Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott gets a remarkable bronze statue in his home town to mark his 72nd birthday

26 August 2021, 11:34

The likeness of the singer and bassist was crowdfunded by fans and designed by local sculptor Luke Perry.

A new statute of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott has been unveiled in West Bromwich to mark what would have been the late singer's 72nd birthday.

The bronze likeness was designed by local sculptor Luke Perry and was unveiled on August 20 in the Staffordshire town where Lynott was born.

Its engraving reads: "Phil Lynott. Son of West Bromwich. Born in this town 20th August 1949."

Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town

West Bromwich Town Business Improvement District (BID) said on Twitter: "This afternoon the BID team attended the unveiling of the Phil Lynott Statue on what would have been his 72nd Birthday.

"It now has pride of place in West Bromwich and looks fantastic."

While Lynott was born in West Browich in 1949 and first went to school in Manchester, he moved to Dublin, Ireland to live with his mother's parents in 1957.

After time in various bands, including an early incarnation of Skid Row, Lynott founded Thin Lizzy and became the band's frontman and bass player.

He recorded 12 albums with the band before their split in 1983, enjoying hits with songs like 'Jailbreak', 'The Boys Are Back in Town' and 'Whiskey in the Jar'.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey In The Jar 1973 Video Sound HQ

After struggles with alcohol and drug use, he contracted septicemia and died from heart failure and pneumonia on January 4, 1986. He was 36.

Lynott already had a statue unveiled in his native Dublin back in 2005, on the day before what would have been his 56th birthday.

Thin Lizzy were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 but are yet to be inducted.