Ricky Warwick

Warwick was born in Newtownards, County Down, where he spent his formative years,{{cite web|author=Victoria Holdsworth |url=http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/7965/ |title=Ricky Warwick | Interviews & Features | 2007 |publisher=Leedsmusicscene.net |access-date=1 January 2014}} and got his first guitar at 14 years old.{{cite web|author=Press |url=http://rickywarwick.com/#bio |title=Bio |publisher=Rickywarwick.com |access-date=1 January 2014}} He was soon playing along to songs by various rock and country acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.{{cite web |url=http://magazine.100percentrock.com/interviews/201303/10834 |title=Archive Interview – RICKY WARWICK, THIN LIZZY – June 2010 | 100% ROCK MAGAZINE |publisher=Magazine.100percentrock.com |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=1 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102072717/http://magazine.100percentrock.com/interviews/201303/10834 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |url-status=dead }} Warwick quickly migrated to the music of more harder-edged acts such as Motörhead, MC5, Stiff Little Fingers and The Clash.{{cite web|author=Rob Theakston |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ricky-warwick-mn0000807382/biography |title=Ricky Warwick – Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=1 January 2014}} He later reminisced that "Those artists gave me a voice", adding that "...when no one would listen to a fourteen year old boy, they gave me something important to say." A year after, he moved with his family to Strathaven in Scotland. He first met his future bandmates Stump Monroe and Floyd London at his new school in Scotland.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalliville.co.uk/bankup/INTERVIEWS%20Folder/Ricky%20Warwick.htm |title=An Interview with Ricky Warwick (Frontman of The Almighty, A Member of Circus Diabolo and also a Solo Artist) |author=Glen Milligan |publisher=metalliville.co.uk |access-date=1 January 2014}}

Warwick got his first break in the late 1980s, when he was invited to join New Model Army as a rhythm guitarist on their The Ghost of Cain album world tour. He states that he learnt a great deal about songwriting and stagecraft during his time with the band. Warwick then left New Model Army and formed The Almighty in 1988 with guitarist Andy 'Tantrum' McCafferty and Warwick's former school-friends, drummer Stump Monroe and bass guitarist Floyd London.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicadvisor.biz/the-almighty-complete-discography.htm |title=The Almighty |publisher=Musicadvisor.biz |access-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101175631/http://www.musicadvisor.biz/the-almighty-complete-discography.htm |archive-date=1 January 2014 }} Warwick was the lead vocalist and played guitar in various formats of the band. Although all four founding members had a strong background in punk rock music, The Almighty took a more heavy metal/hard rock orientated musical direction.{{cite web|author=Artist Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/almighty-mn0000308781/biography |title=Almighty – Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=1 January 2014}}

The early 1990s saw The Almighty tour extensively throughout the UK and Europe as support to major rock acts such as Motörhead, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden and Metallica.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/uk/straven/the+almighty |title=MusicMight: Artists : THE ALMIGHTY |publisher=Rockdetector.com |access-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102194354/http://www.rockdetector.com/artist/uk/straven/the+almighty |archive-date=2 January 2014 }} The band also later toured as headliners in their own right. Five studio albums and one live album were released by The Almighty during this time, which were well received by rock fans throughout the UK and in Europe. They were, however, unable to break through in the United States despite touring there in 1993. That same year, Warwick also performed with The Stiff Little Fingers at a gig at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. A live album showcasing that gig from March 1993, Pure Fingers, was released in 1995.{{cite web|title=Stiff Little Fingers – Pure Fingers Live CD|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1497525/a/pure+fingers+live.htm|publisher=CD Universe|access-date=20 May 2014}}

File:Ricky Warwick by Alec MacKelliag 2011.jpg

In 1996, disillusioned with the direction The Almighty were taking Warwick moved to Dublin where he formed a new band called (sic) with Ciaran McGoldrick (bass) and Gary Sullivan (drums). The band's one record, I Feel So Lonely I Could Die, was only released in Japan, although a four-track EP came out in the UK.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} (sic) broke up in 1999 and then Warwick returned to The Almighty. The Almighty then released two further albums before again disbanding in 2001.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

After the second break-up of The Almighty, Warwick admits he felt like quitting performing altogether. Instead, he went on tour in 2002 as a solo artist and, taking on board his fondness for country music and Americana, he played acoustically. The tour reinvigorated Warwick's love of music, and he began writing songs for a new album.

