HARD ROCK ANTHEMS À DISCRÉTION

Formed in 2012 as a follow-up project to Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders have long since established themselves as a force in their own right in the rock scene. Now, frontman Ricky Warwick and his band return to Z7 after nine long years. As co-headliners, they will be joined by ’90s heroes Tyketto, who bring their brand-new album to Pratteln.

Ricky Warwick is a busy man. Alongside his work with his original band The Almighty, as a solo artist and with occasional appearances alongside Thin Lizzy, he still has plenty of energy and creativity left to push Black Star Riders forward as singer, guitarist and now also main songwriter. Even after the departure of co-founder and Thin Lizzy legend Scott Gorham, disbanding Black Star Riders was never an option. “Scott wanted us to continue,” says Warwick, adding: “My belief in this band is as strong as ever. We are unique and still have a lot to say.” Their latest album Wrong Side Of Paradise proves this impressively. It is packed with catchy rock anthems that at times echo the spirit of Phil Lynott. Speaking about the 2023 release, Ricky says: “I’m very proud of Wrong Side Of Paradise. It’s another collection of anthemic songs driven by wild guitars and thunderous drums. I’m writing about my own personal experiences – my family, my friends and how I see the world changing faster than we can comprehend. I also strongly believe in the power of positivity, and I think that runs through the entire album.” On stage, the new songs fit seamlessly into the set. While in their early days the band performed a 50:50 mix of Lizzy classics and original material, they have long proven that they have more than enough of their own hit-worthy songs. Nevertheless, their roots are still honoured, and alongside a cross-section of Black Star Riders material, fans can still expect the occasional Thin Lizzy classic in the live set.

TYKETTO: In the early ’90s, they were one of the most promising bands in melodic hard rock. With albums like Don’t Come Easy (1991) and Strength in Numbers (1994), the band around exceptional singer Danny Vaughn seemed destined for the top of the scene. But the rise of grunge dealt a fatal blow to ’80s hard rock and prevented their major breakthrough. Frustrated and disillusioned, Tyketto disbanded after releasing their third studio album Shine in 1996. To the delight of fans, they returned in 2012 with a new studio album, Dig In Deep. Since then, the band has been active on stage again. In 2016, they followed up with Reach, another strong release that proved Vaughn is still an outstanding songwriter. After a long wait, spring 2026 finally brings a new album, Closer To The Sun. Alongside Vaughn, the band features Harry Scott Elliott on guitar, Ged Rylands on keyboards, Chris Childs (Thunder) on bass and Johnny Dee (Doro) on drums. On Closer To The Sun, Tyketto explore real-life themes such as love, loss and joy. From the anthemic celebration of love in the title track to the raw punch of “Hit Me Where It Hurts” and the power ballad “The Picture,” Tyketto confidently continue on the melodic rock path that made them great. With Closer To The Sun, they reaffirm their place among the most respected and enduring names in the scene. On the upcoming tour, Vaughn and his band will combine the finest gems from their ’90s catalogue with highlights from their latest releases.