Damon Johnson

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BLACK STAR RIDERS Part Company With Damon Johnson And Welcome Christian Martucci

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 18, 2018
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

BlackStarRiders-ChristianMartucci

BLACK STAR RIDERS are proud to announce that their new lead guitar player from January 1st, 2019 will be Christian Martucci, from STONE SOUR.

Christian will replace founding BSR member Damon Johnson, who has decided to part company with the band at the end of the year to concentrate on a solo career and session work.

Damon Johnson: “3 excellent albums in 6 years with this great band is one of the proudest achievements of my career, and it has been glorious. My family and I have decided to focus our efforts into growing my solo career and I’m excited to be home more to take advantage of working and writing in Nashville. Though I’m moving on from BSR, I will continue to work with Ricky in WARWICK JOHNSON, and plan on being a part of any THIN LIZZY commitments in the future. Much love and continued success to the entire band and to the incredible BLACK STAR RIDERS fans worldwide.”

Scott Gorham: “I just want to thank Damon for being part of the band and three great records together and I wish him all the best. For BSR it’s onwards and upwards!”

Ricky Warwick explains, “Damon Johnson is my bro and I love him. It’s been a wonderful journey for the last 6 years writing, recording and playing live with him, molding, building and making BLACK STAR RIDERS into the formidable force that we have become. I totally respect his decision, he will always be family. I will miss him.”

Robert Crane added, “I’m so thankful to have shared this amazing musical journey with our brother Damon. I’m hopeful our paths cross again one day. Love and respect to D.J. and his family.”

After auditions last month in Los Angeles with some incredible guitar players,  Christian was chosen to take up the position vacated by Damon.

Ricky Warwick on Christian Martucci, “Christian Martucci is a sonic force of nature, an insanely talented guitar player and a wonderful human being and I’m delighted he has become part of the BSR family. His musical pedigree speaks for itself. He will be an amazing addition to BLACK STAR RIDERS, bringing a new edge and dynamic presence to the band. I eagerly look forward to writing, recording album number 4 and touring the world with him, Robert, Scott and Chad. The best way to predict the future is to go and create it. The best is yet to come!”

Scott Gorham: “I am really looking forward to sharing the stage with Christian. He is an amazing player and an awesome addition to the BLACK STAR RIDERS family.”

Robert Crane adds, “Much like seeing Chad Szeliga playing our songs for the first time, we all knew from the first chord that Christian was the guy… Straight up, he’s a badass! Let’s go!”

Christian explains, “As a fan who’s been inspired by their music, it’s an honor and privilege to be a part of BLACK STAR RIDERS. I’m really looking forward to this!”

BLACK STAR RIDERS will head down for the first time to South America in November, joining JUDAS PRIEST (with ALICE IN CHAINS on some dates) for shows in Chile, Argentina & Brazil. Damon will not be with the band for this run, but his temporary replacement is long time friend of the band, THUNDER guitarist Luke Morley.

They will finish off the year with some dates in the United Kingdom, which will be Damon‘s last shows with the band.

The band will then enter the studio in early 2019 to record their fourth studio album for Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

BLACK STAR RIDERS live:

w/ JUDAS PRIEST, ALICE IN CHAINS
02.11. RCH Santiago – Movistar Arena (w/ CRIMINAL, TEMPLE AGENTS, RECRUICIDE)
04.11. RA Buenos Aires – Tecnópolis            
08.11. BR Curitiba – Pedreira Paulo Leminski
10.11. BR São Paulo – Solid Rock Festival
11.11. BR Rio de Janeiro – KM de Vantagens Hall
14.11. BR Belo Horizonte – Expominas*
*no ALICE IN CHAINS

w/ MIKE GRAY, THE RISING SOULS
28.11. UK Buckley – The Tivoli
29.11. UK Southampton – Engine Rooms
30.11. UK Leamington Spa – The Assembly
01.12. UK Trecco Bay – Planet Rockstock*
02.12. UK Holmfirth – Picturedrome**
03.12. UK Sheffield – Corporation*
*BSR only
**no THE RISING SOULS

