Black Star Riders return to the Tiv for the second time in 4 years. A band with a huge pedigree, they feature lead guitarists Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) and Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper), lead vocalist/guitarist Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy, The Almighty), bassist Robert Crane (Vince Neil, Ratt) and drummer Chad Szeliga (Black Label Society, Breaking Benjamin), the band are in their sixth year and have three albums under their belt.
Formed in 2012 and taking inspiration for their name after a gang of outlaws in the 1993 western film Tombstone, the band quickly signed a record deal with A&R guru Monte Conner’s label, Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Their debut album, “All Hell Breaks Loose” (produced by Kevin Shirley) was released in May 2013. The release drew widespread acclaim from the world’s press and fans alike.
2013 & 2014 saw live appearances at the prestigious Download Festival in UK and Sweden Rock Festival in addition to headline tours of Europe, USA & Japan.
The bands second album, “The Killer Instinct”, was released in March 2015 and reached a UK national chart position of number 13. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Mastodon, Alice In Chains) in Nashville, the album features Warwick & Johnson as the primary songwriters. Coupled together with Gorham’s classic ‘Thin Lizzy sound’, Black Star Riders came up with something special. The album that surpassed the first in press and fan reaction and gaining many 9/10 and 10/10 reviews.
BBC Radio 2, the UK’s most listened to station, continued their support of the band’s releases and playlisted tracks from the album that gained them ‘Record of the Week’ status.
More touring continued into 2015 culminating in a UK arena run with Def Leppard & Whitesnake at the end of that year.
The bands third album “Heavy Fire” was released on February 3rd 2017 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Written and recorded in 2016 with Nick Raskulinecz again at the helm, the two lead singles were Radio 2 playlisted and again made “Record of the week” status.
The album went on to gain worldwide chart success – reaching: #1 in the UK Rock and Indie charts, #3 in the UK Vinyl chart, #6 in the UK National chart, #11 in the German National chart, #6 in the USA Hard Rock chart, #22 USA Independent chart and #25 in the USA Rock chart.
This year has seen the band complete a major tour alongside Judas Priest and Saxon.
BSR bring with them their special guests Myke Gray and The Rising Souls as two awesome support acts.
