Sad news has reached us that one of the original members of both Thin Lizzy and Them has died.
Eric Wrixon was not only keyboardist in the first line-up of the seminal rock outfit Thin Lizzy, alongside Eric Bell, Brian Downey and Phil Lynott, but also a founding member of Van Morrison's Them. Indeed, it was Wrixon who came up with the latter's name, taking it from '50s sci-fi flick Them!.
Wrixon also played with The People and The Trixons. In his later years, he was living in Italy.
Confirmation of Wrixon's passing came from Lizzy's first manager Terry O'Neill and Bob Kelly, who paid tribute to his "dear friend of 50 years", calling him "a hard act to follow."
May he rest in peace.