Thin Lizzy founding member Eric Bell will be honoured as a legend at the annual Northern Ireland Music Prize awards in November.
The 76-year-old Belfast guitarist will be presented with the Legend Award for his contribution to music over nearly six decades at the Ulster Hall event.
Mr Bell will be presented with the award by PRS for Music, the copywrite collective, during the evening organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre.
“I would just like to thank every person out there who made it possible for me receiving this award. It’s such an honour to be recognised in your own hometown. Thank you all,” Mr Bell said.
He was still only a teenager when he joined Van Morrison and Them for a short time beginning late 1966 while he also played with Shades of Blue, replacing Gary Moore.
Mr Bell, with Phil Lynott and others, founded Thin Lizzy in 1969. He played on the band’s first three albums Thin Lizzy, Shades of a Blue Orphanage and Vagabonds of the Western World. He was guitarist on the single ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ and co-wrote other songs, including ‘The Rocker’.
After four years with Thin Lizzy, the guitarist was recruited by ex-Jimi Hendrix collaborator Noel Redding to form his eponymous band. In 1980, he reunited with Thin Lizzy to record a tribute song to Jimi Hendrix.
He continued to perform through the latter decades of the century in London and elsewhere. In 2005, Mr Bell joined Gary Moore onstage to perform ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ at the Phil Lynott tribute concert in the Point Theatre, Dublin. In 2022 Eric published his autobiography ‘Before, During and After Thin Lizzy’.
The veteran musician continues to perform live and record and will take to the stage during the November 13 awards night with his band, the Eric Bell Trio and special guests.
Eric has since written and released several records and still plays live extensively.
Charlotte Dryden, of Oh Yeah, said it was “never a case of if, but when, with making this presentation to Eric.”
“He is a true original and an East Belfast rock n roll blues hero. He has inspired generations of musicians to start bands and pick up guitars,” Ms Dryden said.
“He gave us Thin Lizzy and timeless classics like ‘Whisky in the Jar’ and ‘The Rocker’, songs that have resonated with fans from all over the world. We look forward to celebrating with Eric on what is set to be another excellent evening for all.”
The Oh Yeah Legend award is presented annually to an individual or band that has made a significant contribution to the world of music, the centre said. Previous recipients include Barry Devlin of Horslips, ASH, Snow Patrol, Paul Brady and Gary Moore posthumously
A very limited number of tickets will go on sale on Thursday 29th August at 10am from the Ulster Hall and the Waterfront website, the centre said.