Warwick's first solo album, Tattoos & Alibis, was released in October 2003. Almost entirely acoustic, it was a marked departure from the raucous hard rock of The Almighty. A follow-up album was released in January 2006, Love Many Trust Few, which was similar in style to his solo debut although slightly more hard-rock orientated.

In January 2006 The Almighty reformed with their 'classic' line-up of Warwick, Stump, Floyd and Pete for benefit shows. Later in the year, they appeared as headliners at the 2006 Bulldog Bash{{cite web|url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/gigs/the-bulldog-bash/ |title=The Bulldog Bash- Gigs |publisher=Metal Hammer |access-date=1 January 2014}} and then undertook a 5 show tour of the UK in December 2006.{{cite web|url=http://thealmighty.co.uk/?page_id=115 |title=Biography |publisher=Thealmighty.co.uk |access-date=1 January 2014}} During the same year, Warwick also joined the band Circus Diablo, along with Billy Duffy (of The Cult). The band recorded one album and performed at Ozzfest during 2007, but are no longer active.

He has in the past toured the British Isles and throughout Europe supporting Bob Dylan,{{cite web|title=Former The Almighty frontman to open for Bob Dylan|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-the-almighty-frontman-to-open-for-bob-dylan/|publisher=Blabbermouth|access-date=20 May 2014|date=7 May 2004}} Sheryl Crow and Mina Caputo.{{cite web|title=The Almighty's Warwick to support Keith Caputo|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-almighty-s-warwick-to-support-keith-caputo-in-europe/|publisher=Blabbermouth|access-date=20 May 2014|date=5 March 2008}}

Warwick will make his acting debut in an independent film written and directed by Bobby Field. Entitled The Bridge, filming is set to begin in mid 2017. The cast features several other rock musicians including Joe Elliott, Al Jourgensen (Ministry) and Joey Santiago (The Pixies).{{cite web|title=Pixies' Joey Santiago to make feature film acting debut|url=http://newnoisemagazine.com/pixies-joey-santiago-feature-film-acting-debut/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209101837/http://newnoisemagazine.com/pixies-joey-santiago-feature-film-acting-debut/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2014|publisher=New Noise Magazine|access-date=28 January 2015|date=3 December 2014}}{{cite web|last=Carioscia|first=Anthony|title=Interview: Thin Lizzy & Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick talks Phil Lynott's legacy|url=http://www.alternativenation.net/interview-rick-warwick/|publisher=Alternative Nation|access-date=28 January 2015|date=21 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122215011/http://www.alternativenation.net/interview-rick-warwick/|archive-date=22 January 2015}}

In April 2009, Warwick released his third solo album, Belfast Confetti, continuing in the largely acoustic guitar based approach of his previous two solo albums.

Metalriot.com's Morgan Y. Evans wrote of Warwick's 2021 solo single "You're My Rock'N'Roll" that it ,"...is an infectious yet street-wise song that feels like what it means to live for rock, a punk-tinged power anthem that brings to mind working class, scab knuckled hands wiping down the bar to start all over again. It's the sort of song that would make the Social Distortions and Rose Tattoos of the world proud, a fine tribute to the many faces known and unknown behind the genre's glory and ongoing legacy."{{Cite web|title=RICKY WARWICK 'When Life Was Hard And Fast' album out, "You're My Rock And Roll" video – Metal Riot|url=http://metalriot.com/news/ricky-warwick-when-life-was-hard-and-fast-album-out-youre-my-rock-and-roll-lyric-vid/|access-date=19 February 2021|language=en-US}}

