Ricky Warwick pens poignant poem to Phil Lynott on his 70th birthday
Black Star Riders and Thin Lizzy vocalist Ricky Warwick has paid poignant tribute to Phil Lynott on what would have been his 70th birthday today (20th August).
A huge Phil Lynott aficionado, Ricky Warwick was invited to front the latest incarnation Thin Lizzy almost exactly a decade ago in September 2009, taking over from John Sykes.
Three years later, of course, he co-founded the Thin Lizzy offshoot band Black Star Riders and has remained a constant member alongside Scott Gorham.
Taking to social media last night on the eve of Phil Lynott’s birthday, Ricky Warwick shared a photo of the late music legend and wrote the powerful poetic words:
“I could never walk in your footsteps
I could never last the pace
I can only stand in awe beside you
And never take your place”
He added: “Happy Birthday Philip. Thank you for everything. We miss ya x. #phillynott #thinlizzy #happybirthday #soundtrackofmylife #inspiration”
> > > View this post on Instagram > > I could never walk in your footsteps I could never last the pace I can only stand in awe beside you And never take your place Happy Birthday Philip. Thank you for everything. We miss ya x. #phillynott #thinlizzy #happybirthday #soundtrackofmylife #inspiration > > A post shared by Ricky Warwick (@warwickricky) on Aug 19, 2019 at 10:18am PDT
In an interview with Italy's Linea Rock in 2017, Ricky hailed Phil Lynott as the “best frontman that ever lived.”
Asking if his Irish background helps maintain the legacy of Phil Lynott, Ricky said: "We have an expression in Ireland since we are a nation of great storytellers, it's called 'spinning the yarn.' 'Spin the yarn' is something you would do in the pubs, you would tell stories. It seems to be ingrained in Irish culture for thousands of years is that's what we're good at. I think that comes out in the music from the country.
“Phil was a phenomenal storyteller, a big influence on me as a kid growing up, my hero. He is the best frontman that ever lived in rock and roll. That's influenced me a lot. I've tried to aspire to some of that myself. It's culturally who you are. Ireland has got a great musical tradition, so many great musicians have come out of the country. It just seems to be ingrained in who we are and our blood."
Thin Lizzy headlined Steelhouse Festival last month and performed 1979 album ‘Black Rose’ in its glorious entirety to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Meanwhile, the first Black Star Riders album to feature drummer Chad Szeliga and guitarist Christian Martucci, ‘Another State Of Grace’, is released on Friday 6th September via Nuclear Blast.
Following album release, Black Star Riders embark on a sprawling Planet Rock Presents UK and Ireland tour bracketing their previously announced Glasgow Braehead Arena gig with Saxon.
Special guests at all dates (except the Saxon gig in Glasgow) are Stone Broken, while Wayward Sons will open all the dates apart from Belfast and Dublin. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
See Black Star Riders at the following shows:
OCTOBER 2019
Bristol O2 Academy – Thu 10th
Cambridge Corn Exchange – Fri 11th
London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – Sat 12th
Wrexham William Aston Hall – Sun 13th
Dublin Academy – Wed 16th*
Belfast Limelight – Thu 17th
Glasgow Braehead Arena – Fri 18th (supporting Saxon)
Newcastle O2 Academy – Sat 19th
Nottingham Rock City – Sun 20th
Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion – Tue 22nd
Bournemouth O2 Academy – Wed 23rd
Cardiff University Great Hall – Thu 24th
Wolverhampton Steel Mill – Fri 25th
Leeds O2 Academy – Sat 26th
Manchester O2 Ritz – Sun 27th