Thin Lizzy have announced the addition of Mastodon bassist Troy Sanders to their lineup for an upcoming series of European festival dates marking the Irish band’s 50th anniversary.
Sanders joins guitarist Scott Gorham, keyboardist Darren Wharton, vocalist Ricky Warwick, guitarist Damon Johnson and Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis for the four-show run, which includes two UK appearances and stops in Spain and Belgium.
“We are very happy to welcome Troy to the Lizzy family!,” says Gorham. “We met a few years ago at Download festival and he’s a great guy and killer bass player to boot so very happy he wanted to join us for the shows this summer.”
“Mastodon are a fantastic band,” adds Warwick, “and knowing how much of a Thin Lizzy fan Troy is, he will be an amazing addition to the fold”
"It’s no secret that Thin Lizzy has had a big influence on Mastodon’s music,” raves Sanders. “Being asked to join them on stage is a big deal and true honor to me. I am really looking forward to it!"
Thin Lizzy will launch the summer shows with a 40th anniversary full album performance of 1979’s “Black Rose: A Rock Legend” at Wales’ Steelhouse Festival on July 28 before playing the UK’s Rewind North event on August 4, Spain’s Leyendas Del Rock Festival on August 8 and Belgium’s Alcatraz Festival on August 10.
Formed in Dublin in 1969 by bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Eric Bell and keyboardist Eric Wrixon, Thin Lizzy issued their self-titled debut in 1971 and went on to release a dozen albums through several lineup changes before leader Lynott’s passing in 1986.
Downey went on play in a Thin Lizzy tribute lineup with Gorham, Wharton, guitarist John Sykes and bassist Marco Mendoza. Following Sykes's departure in 2009, Gorham created another Thin Lizzy lineup with Downey, Mendoza, Wharton and two new members: Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and Ricky Warwick, former vocalist with The Almighty; they toured until 2013 when most of the members set out under the new Black Star Riders banner.
See also:
Black Star Riders announce new album and fall tour
Damon Johnson streams Shivering Shivering video
Damon Johnson previews Memoirs Of An Uprising album
Black Star Riders prepare to record new album following lineup change
Search Black Star Riders at hennemusic
Search Thin Lizzy at hennemusic
