Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The tour was originally supposed to have been a double-header with support from US metallers Queensryche, but they'd pulled out.Μύ Their replacement was the Stone Gods which turned out to be the band that's risen from the ashes of The Darkness.

I have to admit this news had passed under my radar, and so I spent most of the time in the bar before going to my seat and thinking "that guitarist looks remarkably familiar!". This was only their third gig.

The band features Dan Hawkins on guitar, Ed Graham on drums, Ritchie Edwards moving from bass in The Darkness to second guitar and lead vocals and 'newcomer' Toby MacFarlaine on bass. They received a warm welcome from the Lizzy crowd.

Their sound is a much harder rock than The Darkness without veering into thrash or death metal territory. Ritchie's voice is far removed from Justin Hawkins' falsetto.

What I heard sounded very promising. It's still rooted in hard rock and there doesn't seem much chance that they'll pick up mainstream pop-fans which may be a good thing as we don't want to see them rise and fall in quite so spectacular fashion as The Darkness.

Are you ready?

It was billed as a Live & Dangerous 30th anniversary celebration and Thin Lizzy's set was filled almost exclusively with tracks from the album bar Waiting For An Alibi,Μύ Black Rose and Cold Sweat.

Having just managed to catch them on their final UK gig at the Reading Festival in 1983, I was more than a bit apprehensive about watching this version of the band. I know they've been doing it for several years now, but I still wanted to know if they could really be pulling it off without Phil Lynott?

Top Of The Pops, 1978

The answer is yes, and seemingly most fans already know this judging by a reasonably full Regent.Μύ John Sykes handles the vocal duties and you almost immediately accept that this is simply a tale of two great guitarists paying tribute to a great band which they both happened to be in.

The memory of Lynott is evoked by Sykes soon after the opener and then it's a string of classics including Emerald, Dancing In The Moonlight, Bad Reputation, Cowboy Song and something called The Boys Are Back In Town.

Twinned with Rock City

The sound was awesomely loud and the trademark Lizzy twin guitar harmonies came across crystal clear - particularly on the classic ballad Still In Love With You and the Irish folk song anthology Black Rose.

Bassist Francesco DiCosmo and drummer Tommy Aldridge provided a backbone, but my only complaint was the overlong drum solo from the former Ozzy cohort. Original Lizzy drummer Brian Downey's solo on the Live & Dangerous album is short and sweet and none the worse for it.Μύ But do we really need the cliched 70s ten minute version in this day and age?

Thin Lizzy at Ipswich Regent

Despite my reservations that it's basically a glorified tribute band, the pleasure of watching two ageing guitarists cranking out one of rock's finest back catalogues was all ours.

The show's touring the UK with occasional support from Stone Gods until 13 December 2007. Visit the weblinks for more details.