File:Black Star Riders – Wacken Open Air 2014 20.jpg

In September 2009, Warwick was invited to join the latest lineup of Thin Lizzy and joined them as lead vocalist and guitarist. Warwick took part in Thin Lizzy's 2011 European tour commemorating 25 years since the death of original frontman Phil Lynott. In December 2012, he co-founded the Thin Lizzy spin-off band, Black Star Riders in order to release new material largely composed by Warwick with guitarist Damon Johnson.{{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/exclusive-thin-lizzy-to-end-black-star-riders-to-begin-20121221 |title=Thin Lizzy to End, Black Star Riders to Begin |date=20 December 2012 |publisher=noise11.com}} Black Star Riders' first album All Hell Breaks Loose was released in May 2013.{{cite web|url=http://blackstarriders.com/?p=632 |title=Black Star Riders announce debut album title |date=8 March 2013 |publisher=Black Star Riders official website}}

In 2014, Warwick recorded a second album with the Black Star Riders. Titled The Killer Instinct, the album was released on 20 February 2015.{{cite web|last=Syrjala|first=Marko|title=Black Star Riders – Ricky Warwick and Damon Johnson|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2015/01/06/black-star-riders-ricky-warwick-and-damon-johnson/|publisher=Metal Rules|access-date=28 January 2015|date=6 January 2015}}{{cite web|last=Westland|first=Raymond|title=Black Star Riders – The Killer Instinct|url=http://echoesanddust.com/2015/02/black-star-riders-the-killer-instinct/|publisher=Echoes and Dust|access-date=4 March 2015|date=26 February 2015}} Alongside his touring commitments with Black Star Riders in 2015, Warwick toured the UK with his bandmate Damon Johnson, performing acoustic sets of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders songs, plus various covers and selections of Almighty and solo material. He also recorded an album of covers titled Stairwell Troubadour, again through PledgeMusic.{{cite web|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/rickywarwick2 |title=Covers LP: Stairwell Troubadour |access-date=5 June 2015 |publisher=PledgeMusic}}

During 2016 and early 2017, Warwick and Thin Lizzy performed a small number of shows to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the band's breakthrough hit album, Jailbreak and the 30th anniversary of Phil Lynott's death.{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/thin-lizzy/90871 |title=Surviving Thin Lizzy members team up with Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee for anniversary tour |date=19 January 2016 |work=NME}} Black Star Riders' third album, Heavy Fire, was released on 3 February 2017 and reached No. 6 in the UK album charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20170210/7502/ |title=Official Album Charts Top 100 – 10–16 February 2017 |access-date=18 March 2017 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}

In February 2014, Warwick launched a campaign through PledgeMusic to launch two albums later in the year, one comprising acoustic songs with the other being a hard rock record.{{cite web|title=Ricky Warwick Announces PledgeMusic Campaign for TWO New Solo Records|url=http://planetmosh.com/ricky-warwick-announces-pledgemusic-campaign-for-two-new-solo-records/|publisher=PlanetMosh|access-date=23 May 2014|date=15 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225330/http://planetmosh.com/ricky-warwick-announces-pledgemusic-campaign-for-two-new-solo-records/|archive-date=23 May 2014}} The two albums, Hearts on Trees and When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues), were released at the end of 2014 to those who contributed to the PledgeMusic campaign, and on general release as a double album in February 2016 on the Nuclear Blast label. Guest musicians on these recordings include Damon Johnson, Joe Elliott, Andy Cairns, Billy Morrison, Nathan Connolly, Ginger Wildheart, Richard Fortus and Jake Burns.{{cite web|title=When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts on Trees|url=http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/music/band/discography/details/4094513.4026616.when-patsy-cline-was-crazy-and-guy-mitchell-sang-the-blues-hearts-on-trees.html|website=Nuclear Blast|access-date=11 July 2016}} Warwick assembled a band named The Fighting Hearts to tour behind the album, featuring Gary Sullivan on drums, Black Star Riders bassist Robbie Crane, and ex-Mission guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite. Ricky Warwick and The Fighting Hearts supported Stiff Little Fingers on a full UK tour throughout late February and March 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/music/band/news/details/4027026.4026616.ricky-warwick-announces-two-solo-albums.html |title=Ricky Warwick – announces two solo albums and tour! |date=14 September 2015 |access-date=30 January 2016 |website=Nuclear Blast}}

