Thin Lizzy - An Introduction

Thin Lizzy, arguably Irelands finest ever rock exports were formed back in 1970. Founder members Philip Lynott, Brian Downey and Eric Bell started out as all other hopefuls playing the local Irish circuit before securing their first record deal on the ‘Parlophone label’ and releasing one now highly prized recording ‘The Farmer’. In 1971 the band signed to the easy listening Decca label and released the hit single ‘Whisky in the Jar’ plus three albums that alas failed to set the charts alight. However it was Eric Bells final swansong LP in 1973 the classic ‘Vagabonds of the Western World’ that it became clear a corner was soon to be turned.

With a revamped line-up in early 1974 which was to feature the now unmistakable twin guitars of Brian Robertson, a 17 year old Glaswegian genius, and the more laid back and ridiculously good looking Scott Gorham, Thin Lizzy on the new Vertigo label released a cavalcade of hit albums and even bigger hit singles. ‘Nightlife’, ‘Jailbreak’, ‘Johnny the Fox’ and the biggest selling live album ever ‘Live & Dangerous’, cemented Lizzy as true monsters of the rock world. Living up to their hard man image they partied hard, played hard and delivered in spades. Anthemic classy rock music that was just at home in the charts as much as the music halls they played year in year out.

The sad demise of Phil Lynott in January 1986 saw the end of the band, and Irelands first real rock god superstar. Lynott was and still to this day is the ultimate essence of a ‘true rockstar’. He was a poet, a romantic, and a genius. Mirroring his childhood hero Jimi Hendrix, Lynott often compared to the great man by way of his looks, trade mark afro hair and cheeky grin, is as iconic today as he ever was.

The seminal ‘The boys are back in town’ today is still played all over the world. Not arguably his greatest moment even, he had far more songs on albums that touched way deeper, but it is the ‘Boys’ that sums up the legend of Philo better than any.. Many have tried to re-write this tune, but it is impossible. Phil really said it all back in 1976.

It was on one such performance on Top of the pops back in 1976 that a 13 year old English schoolboy Greg Hart literally ‘saw a light’! “The minute i first saw ‘The Boys are back in town’ on the TV i knew i had a path. I knew right there and then i wanted to be in this band, i wanted to know everything about them” he said. But most of all he wanted to play guitar like them!

 Within a few years Greg was playing and writing, and had saved up for his first Gibson Les Paul, trying his best to emulate the Lizzy pair of Robertson & Gorham in his first rock bands around the UK.. “The songs, the album sleeves, the image, the excitement of the band had me addicted to a crazy level. I would bunk off school to go see them in concert, i would beg borrow or steal to get the same equipment. I wanted to be them.”

Greg went on to become a successful musician in his own right with a string of albums and CDs, albeit in the more AOR vein, with band such as ‘If Only’, ‘Moritz’, ‘GTS’ & ‘Hartless’. Even today in his forties Hart still records plays and writes new material in what he describes as his ‘insane hectic lifestyle’.

Hart was also a budding artist that would sit at school copying the style of Lizzy artist Jim Fitzpatrick in art lessons, and in fact it became very clear that both music and art would be a parallel universe in many ways. “I never truly thought back then that years later i would be playing round the country as a pro musician in a Lizzy tribute show to hundreds of people, and in my down time spend it selling my original artworks on the web. I did this between 2000 and 2006.  It’s a dream ticket, one i am blessed to be able to mention, and one i am eternally grateful to whoever it was that gave me the gift of both music and art. I am proud I have worked hard and believed in myself to push this hard to find niche somewhere in this over saturated market”.

In 2009 Hart was a featured artist in no less than three art exhibitions to commemorate the life of Phil Lynott & Thin Lizzy. His works were featured on national Irish televison, and ultimately he received the highest praise possible by none other than the late stars mother Philomena Lynott, who endorses his work, as well as owning several pieces from the collections.

“Knowing my work is actually in Philip Lynotts home, and approved by Philomena is simply the highest achievement i have had in anything. She is the most incredible lady, one who i am proud to say i actually know…and shared a Guiness with!”.

Hart has painted over 35 original Lizzy pieces to date, his limited editions are collected worldwide and he has no intention of stopping.

“I will paint more and more images of Phil until i drop. It is my way of living, and dealing with, the knowledge he isn’t around anymore. ‘Tho in our hearts he and his music lives forever….’til the next time…”