PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Northern Ireland-born Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick certainly believes in keeping busy. In 2015 he released no less than three PledgeMusic-funded solo albums, and toured virtually non-stop in support of BSR’s own second album, ‘The Killer Instinct’. In between this, he also undertook a UK tour with band mate, friend and fellow songwriter Damon Johnson.
And he’s not resting on his laurels… The first two of his solo albums, ‘When Patsy Cline Was Crazy And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues’ and ‘Hearts On Trees’ are about to rereleased, with bonus features, via Nuclear Blast, and he is due to return to British shores imminently with Ricky Warwick And The Fighting Hearts, touring in support of Norn Iron punk legends Stiff Little Fingers.
However, he also values his down time, with his family, and he spent this past Christmas back home in his native Belfast. Unfortunately, it proved to be the last such occasion he would spend with his father, Des, as he passed away this past week. It was a circumstance which could not have been foreseen when the PlanetMosh team sat down with Ricky backstage at the Diamond Rock Club in the tiny Northern Ireland village of Ahoghill before he played a one-off show on the eve of his return to Los Angeles.
Our Ireland editor found the singer in his usual ebullient form, as he chatted about the solo albums, the forthcoming Fighting Hearts tour and delivered the inside gen on the next Black Star Riders album, revealing that fans might have to wait a little while for it come their way:
‘When Patsy Cline Was Crazy And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues’ and ‘Hearts On Trees’ are released as a double CD package via Nuclear Blast on February 26.
Ricky Warwick And The Fighting Hearts return to the UK for the following dates (with Stiff Little Fingers):
25 February – Oxford, Academy
26 February – Portsmouth, Pyramids
27 February – Exeter, Phoenix
28 February – Cardiff, University (Solus)
1 March – Wolverhampton, Robin 2
2 March – Leamington Spa, The Assembly
4 March – London, Forum
5 March – Northampton, Roadmenders
6 March – Bristol, Academy
8 March – Cambridge, Junction
9 March – Norwich, Waterfront
11 March – Nottingham, Rock City
12 March – Leeds, Academy
14 March – Aberdeen, Garage
15 March – Inverness, Ironworks
17 March – Glasgow, Barrowlands
18 March – Newcastle, Academy
19 March – Manchester, Ritz
- Photographs and videography by The Dark Queen.
- All content © PlanetMosh 2016. Not to be reproduced without permission.
