August 20, 1949

Phil Lynott, lead singer of Thin Lizzy, was born on August 20, 1949. Born in England to an Irish mother and Guyanese father, Lynott went to live with his grandmother in Dublin at the age of four. He joined his first band, the Black Eagles, in the early 60s. At this time, he befriended Brian Downey and in 1969 the two formed Thin Lizzy along with Eric Bell and Eric Wrixon. The band had their first hit in 1973 with a rock version of the traditional “Whiskey in the Jar.” They would go on to have other hits like “The Boys are Back in Town” and “Jailbreak.” A statue of Lynott stands on Harry Street in Dublin.