The roots of Black Star Riders reach all the way back to 1974 when guitarist Scott Gorham joined rockers Thin Lizzy. Once he joined the band as part of their unique twin lead guitar attack, Thin Lizzy became one of the most respected rock ‘n’ roll bands in the world. He remained with the rockers until their 1983 split, and all hopes for a reunion were crushed when leader Phil Lynott died in 1986. However, Scott Gorham defied expectations and reformed Thin Lizzy – along with several former bandmates – a decade after Lynott’s death. The group became a popular live act with fans old and new, bringing the classic Thin Lizzy catalog to new generations of concert goers. By the end of 2012, the line-up had changed several times and the then-current band members were wanting to release new music. Respecting Thin Lizzy’s legacy, Gorham chose to release the new music under a new band name while continuing to play classic hits live under the Thin Lizzy brand. And Black Star Riders was born…

Fronted by vocalist Ricky Warwick (The Almighty), Black Star Riders’ debut album, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, was released in 2013. Greeted with positive reviews across the board, the decision to NOT release the band’s new music under the Thin Lizzy named worked in their favor. Their second album, THE KILLER INSTINCT, was released in 2015 and was even more successful. Black Star Riders bettered that success with the release of 2017’s HEAVY FIRE. However, two years after the release of their fourth album, ANOTHER STATE OF GRACE (2019), Scott Gorham wanted to focus solely on Thin Lizzy and had to step away from the band. This may have thrown any other band into a state of panic, but Warwick and his bandmates continued to move forward with Black Star Riders. While Gorham is no longer a permanent member of Black Star Riders, he still intends on appearing with the group at selected live dates in the future.

In 2023, Black Star Riders return with their fifth album, WRONG SIDE OF PARADISE, and they keep their legacy alive while continuing to echo the heart of Thin Lizzy. Ricky Warwick’s voice doesn’t copy Phil Lynott’s voice, but you can certainly tell how he would easily be able to capture the spirit of the original Thin Lizzy recordings when performing live for the band. Musically, Black Star Riders play a blend of classic rock and melodic hard rock filled with hooks and riffs that will please rockers everywhere. High points of the album include “Better Than Saturday Night,” “Riding Out The Storm,” “Catch Yourself On,” “Pay Dirt,” and a rocking version of The Osmonds’ “Crazy Horses”! While the group has been creating music together as Black Star Riders for a decade now, they still sound like a hungry, new band eager to make a mark in Rock ‘n’ Roll. And that is what matters.

BLACK STAR RIDERS

WRONG SIDE OF PARADISE

Available NOW!