Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick is to release two solo albums early in 2016.
‘When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues)’ and the acoustic album ‘Hearts on Trees’ were originally recorded and released via PledgeMusic at the end of 2014. Now, they will be repackaged and released as a double CD on Nuclear Blast Entertainment on February 26.
Ricky said of the solo albums: “While we were working on the new BSR album, ‘The Killer Instinct’, I just got into a very productive song writing zone. The songs just kept coming and coming.
“Black Star Riders is my top priority. But I really wanted these songs to come out. The album’s been a long time coming and in fact we’ve even made two albums here: electric and acoustic. We’ve played with some great musicians. I think that the Black Star Riders fans will really dig this solo stuff too so absolutely delighted to be getting it out there.”
Guest stars on the project included Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders), Andy Cairns (Therapy?), Billy Morrison (Billy Idol), Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol), Ginger Wildheart, Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers) and Richard Fortus (Guns & Roses/The Dead Daisies).
Warwick will support the albums’ release by touring with The Fighting Hearts (pictured below right), featuring another Black Star Riders band mate, Robbie Crane, as well as guitarist Mark Thwaite and drummer Gary Sullivan, from one of his post Almighty bands, (sic). The band will support Stiff Little Fingers on the following dates:
25/02/16 Oxford – Academy
26/02/16 Portsmouth – Pyramids
27/02/16 Exeter – Phoenix
28/02/16 Cardiff – University (Solus)
01/03/16 Wolverhampton – Robin 2
02/03/16 Leamington Spa – The Assembly
04/03/16 London – Forum
05/03/16 Northampton – Roadmenders
06/03/16 Bristol – Academy
08/03/16 Cambridge – Junction
09/03/16 Norwich – Waterfront
11/03/16 Nottingham – Rock City
12/03/16 Leeds – Academy
14/03/16 Aberdeen – Garage
15/03/16 Inverness – Ironworks
17/03/16 Glasgow – Barrowland
18/03/16 Newcastle – Academy
19/03/16 Manchester – Ritz
Tickets for all shows go on sale this coming Friday (September 18) from all usual outlets.
Ricky Warwick is currently undertaking an acoustic tour of the UK with Damon Johnson.