Editing Thin Lizzy (section)

===Early years (1969–1972)===
[[File:Thin Lizzy founders.png|thumb|Brian Downey, Phil Lynott and Eric Bell, three of the four founding members of Thin Lizzy]]
In December 1969, Bell and Wrixon met by chance in a pub in Dublin and found that they shared similar ideas of forming a band, and decided to visit the Countdown Club where they saw Lynott and Downey perform with Orphanage.{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=27}} Lynott was not playing bass guitar at this time, but Bell was particularly impressed by Downey, and introduced himself to Lynott and Downey during a break.{{sfn|Thomson|2016|p=99}} When Bell asked if they would consider forming a band together, Downey was initially sceptical, but both men were aware of Bell's musical reputation.{{sfn|Putterford|1994|p=41}} They agreed that night on condition that Lynott play bass guitar as well as sing, and that the band would perform some of Lynott's compositions.{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=28}} Bell later said, "From there on in we were a band."{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=22}} Wrixon was also included as organist in the as yet unnamed band, making the initial line-up a quartet.{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=24}} The following week, Lynott visited Bell at his flat and played him recordings of some of his own songs. Bell was impressed: "They were so good. I knew right away I could put my guitar style into them."{{sfn|Thomson|2016|p=99}}

The band began to attract attention in the Irish music press almost immediately, as the band began rehearsals in January 1970. On 1 January, ''New Spotlight'' magazine announced that Bell and Wrixon were to be a part of a new band.{{sfn|Thomson|2016|p=99}} By early February, the press had begun to question the delay in any public announcement of the "Bell-Lynott supergroup".{{sfn|Putterford|1994|p=43}} The name Thin Lizzy was announced to the press on 18 February. The name came from an idea by Bell about a robot character in ''[[The Dandy]]'' called Tin Lizzie,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ritchie |first=Gayle |title=50 years of Thin Lizzy: Remembering the night frontman Phil Lynott took a tumble and fell into a Kirkcaldy crowd |work=Nostalgia |publisher=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]] |date=6 July 2020 |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/nostalgia/1403099/50-years-of-thin-lizzy-remembering-the-night-frontman-phil-lynott-took-a-tumble-and-fell-into-a-kirkcaldy-crowd/ |access-date=9 March 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624062050/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/nostalgia/1403099/50-years-of-thin-lizzy-remembering-the-night-frontman-phil-lynott-took-a-tumble-and-fell-into-a-kirkcaldy-crowd/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which they adjusted to Thin Lizzy as a playful reference to the [[Dublin English|local Dublin accent]], in which [[th-stopping|"thin" would be pronounced as "t'in"]].{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=30}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjMDAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT30|page=30|title=Thin Lizzy: The Boys Are Back in Town|author=Harry Doherty|publisher=Music Sales Group|date= 20 November 2012|isbn=9780857128010}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0025fcq 'Irish Music Icons Series 1. Eric Bell (37:27)]. BBC Sounds, 12 November 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025</ref> For some of their early gigs, the band were mistakenly promoted as "Tin Lizzy" or "Tin Lizzie".{{sfn|Brooks|2000|p=19}} The group's first gig was at a school hall in [[Cloghran, Coolock|Cloghran]], near [[Dublin Airport]],{{sfn|Thomson|2016|p=100}}{{sfn|Bailie|1996|p=47}} in 1970, though sources vary on the date from 16 February,{{sfn|Thomson|2016|p=100}} 19 February,{{sfn|Bailie|1996|p=47}} and 20 February.{{sfn|Putterford|1994|p=45}}

In July 1970, the band released a single, "[[The Farmer (song)|The Farmer]]"/"I Need You", on [[EMI]] with the B-side written by John D'ardis, who owned Trend Studios where the single was recorded. The single sold just 283 copies and is now a collectors' item.{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=26}} Wrixon left the band before the single's release, meaning there was a greater share of income for the three remaining members.{{sfn|Putterford|1994|p=47}} He moved to mainland Europe before returning to Belfast, rejoining his old band, Them.{{sfn|Bailie|1996|p=54}} Wrixon died on 13 July 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hotpress.com/Eric-Wrixon/news/RIP-Eric-Wrixon/14591410.html |title=R.I.P. Eric Wrixon |date=13 July 2015 |magazine=Hot Press |access-date=13 July 2015 |archive-date=14 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714043247/http://www.hotpress.com/Eric-Wrixon/news/RIP-Eric-Wrixon/14591410.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

By the end of the year, Thin Lizzy were signed to [[Decca Records]] by their manager, Brian Tuite, and they travelled to London in January 1971 to record their debut album, ''[[Thin Lizzy (album)|Thin Lizzy]]''. The album sold moderately well, but did not chart in the UK despite airplay and support from influential DJs [[John Peel]] and [[Kid Jensen]].{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=27}} Around March 1971, the band permanently relocated to London, before the release of the unsuccessful "New Day" [[Extended play|EP]] in August.{{sfn|Bailie|1996|p=65}} Despite poor sales, Decca agreed to finance the band's second album ''[[Shades of a Blue Orphanage]]'', released in March 1972. Like the previous LP, the songs were filled with Lynott's personal anecdotes and references to his life in Dublin and the people he knew there. Musically the style was [[Celtic rock|Celtic]], with little warning of the hard rock direction that the band were to take in the future.{{sfn|Byrne|2006|p=34}} This album also did not chart in the UK.

In mid-1972, Thin Lizzy were asked to record an album of [[Deep Purple]] covers. Vocals and keyboards were handled by members of another band, Elmer Fudd, and a few instrumental tracks composed by the band were also included, including Bell playing the traditional "[[Danny Boy]]" in the style of [[Jimi Hendrix]]. The album was issued as being by [[Funky Junction]], with no mention of Thin Lizzy. It was released as ''Funky Junction Play a Tribute to Deep Purple'' in January 1973.{{sfn|Putterford|1994|p=64}}