Get »Heavy Fire« here: http://nblast.de/BSRHeavyFireNB
Get »Heavy Fire« digitally: http://nblast.de/BSRDownloads

More on »Heavy Fire«:
‘When The Night Comes In’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR-w6_IH7hE
‘Testify Or Say Goodbye’ OFFICIAL VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvcNNeiMl90
‘Heavy Fire’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzATJV-qnOM
‘Dancing With The Wrong Girl’ OFFICIAL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/XUXhAB06BfQ
‘Cold War Love’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItGsO0ED4C4

BLACK STAR RIDERS: Acoustic Tracks Released Online

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 25, 2015
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

BlackStarRiders-acoustic

The Killer Instinct is the new album by BLACK STAR RIDERS, which is in stores now, released via Nuclear Blast. In celebration of the release, we have some exclusive acoustic versions of the two singles from the new album to share. Recorded in New York City in January, the performances display the undeniable talents of veteran musicians and BLACK STAR RIDERS members guitarist Damon Johnson and vocalist Ricky Warwick, who are also current members of the famed legacy rock band THIN LIZZY. Watch the clips below:

‘The Killer Instinct’ Acoustic Track:

‘Finest Hour’ Acoustic Track:

The band released the official video for ‘Finest Hour’ last week, which can be viewed over on YouTube:

The second studio album by BLACK STAR RIDERS is a rich collection of story-based tracks (‘Soldierstown’, ‘Finest Hour’, ‘Blindsided’, ‘Sex, Guns & Gasoline’) rooted in master craftsman performances by vocalist Ricky Warwick, guitarist Damon Johnson, guitarist Scott Gorham, drummer Jimmy DeGrasso and bassist Robbie Crane.

The Killer Instinct is out now and is available to order below:

black-star-riders-the-killer-instinct
STANDARD PHYSICAL & DIGITAL VERSIONS:
1.The Killer Instinct
2. Bullet Blues
3.Finest Hour
4. Soldierstown
5. Charlie I Gotta Go
6. Blindsided
7. Through The Motions
8. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
9. Turn In Your Arms
10. You Little Liar

Order below:
Amazon –  http://smarturl.it/BSRTheKillerInstinct
iTunes –  http://geni.us/BSRInstinctiTunes

LIMITED EDITION 2 CD DIGIBOOK:
1.The Killer Instinct
2. Bullet Blues
3.Finest Hour
4. Soldierstown
5. Charlie I Gotta Go
6. Blindsided
7. Through The Motions
8. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
9. Turn In Your Arms
10. You Little Liar
Bonus CD:
1. Gabrielle
2. The Reckoning Day
3.The Killer Instinct (Acoustic)
4.Blindsided (Acoustic)
5.Charlie I Gotta Go (Acoustic)
6.Finest Hour (Acoustic)

Order:  http://bit.ly/BSR-TKI-DigiCD

BlackStarRiders2015g

The release of The Killer Instinct will be followed by a full UK and Eire co-headline tour with Europe throughout March 2015. The dates rack up as follows:

March 2: Olympia Theatre, Dublin
March 3: Ulster Hall, Belfast
March 5: O2 ABC, Glasgow
March 6: O2 ABC, Glasgow
March 7: O2 Academy, Newcastle
March 8: O2 Academy, Leeds
March 10: Rock City, Nottingham
March 11: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
March 13: Academy, Manchester
March 14: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
March 15: University, Exeter
March 16: O2 Academy, Bristol
March 18: O2 Academy, Bournemouth
March 19: UEA, Norwich
March 20: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
March 21: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

Buy tickets: http://bit.ly/BSRTour

THE AMORETTES are support on all dates except Glasgow March 5th and London March 20th – support on these shows is TBC.

