Thin Lizzy

Ireland, 1969–1983

Dublin band led by Phil Lynott. Their paired harmony guitar lines and narrative lyrics on 'The Boys Are Back in Town' and Jailbreak were widely taken up in hard rock and metal.

MusicRoots documents 5 artists who influenced Thin Lizzy and 5 artists Thin Lizzy influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Thin Lizzy?

• Jimi Hendrix — Hendrix was Phil Lynott's early hero — a huge inspiration as a fellow Black rock musician, and audible in Lynott's playing and vocals; he wrote 'Song for Jimi' in 1980.
• Van Morrison — Van Morrison was Lynott's biggest vocal influence — he named Astral Weeks a major inspiration, the fellow Irishman's phrasing beneath Lynott's own.
• The Rolling Stones — The Rolling Stones were a named influence — the swaggering blues-rock template of the 60s behind Thin Lizzy's sound.
• The Beatles — The Beatles shaped drummer Brian Downey's musical development — part of the band's 60s pop-rock foundation.
• Bob Dylan — Lynott's slice-of-life, working-class storytelling drew on Dylan (and Springsteen) and the Irish literary tradition — the writerly side of Thin Lizzy.

Which artists did Thin Lizzy influence?

• Europe — Thin Lizzy were Tempest's other biggest influence — Phil Lynott's melodic hard rock and twin-guitar romanticism a direct model for Europe.
• Bon Jovi — Thin Lizzy's hefty twin-guitar hooks feed Bon Jovi's metallic side — the anthemic hard-rock craft under the hair-metal sheen.
• Def Leppard — The melodic hard rock of Thin Lizzy was a core early model for Def Leppard.
• Kim Wilde — Thin Lizzy is among the rock bands she names, against the synth-pop her brother was writing for her.
• Mastodon — Thin Lizzy's twin-guitar harmonies run through Mastodon's melodic riffing.