This concert by Brian Downey’s Alive and Dangerous came from the personal recommendation of Eric Bell, original Thin Lizzy guitarist, when I saw him at Cullercoats earlier this year. I was lucky enough to be given some pizza by the kind staff and taken into the bar, along with Jackie my carer for the evening, to meet Eric Bell. We chatted about old Thin Lizzy concerts, how I met Eric, Phil Lynott and Brian Downey in the bar of Sunderland Locarno in around 1971, and how I love “Whiskey in the Jar” and “the Rocker” which Eric performed that evening.
The conversation somehow moved on to Brian Downey, original drummer in Thin Lizzy and went something like this: Eric “Have you seen Brian’s new band?”; Me “No, but they are playing at Middlesbrough Town Hall soon and I was considering going along”; Eric “You should go”; Me “Have you seen them”; Eric “No, but he has put together a great band and they play all Lizzy songs”; Me “then I must go and see them”; Eric “Please do and if you get the chance to meet Brian, tell I am asking after him. We remain great friends. Me, Phil, and Brian remained friends even after I left Lizzy.”
Well, I just had to go along after that recommendation from Eric himself. I bought tickets the next day. It was also a chance to review my long-time acquaintance with Middlesbrough Town Hall which is a lovely venue. It comprises two halls, a large hall upstairs with a lovely organ at the back of the stage (see image from my ticket).
I recall seeing Gary Brooker play that organ when I saw Procol Harum at the venue in the mid 70s. I have seen many bands there over the years including AC/DC, Kiki Dee, the Hollies, Van Morrison, and Ian Gillan. The second hall, named the Crypt as it is downstairs below the main hall, also hosted many bands. I recall witnessing great shows by Stretch, Crass, Steel Pulse, the Groundhogs, Wishbone Ash, the Exploited and several others down in the Crypt. Happy days. So, it was great to be visiting the Crypt again to see Brian’s version of Thin Lizzy.
Now, I don’t usually go to see tribute bands, but this group had the authenticity of original Thin Lizzy member Brian Downey sitting in the drum stool. Elaine, Jackie, and I arrived early and had a good look around the venue which remains, as it always was, a lovely, period church – like hall, in the centre of Middlesbrough. The stage was set with a massive drum kit standing proud centre – stage, ready for Brian to lead his new band through a set of Thin Lizzy classics.
The publicity from Brian’s website states: “Brian is delighted to announce the new line-up of Alive and Dangerous and is looking forward to taking the band on the road in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the rest of Europe. The new line-up features Brian Downey on drums, Matt Wilson on bass and lead vocals and introducing Michal Kulbaka on lead guitar and Joe Merriman also on lead guitar.” So, this was back to the classic twin guitar line – up of Thin Lizzy. Fantastic.
The band all hail from Dublin and look quite young and fresh. They are all excellent musicians and did justice to the Lizzy repertoire. The singer/bass guitarist has curly hair and a look of Phil about him. Classic after classic followed: “Jailbreak”, “Emerald” (a favourite of mine), “Rosalie”, “Dancing in the Moonlight”, “Don’t Believe a Word”, the wonderful “Parisienne Walkways” which was Phil solo with Gary Moore on lovely guitar (performed amazingly well by 1 of the lead guitarists).
Next up soon was “Cowboy Song” (another favourite which always went down well when Phil performed it at Newcastle City Hall and which I was lucky enough to witness several times including an amazing performance at the Reading Festival in the 70s), “The Boys Are Back in Town” (and it seemed like they really were for 90 minutes) and closing with back to the beginning and “Whiskey in the Jar”. An encore followed of less familiar material and then it was all over.
Sure, it wasn’t Thin Lizzy, but it was pretty close. Eric, you were right to tell me to go along and see this band. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to meet Brian and pass your regards to him. Brian, you are to be commended for assembling a great band who live up to their name Live and Dangerous which is, of course, the name of the classic Thin Lizzy live album which is often quoted as being the best live album ever. Happy days were here again.
Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and to Chris for manipulating the site (and for saving the file for me along the way as I wrote it; last time I failed to do so and my Dragon speech software misheard something I said which resulted in my losing everything I had typed; very frustrating).
Setlist: Are You Ready; Jailbreak; Emerald; Wild One; Rosalie; Dancing in the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me in Its Spotlight); Massacre; Still in Love With You; Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed; Warriors; Don’t Believe a Word; Parisienne Walkways; Cold Sweat; Cowboy Song; The Boys Are Back in Town; Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend; Whiskey in the Jar.
Encore: Suicide; Hollywood (Down on Your Luck).
Sometime in 1971. Sunderland Locarno upstairs bar. I see a tall black guy in the corner of the bar and wonder who he is. I go up and have a quick chat. An hour or so later the band take the stage and the same tall black guy is fronting them. They are called Thin Lizzy and are pretty good too! The black guy is, of course, Phil Lynott. I am 14, Phil is 21.
1973 and I’m watching Top of the Pops. Thin Lizzy appear, playing “Whiskey in the Jar” which is in the chart at the time. I go out and buy the single.
Early 1980s. Middlesbrough Town Hall. Quite empty. Phil Lynott’s Grand Slam are appearing. Phil doesn’t look well. His face is bloated. The performance is not very inspiring.
Early 2000s. Thin Lizzy are headlining Newcastle City Hall again. This new version of the band comprises Scott Gorham, drummer Brian Downey and front man Ricky Warwick, who sounds quite a lot like Phil Lynott. They are surprisingly good and do justice to the Lizzy legacy.
2012 and Thin Lizzy become 
We arrived late and Michael Monroe was already on stage climbing up onto the balcony. By the time I said to my carer Jackie “Quick. Take a photo” Michael was hanging down from the balcony and dropping back onto the stage. He was just as I imagined, a manic blonde showman. I never got to see Hanoi Rocks but I can imagine them as a crazy glam punk power rock band. The closing song is Credence Clearwater Revivals’ “Up around the Bend”. I tell my daughter Ashleigh who was a big Hanoi Rocks fan. That’s a Hanoi Rocks song she tells me so I figure they must have recorded it! It gets a great reception from the crowd who probably also think of it as a Hanoi Rocks song rather than a classic by Credence Clearwater Revival. John Fogarty is one of my heroes and one of the best gigs I ever went to was seeing him at Manchester Apollo. But that’s a story from a past blog entry! I buy Ashleigh a signed Michael Monroe CD and she is over the moon with it!
After a short wait, at 9:30 PM spot-on time, the Phil Campbell backdrop disappears and is replaced by a very impressive Black Star Riders drop. I suppose I’m amazed how much of a following the band has amassed in its own right. This is not the remnants of Thin Lizzy or a Thin Lizzy tribute band. This is a fully fledged rock band of its own right, led by the very impressive Ricky Warwick who continue the Thin Lizzy legacy in their own way, producing new songs which hark back to Lizzy and yet have a significance of their own. Magical. Phil must be up there proud of how his legacy continues to thrive and move onward and forward.
A few songs in and they perform a wild heavy version of the Osmond’s “Crazy Horses”. Well, I always knew it was a heavy rock song! After a few more songs they are joined by Scott Gorham who looks older, and yet cooler and still playing great guitar. His long mane of blonde hair has somehow been transferred to the young guitarist in Black Star Riders. There really is some sort of magic in the air! At one point in the set, they are joined by Phil Campbell and later on Michael Monroe comes on for one song also.
A few more songs into the set and we are treated to Lizzy’s “Don’t Believe a Word”. Class; it all takes me back to the 1970s. Towards the end they play “Jailbreak”. One more song and then it is 11 PM and time to go home, content in the knowledge that the legacy of Thin Lizzy remains safe in the hands and voice of Ricky Warwick and the rest of Black Star Riders. You have done a great job Scott, continuing to fly the Lizzy flag and somehow, miraculously, managing to hand it safely over to the Black Star Riders. I wonder what that young 21-year-old Phil I chatted to over 50 years ago would make of it all? Happy days
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