Listen to the new album on Spotify:  http://open.spotify.com/album/0ahJCdHNvddouPo4Ej8Tmc
Listen to the track by track commentary on Spotify:  http://open.spotify.com/album/3PlgvWoOZey6OSu8KkPeqf

Watch Damon Johnson and Scott Gorham detail the recording of the new album ‘The Killer Instinct’, working with Nick Raskulinecz and more in the previous album trailers:
Album trailer #1:  http://youtu.be/CcSvF3glc9w
Album trailer #2:  http://youtu.be/nTjG_-evgGY
​Album trailer #3:  http://youtu.be/D0BAFNM-_TM

Ricky Warwick talks fans through the band’s new album:
Track by track, part 1:  http://youtu.be/AbNgxDuFXaQ
Track by track, part 2:  http://youtu.be/ahg2lk5iBxM

 

BLACK STAR RIDERS: Damon Johnson And Scott Gorham Discuss Developing Their Songwriting Skills On “The Killer Instinct”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 27, 2015
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

BlackStarRiders-DamonScott

BLACK STAR RIDERS guitarists Damon Johnson (THIN LIZZY, ex-ALICE COOPER/BROTHER CANE) and Scott Gorham (THIN LIZZY, ex-21 GUNS) check-in again to discuss how they have developed their songwriting skills over the years, and even still during the recording of the band’s new album, “The Killer Instinct”, on Nuclear Blast.

Watch the official interview over on YouTube:

Album trailer #1:  http://youtu.be/CcSvF3glc9w
Album trailer #2:  http://youtu.be/nTjG_-evgGY

The second studio album by BLACK STAR RIDERS is a rich collection of story-based tracks (‘Soldierstown’, ‘Finest Hour’, ‘Blindsided’, ‘Sex, Guns & Gasoline’) rooted in master craftsman performances by vocalist Ricky Warwick, guitarist Damon Johnson, guitarist Scott Gorham, drummer Jimmy DeGrasso and bassist Robbie Crane.

»The Killer Instinct« will be released in different formats: CD, Limited 2 CDs Digibook, Limited Gatefold Black Vinyl and Limited Gatefold Clear Vinyl (available for mail orders only).

black-star-riders-the-killer-instinct

Full tracklisting is as follows:

LIMITED 2CD DIGIBOOK
1. The Killer Instinct
2. Bullet Blues
3. Finest Hour
4. Soldierstown
5. Charlie I Gotta Go
6. Blindsided
7. Through The Motions
8. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
9. Turn In Your Arms
10. You Little Liar

Bonus CD:
1. Gabrielle
2. The Reckoning Day
3. The Killer Instinct (Acoustic)
4. Blindsided (Acoustic)
5. Charlie I Gotta Go (Acoustic)
6. Finest Hour (Acoustic)

CD
1. The Killer Instinct
2. Bullet Blues
3. Finest Hour
4. Soldierstown
5. Charlie I Gotta Go
6. Blindsided
7. Through The Motions
8. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
9. Turn In Your Arms
10. You Little Liar

VINYL
Side A
1. The Killer Instinct
2. Bullet Blues
3. Finest Hour
4. Soldierstown
5. Charlie I Gotta Go
Side B
1. Blindsided
2. Through The Motions
3. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
4. Turn In Your Arms
5. You Little Liar

Pre-order your copy of »The Killer Instinct« at the following link: http://smarturl.it/BSRTheKillerInstinct

BLACK STAR RIDERS head out on a co-headline UK and Eire tour with EUROPE throughout March 2015. Full dates are:
 
