“I was going everywhere – on the toilet, the bath, the taxi, and walking down the street – going, ‘What do I hear coming in there after those chords?’” How Eric Bell wrote one of Thin Lizzy’s most iconic guitar solos

Eric Bell from Thin Lizzy performs live on stage in 1973.

Writing a guitar solo – and one which stands the test of time – is definitely one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments. Once an Irish traditional song, Whiskey in the Jar found new life – and a new audience – when Thin Lizzy transformed it into a rock song with a one-of-a-kind solo, expertly delivered by Eric Bell.

“I think a solo should complement the song, rather than just jerking off,” Bell summarizes his philosophy in the latest edition of Guitar World.