Since the protein needed to transform 5-fluorocytosine could only be churned out by souped-up stem cells, only the gliomas were exposed to the poison, killing them but sparing normal tissue, which the stem cells ignored.
Along with success came pressure to record a quick follow-up, and within the next 18 months, Thin Lizzy churned out Johnny the Fox (1976) and Bad Reputation (1977) while touring constantly.