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Bio:
Eric Bell was born in East Belfast in 1947. Inspired by Lonnie Donegan and The Shadows,
he began playing guitar as a teenager with a
succession of small local bands, before being invited to join The Bluebeats,
a showband
based in Glasgow. He took the opportunity to turn pro and gained his first experience
of being on the road. Returning to Belfast a year or so later,
he joined the Shannon Showband, who toured the Irish clubs and pubs in the UK.
Eric next joined a blues group called Shades of Blue, replacing the departing Gary Moore.
Through Shades of Blue Eric met John Farrell of Dublin band The Movement,
who told him about a new band being formed in Dublin called The Dreams, who
were designed to combine the best of the group and showband scenes. Eric auditioned and got the job in 1968.
The Dreams recorded four singles and one LP while Eric was with them. He
left in 1969.
In late 1969, Eric and Eric Wrixon of The Trixons got together with
with the rhythm section of Orphanage, Phil Lynott and Brian Downey,
to discuss forming a new band. The result was Thin Lizzy, formed in early 1970.
They were forced to slim down to a trio due to financial problems. Wrixon left in July 1970,
relocating to Sweden.
Eric Bell remained with Thin Lizzy during the first phase of their career, releasing three excellent and
varied albums
on Decca Records between 1971-73 and scoring a world-wide hit with "Whiskey In The Jar". They also
recorded as Funky Junction. After years on
the road, and being somewhat uncomfortable with the heavy that followed the hit single, Eric quit
Thin Lizzy in 1973.
Eric played with the Noel Redding Band during 1975-76, releasing
several records on RCA which expose the bands lack of a strong songwriter; guested on Brush Shiels
solo LP in 1976, and backed Ron McQuinn on his sole single. He also guested on
a single in 1981.
Meanwhile Eric also fronted his own Eric Bell Band for a number of years from the late 70s onwards.
Several musicians played in his band over the years. In 1979 the backing band was ex Radiator Mark Megarey
and ex Angel, Rob Strong Band,
Skid Row and Spud drummer Dave Gaynor, a formidable
partnership. Both later joined UK NWOBHM act Girl. Donal McGrath played with the band in the
early 80s.
By the time Eric released his debut EP in 1981, he was based in London and the backing band
was Dave Nilo (ex The Photos) on bass and David Donovan (ex Wizzo) on drums.
This EP was issued on the band's own Hobo label. eric subsequently
played with Dick Heckstall-Smith's blues rock big band Mainsqueeze.
Notes: Some copies have a pressing fault on A1 which causes a few pops. Also released as a more common 2-track single.
Lineup: Noel Redding (bass, vocals), Eric Bell (guitar), Robbie Walsh (guitar), Les Sampson (drums).
Lineup: Noel Redding (bass, vocals), Eric Bell (guitar, lead & backing vocals), Don Michael Young (keyboards), Les Sampson (drums).
Notes: Lineup: Dick Heckstall-Smith (alto, tenor and soprano sax), Diana Wood (vocals, alto sax), Keith Tillman (ex-Bluesbreakers) (bass), John O'Leary (Savoy Brown) (harmonica), Eric Bell (ex-Thin Lizzy) (guitar), Dave Moore (Roland organ), Victor Brox (ex-Blues Incorporated) (vocals, trumpet), Keith Hartley (ex-Bluesbreakers) (drums) later replaced by Stretch.
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