After Dinner Speakers: Thin Lizzy, Tony Gubba, Gene Krantz

Thin Lizzy formed in Dublin, Ireland in late 1969 as singer/songwriter/bassist Philip Lynott, drummer Brian Downey and guitarist Eric Bell. By mid-1970 the group had released an unsuccessful single, "The Farmer," on Parlophone, and later moved to Decca/London for their full-length debut, 1971's Thin Lizzy. Both their self-titled album and 1972's Shades Of A Blue Orphanage emphasized the band's psychedelic blues background, but neither produced a hit. Thin Lizzy remained popular in Dublin, and profits from local shows paid for frequent tours of Britain, where they hoped to make it big. In late 1972 Decca released the group's cover of the traditional Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar" against the band's permission; nonetheless, it became a hit, going to No. 1 in Ireland and No. 6 in the U.K. Following the release of the more aggressive 1973 album Vagabonds of the Western World, Bell left the band and was eventually replaced by 17-year-old Brian Robertson, who developed a reputation as a troublemaker and frequent bar brawler. Scott Gorham was brought in as rhythm guitarist as well. Switching to Phonogram (Mercury in the U.S.), Thin Lizzy released 1974's Night Life, then toured the U.S. with Bachman-Turner Overdrive, whose professionalism inspired Thin Lizzy to take themselves more seriously. The new, tighter, harder Thin Lizzy made its debut with 1975's Fighting, a solid release, but their big break came in 1976 with Jailbreak, whose single "The Boys Are Back in Town reached the U.S. Top 20 and No. 8 in Britain. Jailbreak was closely followed by the concept album Johnny the Fox.The band planned another U.S. tour, but it was canceled after Robertson was injuredin a bar fight; instead they brought in temporary guitarist Gary Moore and touredwith Queen in early 1977. After Robertson recovered, Thin Lizzy returned to the studioto record 1977's Bad Reputation, which went to No. 4 in the U.K. Unfortunately by the late '70s Thin Lizzy became increasingly hindered by drug andalcohol abuse. Robertson was especially effected, frequently quarreling with the restof the band and getting into fights on the street. He was thrown out in late 1978 andpermanently replaced by Moore. After a world tour the new lineup debuted with1979's Black Rose, a Celtic-tinged album that began the group's new contractwith Warner Brothers. Lynott, also affected by drug abuse, began feuding with Moore,who was forced out of the band; for the remainder of their career, Thin Lizzy chewedthrough guitarists. Following Lynott's marriage to Caroline Crowther, the mother of his daughter, 'Lizzyreturned with 1980's Chinatown, which spawned the hit single "Killer on the Loose."The band failed to duplicate their commercial success with Renegade, releasedthe following year - it was a complete flop. Too hard to be pop rock and too poppy tobe heavy metal, Thin Lizzy found itself increasingly unpopular, a problem compounded by Lynott's amazing drug intake. The singer's uncontrollable behavior andwild mood swings drove off guitarists and management, and the band soon found itselfnearly bankrupt; somehow despite his impairment he released two sociopolitical soloalbums in the early '80s. Following the release of the U.K. No. 4 album Thunder and Lightningin 1983, Thin Lizzy embarked on a year-long farewell tour. After the breakup Philip Lynott went on to form the band Grand Slam. On December 25, 1985 Lynott was found unconscious in his London home; he died a week later of drug-related blood poisoning. The band -- including Brian Downey, Scott Gorham, John Sykes, Darren Wharton and Marco Mendoza -- reunited in 1994 for a tour of Japan, and again in 1996 in Ireland for a Phil Lynott tribute concert. Since then, Thin Lizzy continues to tour occasionally, and in 2000 even released a live album, One Night Only, recorded during their 1999 European tour.