2 days Ago By Katie-Ann Gupwell
Iconic Irish rockers Thin Lizzy have left an indelible mark on the music scene. Forming in Dublin back in 1969, the original line-up boasted bass guitarist, lead vocalist and chief songwriter Phil Lynott, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon, though Wrixon departed shortly after their inception. The band saw a revolving door of talent; Bell exited at the close of 1973, making way for Gary Moore briefly, who was then succeeded by the twin lead guitarists Scott Gorham - who remained until the group disbanded in 1983 - and Brian Robertson, whose tenure lasted until 1978 when Moore returned to the fold.
Moore's spot was taken over by Snowy White in 1980, only to be replaced by John Sykes in 1982. The ensemble expanded with keyboardist Darren Wharton joining in 1980. With international hits like "Whiskey in the Jar", "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "Waiting for an Alibi", Thin Lizzy became a global sensation.
Despite many fans still belting out their songs, there appears to be a little-known fact about the band that has recently sparked curiosity on Reddit , where one user inquired: "What does Thin Lizzy mean? I know it's an Irish band." The question sparked a flurry of theories, with fans eager to offer their suggestions. One fan suggested: "The band's name came from a robot character in The Dandy called Tin Lizzie, which they adjusted to Thin Lizzy as a playful reference to the local Dublin accent, in which 'thin' would be pronounced as 't'in'.
" Another chimed in with: "Dictionary.com: Tin Lizzie. A cheap, old, or run-down automobile (originally used as a nickname for early Ford cars, especially the Model T).
" Despite the numerous theories, the true origin of the name was revealed some time ago. The Dandy, a British children's comic magazine first published in 1937 and running until 2012, featured hundreds of different comic strips, including one about Tin Lizzie - a metallic robot maid, illustrated by Jack Prout. This character, popular throughout the 1950s, seemed to have left a lasting impression on the group.
In the late 1960s, Eric Bell was brainstorming names for the band when he recalled the old comic android, thinking something like Tin Lizzie would work well. "It was [original guitarist] Eric Bell", said original Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey. "We were throwing around ideas for a name after a rehearsal one night, and Eric suggested Tin Lizzie, who was a character in [children's comic magazine] 'The Dandy'.
" Ultimately, the name Thin Lizzy was embraced with a little twist to the spelling - a cheeky nod to their Dublin roots, where "Thin" might be pronounced more like "T'in." Recounting the humorous journey to the moniker, Downey recalled: "We all laughed at that one. But the next day, we were still trying to come up with a name, but nothing seemed right, so Eric again put forward Tin Lizzie.
"As we had nothing better, we thought why not. It was also Eric who changed the spelling to Thin Lizzy.".
