Damon Johnson is one of those rare do-it-all musicians who has lived out his dream in various ways with an assortment of marquee talent. Known fairly equally as the co-founder and frontman of 1990s group Brother Cane along with his time as guitarist for Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy and the latter’s spin-off outfit Black Star Riders, Johnson has also penned songs for Stevie Nicks, Carlos Santana, Sammy Hagar, Steven Tyler and worked with country superstar Faith Hill.
Not a bad conglomerate of stardom with which to be associated.
Now having resumed his solo career, Johnson is allowing himself and a well-known fellow guitarist and friend to have a little fun during this hellacious pandemic-riddled year. And he’s inviting everyone along for the ride.
Johnson and Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner will perform a live stream “Tribute to Thin Lizzy” at 7 p.m. Central time this Friday (8 p.m. EST, 5 p.m. PST). Starting at $10, tickets and bundle packages can be purchased here. Just as importantly, fans can watch the event up to Sunday night if they are unable to catch it live or simply want to rock out to it more than once. Considering the dearth of live shows in 2020, several watch parties might not be such a bad idea.
The 56-year-old Johnson, who performed in the Alamo City in 2018 and 2014 with Black Star Riders — the former while opening for Judas Priest and Saxon — left the band featuring vocalist Ricky Warwick and longtime Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham shortly afterwards in order to concentrate on his next solo album. He will unveil the title track to Battle Lessons, a rockin’ tune from start to finish, at the end of the Thin Lizzy tribute that will include his band The Get Ready. Johnson also has a few other surprises up his sleeve during the live stream and in the coming weeks.
The Alabama native graciously discussed it all Tuesday from his house in Nashville, Tennessee, and even tossed in a personal story of the frontman he’ll be paying homage to once again, the late Phil Lynott. Click the widget below to hear our entire conversation (all photos minus flyer by Jay Nanda).
