Lizzy's Brian Robertson Reveals New Solo Record

The genesis of Brian Robertson's solo debut came about almost entirely by accident, and thanks to a bag of old tapes.

"I thrust the bag into my friend Søren's hand and said: 'Why don’t you listen to these some time when you’re bored," Brian remembers. "They’re a number of my previously unreleased compositions.'"

Søren Lindberg from Sweden is one of former Thin Lizzy/Motörhead guitarist Brian Robertson's closest friends and frequently works as his driver when he has equipment which needs transporting.  "He had plenty of time to listen to that pile of tapes in his lorry on the way back to Scandinavia. He called me as soon as he reached Stockholm: 'Brian, there's some brilliant stuff on those tapes. We should make an album of them'"

And so the long process of turning a bag of tapes into a finished album started, with Robertson putting together a band of renowned instrumentalists in drummer Ian Haugland (Europe) and bassist Nalley Påhlsson (Treat & Therion) ("They’re great, the best rhythm section I’ve played with since Phil Lynott and Brian Downey," says Robertson) plus singer Leif Sundin (ex-Michael Schenker Group) was recruited as additional lead vocalist, and Liny Wood joined the fold as backing vocalist.

'Diamonds And Dirt' contains 5 Robertson solo compositions, including the title track, and the songs 'Passion', 'Texas Wind' and 'Devil In My Soul'. The album is rounded off with tracks from Robertson's collaboration with Phil Lynott during their Thin Lizzy days in the years 1974 to 1978 and his fellow-countryman Frankie Miller, with whom he recorded 'Dancing In The Rain' in 1986.

'Diamonds And Dirt' also features a new version of 'It's Only Money' (from Thin Lizzy's 1974 release 'Nightlife'), plus two new versions of 'Running Back' (from 1976's 'Jailbreak') and a previously never-before-released Robertson/Lynott co-composition 'Blues Boy'. "I think Phil would be proud of what I've done with these Lizzy songs" says Robertson, noting that "my guitar style is audibly stronger than it was back then". Regarding why 'Running Back' was recorded in two versions he explains; "I said to Søren: 'Let's cut it the way I hear that number.' So we tried several interpretations, among them a slower version, which we've also included on the album."

Track Listing

1. 'Diamonds And Dirt' (Brian Robertson)
2. 'Passion' (Brian Robertson)
3. 'It's Only Money' (Phil Lynott)
4. 'Mail Box' (Frankie Miller)
5. 'Running Back' (Phil Lynott)
6. 'Texas Wind' (Brian Robertson)
7. 'Devil In My Soul' (Brian Robertson)
8. 'Do It Till We Drop (Drop It!)' (Frankie Miller/Jeff Barry/Brian Robertson)
9. 'Blues Boy' (Brian Robertson/Phil Lynott)
10. 'That's All..!' (Brian Robertson)
11. '10 Miles To Go On A 9 Mile Road' (Jim White)
12. 'Running Back' (Phil Lynott) – slow version
13. 'Ain't Got No Money' (Frankie Miller) – bonus track