The late Phil Lynott's solo career witnessed a diversification of styles from Rock, Funk, soul, Blues and electronic Dance music. Yet, despite his high profile as frontman for THIN LIZZY Lynott's solo efforts have been largely neglected and have even caused confusion among THIN LIZZY fans eager for straight forward Hard Rock music.

Before Lynott launched his official solo career he had already had a guest vocal slot on JEFF WAYNE's soundtrack album 'War Of The Worlds', narrating the track 'The Spirit Of Man'. Lynott also added his distinctive vocals to JOHNNY THUNDERS' album 'So Alone'.

Phil's debut solo album, 'Solo In Soho', was co-produced by Kit Woolven. Released during the New Romantic boom in Britain the album dabbles with electronic edged Rock, evident in such cuts as 'Yellow Pearl' (a track co-written by ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist and ULTRAVOX vocalist Midge Ure). This track, also featuring VISAGE's Rusty Egan, ULTRAVOX man Billy Currie and THIN LIZZY drummer Brian Downey, was later to succeed as the theme tune for the TV musical institution 'Top Of The Pops'.

The 'Solo In Soho' album also found ex-WILD HORSES and RAINBOW bassist also Jimmy Bain collecting songwriting credits for the single 'Dear Miss Lonely Heart' and the straight album track 'Girls'.

Eager to keep awkward questions of a THIN LIZZY split at bay, Lynott suitably titled his second solo album as a plain matter of fact statement 'The Phillip Lynott Solo Album'. Nevertheless, the album featured all of Phil's THIN LIZZY colleagues, ex THIN LIZZY and ULTRAVOX keyboardist Midge Ure, SUPERTRAMP drummer Bob C. Benberg and DIRE STRAITS guitarist Mark Knopfler. As with his previous effort, the album contains Rock in its broadest sense; from Motown to Electropop.

However, in the midst of the chaos surrounding the eventual demise of THIN LIZZY, Lynott assembled a new act titled GRAND SLAM. Amazingly, a year's worth of solid touring and critical praise did not give the band a recording deal and, following sessions in Los Angeles with HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS with GRAND SLAM guitarist Lawrence Archer, Lynott signed a new solo deal with Polydor Records.

The ensuing 'Nineteen' single featured guitarist ROBIN GEORGE and was produced by top Dance DJ Paul Hardcastle. The various formats included a B side of 'A Night In The Life Of A Blues Singer', which was a rare THIN LIZZY recording from 1979.

Lynott's proposed third solo album was to have been produced by Tom Dowd and to have featured ROBIN GEORGE and former THIN LIZZY guitarists GARY MOORE and JOHN SYKES. Tragically, Lynott was to die on January 4, 1986 of an illness complicated by years of drug abuse prior to recording.

Sykes and Gorham resurrected THIN LIZZY in the late 90's for festival appearances in order to pay homage to Lynott. The shows were massively successful culminating in a 2000 live album.

The same year witnessed a PHIL LYNOTT tribute album entitled 'Spirit Of The Black Rose'. Beginning with a narration by Lynott's mother Philomena the album include songs performed by KEN HENSLEY, ROBIN GEORGE, NWoBHM act DEMON, Southern Rockers DOC HOLLIDAY Canada's CARL DIXON and RANDY BACHMAN with Swedish acts LOCOMOTIVE BREATH and MOTHERLODE.

A Lynott rarity would arrive in 2001 in the form of the track 'Revolution', co-written with renowned Rock DJ Dez Bailey and included on the BAILEY'S COMET debut 'Judgment Day'. Detroit act THE DIRTBOMBS would issue a cover of Lynott's 'Ode To A Blackman' as a single in November of the same year.

Early 2002 would deliver a treat for PHIL LYNOTT fans with the release by Zoom Club Records of 'Live In Sweden 1983'. A limited edition digipack box set, restricted to just 1'000 copies, would include the previously unreleased track 'Look At These Eyes'. The tapes were compiled from two consecutive concerts featuring JOHN SYKES on guitar. Later that year Zoom Club unearthed yet another rarity, a previously unheard studio recording of PROCUL HARUM's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' segued with BOB DYLAN's 'Like A Rolling Stone'. Issued as a CD single this release was restricted to just 500 copies. The same year also saw long established plans for a movie centred upon Lynott's life coming to fruition with American actor Gary Dourdan selected to perform the lead role.

In 2005 leading Finnish Rockers HANOI ROCKS paid homage with a cover of 'Dear Miss Lonely Hearts' included on their album 'Another Hostile Takeover'.

August 20th saw The Roisin Dubh Trust unveiling a life size bronze statue of Lynott in Grafton Street, Dublin. To coincide, an all-star concert billed as 'The Boy Is Back In Town' would be held at The Point in Dublin. Performers included GARY MOORE, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson, the ERIC BELL BAND, Brian Downey, Brush Shiels, DARE, WHEATUS and THERAPY?