Concert review - Thin Lizzy at Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Thin Lizzy

Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Concert review and photos by Ian Harvey

There will always be some purists who insist a band should never carry on without a key member.

But the 3,000 fans who raised the roof at the Civic last night know that even without their iconic leader Phil Lynott, the mighty Thin Lizzy's legacy is still well worth shouting about.

Twenty-five years after Lynott's tragically early death, the 2011 incarnation of Thin Lizzy features two members of the classic line-up that released the incredible Live and Dangerous album, guitarist Scott Gorham and drummer Brian Downey.

They were joined by singer and guitarist Ricky Warwick from The Almighty, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, keyboard player Darren Wharton and bassist Marco Mendoza in a night that was all about celebrating the unifying power of rock.

From the opening Are You Ready to the quite astonishing finale of Black Rose, there was barely a let-up in the pace, save for the utterly compelling Still In Love With You, Campbell raising the hairs on the back of the neck with his pin-point accurate recreation of Brian Robertson's celebrated guitar solo.

Warwick proved to be an inspired choice as lead singer, never out for one moment to replace Lynott, but still with the vocal range, register and charisma to do justice to songs like Jailbreak, Rosalie and Whisky In The Jar. Gorham and Campbell's guitars combined perfectly to create the classic Lizzy twin guitar sound, the years just melting away.

The biggest cheers of the night were saved for The Boys Are Back In Town and for Lynott himself, his picture projected on screens at the back of the stage . . . gone but never forgotten.

Music photography by Ian Harvey / RocktasticPix