Phil Lynott helped pioneer hard rock and heavy metal in the '70s with Thin Lizzy, but his subsequent career proved him to be a restless soul with a thirst for new sounds. On a pair of solo albums in 1980 and 1982, he turned his attention to New Wave and R&B, and he incorporated synthesisers and drum machines in songwriting that emphasised his rich, mournful baritone and poetic lyrics. He never lost his love for scorching guitars and pummelling drums, and in 1984, he put together a new group, Grand Slam. Sadly, a spectacular career was cut short when Lynott died in 1986, just 36 years old.