06.-09.02. UK Minehead                                           – Giants of Rock Festival
02.03.  IRL       Dublin                                                – Olympia
03.03.  IRL       Belfast                                                – Ulster Hall
05.03. UK       Glasgow                                             – ABC
06.03.  UK       Glasgow                                             – ABC
07.03.  UK       Newcastle                                          – O2 Academy
08.03.  UK       Leeds                                                  – O2 Academy
10.03.  UK       Nottingham                                        – Rock City
11.03.  UK       Cambridge                                         – Corn Exchange
13.03.  UK       Manchester                                       – Academy
14.03.  UK       Wolverhampton                                 – Civic
15.03.  UK       Exeter                                                – Uni
16.03.  UK       Bristol                                                – O2 Academy
18.03.  UK       Bournemouth                                     – O2 Academy
19.03.  UK       Norwich                                             – UEA
20.03.  UK       London                                               – Shepherds Bush Empire
21.03.  UK       London                                               – Shepherds Bush Empire
18.04. USA     Miami, FL                                           – Monsters Of Rock Cruise

24.04.  USA     Milwaukee, WI                                  – Potawatomi Casino
28.04.  USA     Chicago, IL                                         – House of Blues
30.04.  USA     New York, NY                                     – Irving Plaza

BLACK STAR RIDERS Guitarists Discuss The Killer Instinct And Producer Nick Raskulinecz

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 21, 2015
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Black-Star-Riders-2014

BLACK STAR RIDER guitarists Damon Johnson (THIN LIZZY, ex-ALICE COOPER/BROTHER CANE) & Scott Gorham (THIN LIZZY, ex-21 GUNS) check-in about their time spent in the studio with heralded producer Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, FOO FIGHTERS, ALICE IN CHAINS, MASTODON), who “was like the 6th member of the band” during the recording of The Killer Instinct, which will be released in the U.S. and Canada on February 24th via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Watch the video clip, the album trailer, the title track’s lyric video, and two studio reports on the Nuclear Blast YouTube channel:

The second studio album by BLACK STAR RIDERS, The Killer Instinct is a rich collection of story-based tracks (“Soldierstown,” “Finest Hour,” “Blindsided,” “Sex, Guns & Gasoline”) rooted in master craftsman performances by vocalist Ricky Warwick, guitarist Damon Johnson, guitarist Scott Gorham, drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, and bassist Robbie Crane.

Multiple formats of the new album can be pre-ordered from The Killer Instinct Landing Page. They include: digi-pak + exclusive band logo t-shirt bundle, jewel case CD, black vinyl LP gatefold, and an exclusive clear vinyl LP gatefold (imported & limited to 300 copies).

The track listing for the 2-CD digi-pak version of The Killer Instinct is:

01. The Killer Instinct (purchase the single on iTunes: http://geni.us/BSRInstinctiTunes)
02. Bullet Blues
03. Finest Hour
04. Soldierstown
05. Charlie I Gotta Go
06. Blindsided
07. Through The Motions
08. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
09. Turn In Your Arms
10. You Little Liar
BONUS CD
01 – Gabrielle
02 – The Reckoning Day
03 – The Killer Instinct (acoustic)
04 – Blindsided (acoustic)
05 – Charlie I Gotta Go (acoustic)
06 – Finest Hour (acoustic)

black-star-riders-the-killer-instinct

After their appearance at the U.K.’s Giants Of Rock Festival in February 2015, BLACK STAR RIDERS will co-headline a 16-date tour throughout the U.K. and Ireland with EUROPE beginning in early March 2015. They’ll return to the U.S. to perform on the Monsters Of Rock cruise to the Caribbean in April 2015.

Visit BLACK STAR RIDERS online at http://www.BLACKSTARRIDERS.com.