The Fighting Hearts undertook a second UK tour in November 2016, supported by Vice Squad. Filling the bass guitar role on this tour was Richard Vernon.{{cite web|url=https://realrockandroll.wordpress.com/2016/11/03/ricky-warwick-the-fighting-hearts-on-tour/ |title=Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts heading out on UK tour |date=3 November 2016 |access-date=24 November 2016 |publisher=Real Rock 'n' Roll}}

Ricky headlined the very first WinterStorm festival in Troon in 2016.{{Cite web |url=https://www.winterstorm.co.uk/archive-2016-main-stage |title=WinterStorm Main Stage |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=www.winterstorm.co.uk |language=en}}

In 2022, Warwick reactivated The Fighting Hearts for a month-long tour of the UK and Ireland in March. Retaining bass guitarist Richard Vernon, Warwick also recruited guitarist Ben Christo (The Sisters of Mercy) and drummer Jack Taylor (Tax the Heat).{{cite web|url=https://www.eonmusic.co.uk/reviews/ricky-warwick-the-fighting-hearts-come-out-defiantly-in-dublin |title=Ricky Warwick & The Fighting Hearts Come Out Defiantly in Dublin |date=16 March 2022 |access-date=31 August 2022 |publisher=eonmusic}} Further shows followed in May, with Christo replaced temporarily by Sam Wood (Wayward Sons), and in August, two shows in Dublin and Belfast, again supporting Stiff Little Fingers.{{cite web|url=https://www.backseatmafia.com/live-review-stiff-little-fingers-ricky-warwick-and-the-fighting-hearts-the-academy-dublin-20082022/ |title=Live review: Stiff Little Fingers / Ricky Warwick & the Fighting Hearts - The Academy, Dublin 20,08,2022 |date=23 August 2022 |access-date=31 August 2022 |publisher=Backseat Mafia}}

Warwick met Vanessa Young, presenter of MTV show Headbangers Ball, in 1990, during his time with The Almighty. They married in 1991 and divorced in 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicadvisor.biz/ricky-warwick-complete-discography-1794.htm |title=Ricky Warwick Best Album, Reviews, Discography, Profile and Collaborations |publisher=Musicadvisor.biz |access-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102084413/http://www.musicadvisor.biz/ricky-warwick-complete-discography-1794.htm |archive-date=2 January 2014 }} He is now married to Christina, and lives in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/opinion/ricky-warwick-there-was-nobody-like-phil-lynott-nobody-who-looked-like-him-sang-like-him-wrote-or-played-like-him-22892333 |title=Ricky Warwick: "There was nobody like Phil Lynott - nobody who looked like him, sang like him, wrote or played like him" |date=22 February 2022 |access-date=11 January 2023 |publisher=Hot Press}}

Warwick is friends with singer Joe Elliott, having performed backing vocals on Def Leppard albums,{{cite web|url=http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/defleppard/euphoria.shtml |title=Def Leppard – Euphoria |publisher=Sleaze Roxx |access-date=1 January 2014}} whilst Elliott has returned the favour recording on and producing Warwick's solo albums. Warwick was Elliott's Best man at his wedding in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.mydefleppard.com/kristine.html |title=Kristine Elliott / My Def Leppard |publisher=Mydefleppard.com |access-date=1 January 2014}}

