SommarRock Festival 2012

Friluftsbadet

Svedala, Sweden

12-14/7 – 2012

With Bonafide, Hammerfall and Thin Lizzy

Reviewed and live pictures by: Anders Sandvall

Guest contributor: Ulrika Henriksson

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DARREN WHARTON

INTERVIEW AND PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ

Darren Wharton is a British keyboardist, singer, and songwriter. Wharton first came to attention as a member of Thin Lizzy when he joined bands ranks in 1980. He recorded three studio albums; CHINATOWN, RENEGADE and THUNDER AND LIGHTNING and LIVE LIFE – live album with Lizzy before band disbanded in 1983. Wharton has fronted his own band, Dare since 1989. The band has released so far six albums including the latest one ARC OF DAWN which came out in 2009. The latest incarnation of Thin Lizzy was formed in 2010 and the band: Wharton, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist’s Scott Gorham and Vivian Campbell, bassist Marco Mendoza and vocalist Ricky Warwick have since then been extremely busy and touring across the world with great success. The tour finally reached Finland in early July and then we had a pleasure to sit down with Mr. Wharton himself and hear the latest of Thin Lizzy and Dare as well. Read on!

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Thin Lizzy – Eric Bell

ERIC BELL

INTERVIEW AND PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJALA

Northern Irish rock musician and guitarist Eric Bell is best known as a founding member and the original guitarist of the rock group Thin Lizzy. The band was originally formed in Dublin in 1969 by Bell, bassist/vocalist Philip Lynott, and drummer Brian Downey. Bell performed in the bands first three critically acclaimed albums: THIN LIZZY (1972), SHADES OF A BLUE ORPHANAGE (1972) and VAGABONDS IN A WESTERN WORLD (1973). Bell suddenly left the band on New Year’s Eve 1973 after a gig at Queen’s University in his hometown Belfast. After the split Bell first fronted his short lived Eric Bell Band and later on he has performed and recorded with such artists and groups including Noel Redding Band, Bo Diddley and Mainsqueeze. Although Bell hasn’t been too often in the headlines anymore, he has continued to perform and record with a new version of the Eric Bell Band throughout the 1990s and 2000s, releasing several albums including IRISH BOY (1998) and LONELY NIGHTS IN LONDON (2010). In April 2011, Bell and his band were a part of the  “A Tribute Gig to Gary Moore” event in Dublin. After the show we had a chance to sit down with Eric and discuss about his career, future plans, Gary Moore and of course about Thin Lizzy… Read on!

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JOHN SYKES

The now legendary guitarist, John Sykes, first rose to public consciousness after joining the New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, for two albums; SPELLBOUND and CRAZY NIGHTS. He was then recruited into THIN LIZZY by the mastermind Phil Lynott himself. After one more album, the classic THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, as well as a double live LP entitled LIFE in 1983, THIN LIZZY was disbanded. Soon after John found himself working alongside Jon Lord, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray and David Coverdale in WHITESNAKE, in time to make an appearance on the 1984 SLIDE IT IN record. The biggest success was yet to come and took shape in the 1987 self-titled album, which went on to sell millions. Having been fired from WHITESNAKE (along with everybody else), John started his own band, BLUE MURDER, releasing two albums, the self-titled in 1989 and NOTHIN’ BUT TROUBLE in 1993. In 1994 John, Scott Gorham and Brian Downey decided to resurrect THIN LIZZY for some select shows, in honor of their departed leader. Since then, in between doing solo albums and tours, Sykes has, along with Scott Gorham, kept their version of THIN LIZZY going to the present day with the lineup presently being completed by drummer Tommy Aldridge and bass player Francesco DiCosmo. In this interview John Sykes shares some insights on the various stages of his illustrious career.

INTERVIEW BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ AND JARNO HUOVILA

PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ

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SCOTT GORHAM

INTERVIEW BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ AND JARNO HUOVILA

PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ

After putting out three records as a trio, THIN LIZZY reinvented itself, to great success, as a four-piece featuring now the twin guitar leads of the American Scott Gorham and Scottish Brian Robertson. From that point on, Scott Gorham along with drummer Brian Downey, stuck with mastermind Phil Lynott until the band’s dissolution in 1983. Together they recorded nine classic studio albums (Nightlife in 1974, FIGHTING in 1975, JAILBREAK and JOHNNY THE FOX in 1976, BAD REPUTATION in 1977, BLACK ROSE in 1979, CHINATOWN in 1980, RENEGADE in 1981 and THUNDER AND LIGHTNING in 1983) and two live ones (LIVE AND DANGEROUS in 1978 and LIVE LIFE in 1983). Over the years, in addition to Robertson, Scott played alongside Gary Moore, Snowy White and finally John Sykes. Today, in tribute to their fallen comrade Phil Lynott, Gorham and Sykes continue to keep the THIN LIZZY name alive, touring all over world with legendary drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Francesco DiCosmo now completing the lineup. In between playing with THIN LIZZY Scott has, among other things, played with his own band 21 GUNS. Read on for Scott’s take on the different stages of his career!

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