Black Star Riders Plot 2023 UK Tour With Michael Monroe And Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons
Monday, 06 June 2022
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Ross Halfin
Black Star Riders have announced a UK tour for early 2023, along with details of their fifth studio album.
The band will celebrate the record as well as their 10th anniversary with 11 shows, kicking off in Nottingham on February 13, before stops in Norwich, Ipswich, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Cardiff, Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle and London.
They'll be joined on all dates by special guests Michael Monroe and Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, with tickets on general sale at 10am on June 9.
The news comes with details of 'Wrong Side Of Paradise', which is due out on January 20 via Earache Records. Head below to check out the lead single, Better Than Saturday Night, a Thin Lizzy-influenced rocker.
The 11-track LP was recorded with longtime producer Jay Ruston behind the control desk, and marks the group's first full-length without Scott Gorham following his departure in 2021, though the legendary guitarist will join the band on tour. Former drummer Jimmy DeGrasso will also be performing.
Guitarist Christian Martucci, who did features on the record, has now left Black Star Riders to work with Stone Sour and Corey Taylor, and won't appear on the tour. Frontman Ricky Warwick commented:
"Better Than Saturday Night is a feel-good, uplifting tune about staying strong in the face of adversity, being true to yourself, and the power of positivity. I wrote it for my kids, but subliminally I think I also wrote it for myself and everyone for those days when we need to find a little bit of extra strength.
"We wanted to reflect the positivity, power, attitude and strength to endure sentiment in the lyrics of the song. And no better way to do that than Black Star Riders rockin’ out with the Los Angeles Roller Derby Dolls."
He said of the album: "I am very proud of this record, Black Star Riders fifth release and the first with our new and exciting relationship with Earache Records. As with all BSR albums, 'Wrong Side Of Paradise' is an anthemic statement of intent, driven by ferocious guitars and thundering drums. I can only write about my own personal experiences, my families, my friends and how I see a world that is unravelling and changing faster than we can comprehend. That being said, I’m a firm believer in the power of positivity, something that echoes throughout this album."
Discussing the tour dates, he revealed: "Can you believe 2023 is 10 years of Black Star Riders … How time flies while you are having fun! We decided to do something special to commemorate this occasion. For the UK tour only, to coincide with the album’s release, we will be bringing back the legendary Scott Gorham and Jimmy DeGrasso for the dates to make them extra special!
"As we all know the Worldwide pandemic has changed so many things in all our lives and when we brought Christian Martucci into the fold in 2018 we had planned to work the BSR cycle in rotation with Christian's Corey Taylor/Stone Sour gig so he could do both. The two-year break in live music has unfortunately put paid to this plan and Christian has had to leave Black Star Riders to concentrate on his work with Corey. We wish him all the best and he will forever remain part of the BSR family."
Black Star Riders Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Mon February 13 2023 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Wed February 15 2023 - NORWICH Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
Thu February 16 2023 - IPSWICH Corn Exchange
Fri February 17 2023 - MANCHESTER O2 Ritz
Sat February 18 2023 - WOLVERHAMPTON KKs Steel Mill
Sun February 19 2023 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Tue February 21 2023 - CARDIFF Tramshed
Wed February 22 2023 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Thu February 23 2023 - GLASGOW SWG3 Galvanizers
Fri February 24 2023 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 City Hall Newcastle
Sun February 26 2023 - LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
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