10 Outrageous Omissions From The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

7. Thin Lizzy

Henry Rollins once referred to Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott as his "road man," a singer whose words and voice can remind you of home, no matter where you are, no matter what your circumstances. It's true. Keep the Jailbreak album in your car or on your mp3 player, and you'll know. On your worst day, Lynott's voice is like that of an old friend's - one who's been there the whole time. Lynott drew upon several traditions to produce a sound that remains unique, even on classic rock stations. Thin Lizzy's instrumentation is pure seventies rock; powerful, up front, loud. The band's melodic approach on the other hand was steeped not only in early rock n' roll and Motown, but in the catchy harmonies of Irish folk songs. The early Lizzy albums were mellower than you'd expect, but once they permitted themselves to crank up the volume, their newer, harder sound was unmatched. They approached rock from a completely different angle, and influenced scores of bands thereafter.