Like: http://www.facebook.com/BLACKSTARRIDERSOFFICIAL
Follow: Twitter.com/BLACKSTARRIDERS
Watch: http://www.YouTube.com/BLACKSTARRIDERS

Face-To-Face With BLACK STAR RIDERS: Ricky Warwick And Damon Johnson Talk About “The Killer Instinct” And Great THIN LIZZY Heritage

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 27, 2014
Posted in: Int. News, Interviews. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Black-Star-Riders-2014

Interview by Tarja Virmakari

Fresh from the critically acclaimed debut album “All Hell Breaks Loose” in 2013, BLACK STAR RIDERS are set to release a new studio album, “The Killer Instinct” on February 20th (EU), 23rd (UK) and 24th (US), 2015 through Nuclear Blast. The band toured 2013’s “All Hell Breaks Loose” for a year – playing across the globe. October 2014 saw them gather in Nashville, TN and enter the studio with heralded producer Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, FOO FIGHTERS, ALICE IN CHAINS, MASTODON) to start recording the follow up.  The result is “The Killer Instinct”. Ricky Warwick explains, “Life’s not fair, never has been, never will. Sometimes you have to live with a killer instinct just to survive in the ongoing pursuit of happiness. Because nobody can do for you what you should be doing for yourself.”

During her pre-Christmas holidays in Helsinki, Tarja Virmakari had a chance to meet with BLACK STAR RIDERS vocalist Ricky Warwick and guitarist Damon Johnson, on their promo tour. Besides the new album in detail, Ricky, Damon and Tarja talked about the great THIN LIZZY heritage which follows the band with honour, looking however towards to 2015, with new tours and new frontiers and an album entitled “The Killer Instinct”, confirming BLACK STAR RIDERS‘ position in the Metal Universe. Out of curiosity, Ricky was asked about his many tattoos, and he replied… To know about this and much more, please join the chat below.


Ricky-Damon-Tarja-BlackStarRiders

BLACK STAR RIDERS – ‘The Killer Instinct’, Official Lyric Video

More information at http://www.blackstarriders.com | http://www.facebook.com/blackstarridersofficial | http://www.nuclearblast.de/blackstarriders

THIN LIZZY To Reveal New Band Name, Album Details Over Christmas

Posted by aliblackdiamond on December 18, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net 

THIN LIZZY recently announced its decision not to release their upcoming studio under the THIN LIZZY name out of respect to late LIZZY frontman Phil Lynott and the legacy Phil created. The band’s new name, as well as the details of the new CD, will be revealed over the Christmas period.

Says THIN LIZZY frontman Ricky Warwick via Facebook: “A massive thanks to all fans who have supported THIN LIZZY for the last two years. It’s been the biggest honor and privilege of my life to be part of this.

“Stay tuned for big announcements on Christmas on the album and new band name. 2013 is gonna be a very busy year!”

THIN LIZZY guitarist Damon Johnson told Metal Express Radio during a recent interview about the name change: “There’s other bands out there that are established with new lead singers and different members of the band. They’ve made new music without their most famous lineup. We thought for a while that’s exactly what we were going to do, and the songs were written under that umbrella: ‘We’ve got to make a THIN LIZZY record.’ That raised the bar incredibly high. It was a question for Brian [Downey, drums] and Scott [Gorham, guitar] all along.”

He continued: “We’re grateful for the massive support we’ve got from Phil‘s family, his widow and his daughters. They’ve been very supportive of everything that THIN LIZZY has done, particularly since Ricky joined. But I know they expressed some concern about the concept of brand-new original material. I get it, man, I totally get it.

“Once we made that decision, it took a lot of pressure off. It took a lot of pressure off Ricky.”

Regarding the sound of the new THIN LIZZY material, Johnson said: “Phil‘s such a part of these new songs. We felt, ‘Let’s make the record, put it out under a different name — and let the fans know this is THIN LIZZY 2013 under a different name.’

“People who are passionate about the sound that THIN LIZZY has, they’re gonna get a lot of that classic sound with this new record.”

THIN LIZZY‘s current lineup features Phil Lynott-era LIZZY members Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton (keyboards), as well as Damon Johnson, formerly of BROTHER CANE and Alice Cooper‘s band, former THE ALMIGHTY singer/guitarist Ricky Warwick, and bassist Marco Mendoza.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of THIN LIZZY‘s December 13 concert at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland can be seen below.