (2000)Michael Lee2003–2007 noneGuy Pratt2003Randy Gregg2003–2005Francesco DiCosmo2007–2009Vivian Campbell2010–2011Live in London 2011: 22.01.2011 and 23.01.2011 (2011)Richard Fortus2011High Voltage Recorded Live: July 23rd 2011 (2011)Tom Hamilton2016–2017bassnoneIan Haugland2016

Timelines

Original tenure

Recent years

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesDecember 1969 – July 1970Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Eric Bell – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Eric Wrixon – keyboards, backing vocals"The Farmer" (1970)July 1970 – December 1973Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Eric Bell – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussionThin Lizzy (1971) New Day (1971) Shades of a Blue Orphanage (1972) Vagabonds of the Western World (1973) The Peel Sessions (1995) January – April 1974Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Gary Moore – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion"Sitamoia / Little Darling" (1974) Nightlife (1974) The Peel Sessions (1995) May – June 1974Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Brian Downey – drums, percussion John Du Cann – guitar, backing vocals Andy Gee – guitar, backing vocals none June 1974 – July 1978Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Brian Robertson – guitar, backing vocals Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussionNightlife (1974) Fighting (1975) Jailbreak (1976) Johnny the Fox (1976) Bad Reputation (1977) Live and Dangerous (1978) Live (1980) Killers Live (1981) The Peel Sessions (1995) UK Tour '75 (2008) Live '77 (2009) Still Dangerous (2009)August – December 1978Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Gary Moore – guitar, backing vocals Mark Nauseef – drums, percussion The Boys Are Back in Town (1997)December 1978 – July 1979Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Gary Moore – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussionBlack Rose: A Rock Legend (1979)July 1979Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussionnone July – September 1979Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Midge Ure – guitar, backing vocals September – December 1979Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Dave Flett – guitar, backing vocals Midge Ure – keyboards, backing vocals April 1980Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Snowy White – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Midge Ure – keyboards, backing vocals April 1980 – August 1982Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals, keyboards Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Snowy White – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsChinatown (1980) Live (1980) Killers Live (1981) Renegade (1981)September 1982 – September 1983Phil Lynott – bass, lead vocals Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsThunder and Lightning (1983) Life (1983) BBC Radio One Live in Concert (1992) Thunder and Lightning Tour (2005)Band inactive September 1983 – March 1996March 1996 – early 1998John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsnone Early 1998 – early 2001John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsOne Night Only (2000)Early 2001 – March 2003John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussionnone March – late 2003John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Guy Pratt – bass, backing vocals Michael Lee – drums, percussionLate 2003 – February 2005John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Randy Gregg – bass, backing vocals Michael Lee – drums, percussionFebruary 2005 – January 2007John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Michael Lee – drums, percussionJanuary – November 2007John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussionNovember 2007 – July 2009John Sykes – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Francesco DiCosmo – bass, backing vocals Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussionBand inactive July 2009 – May 2010May 2010 – April 2011Ricky Warwick – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Vivian Campbell – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsLive in London 2011: 22.01.2011 (2011) Live in London 2011: 23.01.2011 (2011)April – November 2011Ricky Warwick – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Richard Fortus – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsHigh Voltage Recorded Live: July 23rd 2011 (2011)November 2011 – March 2013Ricky Warwick – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Damon Johnson – guitar, backing vocals Marco Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Brian Downey – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsLive 2012 (2012)Band inactive March 2013 – July 2016July 2016 – January 2017Ricky Warwick – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Damon Johnson – guitar, backing vocals Tom Hamilton – bass Scott Travis – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsnone Band inactive January 2017 – April 2019April–July 2019Ricky Warwick – lead vocals, guitar Scott Gorham – guitar, backing vocals Damon Johnson – guitar, backing vocals Troy Sanders – bass, backing vocals Scott Travis – drums, percussion Darren Wharton – keyboards, backing vocalsnone

Bibliography

References

External links Thin Lizzy official website