PHIL LYNOTT joined his first band, THE BLACK EAGLES, as frontman. Drummer Brian Downey was later persuaded to join from the band from the LIFFY BEATS.

Before long THE BLACK EAGLES broke up and Lynott joined KAMA SUTRA before settling into SKID ROW, a band that featured guitarist GARY MOORE, bassist Brush Shiels and drummer Noel Bridgeman. This line-up released two albums on CBS Records. It was actually Shiels who taught Lynott how to play bass, but Lynott quit SKID ROW to join his friend Downey in SUGARSHACK.

SUGARSHACK would soon split up leaving Lynott and Downey to quickly put together a new band titled ORPHANAGE with guitarist John Stanton and bassist Pat Quigley. ORPHANAGE succeeded in scoring an Irish hit single with 'Morning Dew' and Lynott was later to take over bass duties from Quigley as the band added ex-THEM guitarist Eric Bell to the roster.

In 1969, Lynott, Downey and Bell formed THIN LIZZY with keyboard player Eric Wrixhorn.