Ricky Warwick
A gritty rock 'n' roll survivor from Belfast, he commands the stage for both the reimagined Thin Lizzy and his own powerful solo work.
Born 1966 (age 60)·Northern Irish singer and guitarist·Birthday: July 11·Generation X
Biography
Ricky Warwick carries the spirit of working-class rock in his voice and his guitar. Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, he first made his mark fronting the Scottish hard rock outfit The Almighty, who carved out a significant following in the UK during the 1990s with a string of top 40 albums. When that chapter closed, Warwick reinvented himself as a solo artist, crafting heartfelt, folk-tinged rock that told stories of life, loss, and resilience. His deep connection to the legacy of Phil Lynott led to his unlikely and triumphant second act: becoming the frontman for Thin Lizzy in 2010, and later the lead singer and driving force behind Black Star Riders, the band formed to create new music in the Lizzy tradition. With a worn-leather voice and undeniable conviction, Warwick has ensured that the twin-guitar attack and soulful songwriting he loves are not relics, but a living, breathing force.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ricky was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ricky Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Ricky's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Fronted Black Star Riders, releasing five studio albums that successfully extended the Thin Lizzy musical legacy with new material.
- Led The Almighty to five UK Top 40 albums in the 1990s, including the top 10 album 'Powertrippin'.
- Assumed the role of lead vocalist for Thin Lizzy in 2010, steering the band's live performances for years after Phil Lynott's passing.
- Has released multiple solo albums, often exploring a more roots-oriented and personal songwriting style.
Did You Know?
He worked as a roadie for New Model Army before starting his own musical career.
His solo album 'When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang the Blues)' was inspired by a line from a Bruce Springsteen song.
He is a close friend and frequent collaborator with guitarist Damon Johnson (Brother Cane, Alice Cooper).
“I'm a Belfast boy, and that's never left me or my music.”