Warwick is a fan of Northern Ireland football club Glentoran,{{cite web|last=Mulholland|first=Simon|title=Interviews – Ricky Warwick|url=http://www.vanguard-online.co.uk/1006IRW.htm|publisher=vanguard online|access-date=1 January 2014}} and in 2010 he released a three track DVD in aid of the Spirit of 41 campaign to save Glentoran from extinction.{{cite web |url=http://www.spiritof41.com/Ricky_Warwick_DVD.html |title=Spirit of 41: A specially produced music DVD |publisher=Spirit of 41 – Glentoran Football Club |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=28 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110716120007/http://www.spiritof41.com/Ricky_Warwick_DVD.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} In December 2014, he performed an acoustic benefit show in Dundonald (a town east of Belfast) to raise funds for the Glentoran Community Trust. Warwick wore a specially commissioned one-off Glentoran football strip for the show. It featured the logos of all his bands, including The Almighty and Thin Lizzy, and was auctioned to help raise further funds for the Trust.{{cite web|last1=Holmes|first1=Nick|title=Black Star Riders Ricky Warwick marks end of Pledge Music campaign with intimate homecoming gigs|date=9 December 2014 |url=http://louderthanwar.com/black-star-riders-ricky-warwick-marks-end-of-pledge-music-campaign-with-intimate-homecoming-gigs/|publisher=Louder Than War|access-date=28 January 2015}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Tattoos & Alibis (2003)
• Love Many Trust Few (2005)
• "Love Owes" EP (2007)
• Belfast Confetti (2009)
• Hearts on Trees (2014)
• When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang the Blues) (2014)
• Stairwell Troubadour (2015)
• When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang the Blues) / Hearts on Trees (double album 2016)
• When Life Was Hard and Fast (2021) UK No. 66
• Blood Ties (2025) UK No. 25

• Blood, Fire & Love (1989)
• Blood, Fire & Live (1990) UK No. 62
• Soul Destruction (1991) UK No. 22
• Powertrippin' (1993) UK No. 5
• Crank (1994) UK No. 15
• Crank and Deceit: Live in Japan [Japan only release] (1995)
• Just Add Life (1996) UK No. 34
• The Almighty (2000)
• Psycho-Narco (2001)
• Wild and Wonderful – compilation (2002)
• Anth'f**ing'ology – compilation (2007)
• All Proud, All Live, All Mighty – live (2008)
• The All Fuckin B-Sides Vol 1 – compilation (2008)

{{col-2}}

• Pure Fingers – live (1995)

• I Feel So Lonely I Could Die [Japan only release] (1997)
• Eyeball Kicks EP [1997]

• Circus Diablo (2007)

• All Hell Breaks Loose (2013) UK No. 25
• The Killer Instinct (2015) UK No. 13
• Heavy Fire (2017) UK No. 6
• Another State of Grace (2019) UK No. 14
• Wrong Side of Paradise (2023) UK No. 6

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.rickywarwick.com}}
• [http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/7965/ Interview with Leeds Music Scene]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140102072717/http://magazine.100percentrock.com/interviews/201303/10834 Ricky Warwick interview June 2010]
• [http://www.mudkiss.com/rickywarwick.htm Ricky Warwick Mudkiss fanzine interview]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140808040505/http://jammagazine.com/mf201306-Black-Star-Riders-Interview-Ricky-Warwick-Bound-For-Glory-Writer-Vinny-Cecolini.aspx JAM Magazine interview]

{{Black Star Riders}}

{{The Almighty}}

{{Thin Lizzy}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warwick, Ricky}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:Male singers from Northern Ireland

Category:Rock guitarists from Northern Ireland

Category:People from Newtownards

Category:Thin Lizzy members

Category:Black Star Riders members

Category:New Model Army (band) members

Category:Musicians from County Down

Category:Male guitarists from Northern Ireland

Category:20th-century guitarists from Northern Ireland

Category:21st-century guitarists from Northern Ireland

Category:20th-century male musicians from Northern Ireland

Category:21st-century male musicians from Northern Ireland

Category:Circus Diablo members

Category:The Almighty (band) members