G
rowing up as an enormous Thin Lizzy
fan, current Black Star Riders guitarist
Damon Johnson had the pleasure of
seeing the Irish-based rockers live in 1979.
And it changed his life. So you can imagine
that it was like a dream come true when
Johnson got a call in 2011 asking him to join
the band.
"When it came to my attention that Thin
Lizzy had a spot that was about to open up, I
just thought, 'Can you imagine playing those
songs with those
guys every night?’”
Johnson
said. "I never thought anything would come
of it. And sure enough, I got a call from
Scott’s manager. The challenge was that I was
in the middle of a tour with Alice (Cooper)
and to tell you the truth — just on a business
level and a commitment level — I initially
said I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave Alice
and the guys high and dry like that. It was
my wife who talked some sense into me. She
said, ‘Damon, Alice loves you. He’s had 30
guitar players in his life, I think he'll be OK. I
think he can find somebody else to play "No
More Mr. Nice Guy” so you can go play "The
Boys Are Back In Town” with fucking Scott
Gorham!'” (laughing).
So Johnson got his wish and fulfilled his
dream of playing those classic Thin Lizzy
songs he