Whiskey in the Jar
Thin Lizzy, 1972, from Non-album single. Solo by Eric Bell.
Eric Bell's guitar on 'Whiskey in the Jar' turns a traditional Irish folk song into a rock hit. His opening riff is bright and catchy, blending Celtic melody with rock energy, and his fills and solo carry the same melodic flair. The playing is clean and precise, adding sparkle without overpowering the song's folk roots. It helped put Thin Lizzy on the map and showed how rock and Irish tradition could meet. Listen for the way Bell's lines echo the song's folk melody, weaving in and out of Phil Lynott's vocal, and how the solo keeps the song's lilting feel while adding rock bite.
Whiskey in the Jar by Thin Lizzy is ranked #191 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Eric Bell and the song was released in 1972. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #37 (Magazyn Gitarzysta).
In our lists
- The Road Trip 50 — #39
- The Best Thin Lizzy Guitar Solos — #12
Sources
- Magazyn Gitarzysta: 100 solówek wszech czasów [100 solos of all time] — #37
- guitarguitar: Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time — #44
Who played the guitar solo on Whiskey in the Jar?
Eric Bell played the solo on Thin Lizzy's Whiskey in the Jar (1972).
What guitar was used on the Whiskey in the Jar solo?
A fender stratocaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Whiskey in the Jar rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#191 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.