The Almighty/Black Star Riders/Thin Lizzy man Ricky Warwick told us about his Les Paul love...
I bought this 1989 White Gibson Les Paul brand new in '89 from a music store in Glasgow called Sound Control with the money from my first record deal with Polydor Records. I wanted a white Les Paul Custom because that’s what Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols and Steve Clark of Def Leppard played.
I have used the guitar constantly and consistently since then, it has been all over the world many times and in countless recording studios and on many albums. It’s my No. 1 guitar and the only one that I couldn’t live without….its that special!
It has had a few paint jobs over the years and the pick ups replaced due to blood, sweat and beers (literally) erosion! But I believe that when people think of Ricky Warwick they envisage me with that guitar. I get asked about it constantly.
It’s slung low below my waist in The Almighty, Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders. It has now turned from white to a beautiful nicotine yellow due to age but, it wears its scars with pride. I added the Belfast decal to the body about 15 years ago to remind me of home wherever I am in the world !
Most artist spend a whole career searching for their perfect guitar. I was lucky, mine was the first one I bought and nothing has ever come close.
Ricky Warwick's new solo album Blood Ties is out March 14. The video for "Don't Leave Me in the Dark" (feat. Lita Ford) is out now.
Photo credit: Jane Alexander
