Ricky Warwick's double album, 'When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues)' and 'Hearts On Trees', was released in February of this year.
Today, Ricky returns with the official video for 'Schwaben Redoubt' premiering exclusively with War History Online. Ricky comments, "this is a song about a friendship found between two teenage lads from Ireland in a trench in Northern France on the morning of the 1st July 1916...a hundred years ago this year. One from the North, one from the South, who would on any other day hate each others guts but today all they have is each other, a shared fear of death and a shared name...Schwaben Redoubt was the name of the German position they walked towards that morning ....and into death.”
Sam Robinson, who wrote the lyrics to the song adds, "It isn't lost on Ricky nor I that as the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme approaches once again thousands of Irishmen, Northern and Southern have returned to France this month, their purpose goodwill, laughter and bon homie.Times like these only exist through the sacrifice made by men like Liam Kelly and Billy Drennan who fell side by side on the Schwaben Redoubt on the morning of the 1st July 1916. Regardless of our differences, sometimes there is a greater evil with which to do battle. Schwaben was a simply written song with a deeper message and meaning. To have the front men of two of Ireland's greatest bands Stiff Little Fingers and Thin Lizzy step up to the mic and tell the tale is for me simply mind-blowing.”
With guest vocals by Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers) the song, as the 100th anniversary of the battle approaches, is a tribute to the young men of Ireland North and South, Catholic and Protestant who gave their lives in what was to ironically to be labelled the war to end all wars. The video's inclusion of war-time images only adds to the poignancy of this fateful point in history during the summer of 1916 in Northern France.
Order the double album 'When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues)' and 'Hearts On Trees', below:
CD - http://bit.ly/CDRickyWarwick
Limited Edition Vinyl - http://bit.ly/VinylRickyWarwick
Limited Edition T-Shirt and CD Bundle
Limited Edition Green & Clear Vinyl, CD/T-Shirt bundle - http://bit.ly/RickyWarwickNBStore
iTunes - http://bit.ly/RickyWarwickiTunes
Both albums boast an array of acclaimed musicians with guests including; Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders), Andy Cairns (Therapy?), Billy Morrison (Billy Idol), Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol), Ginger Wildheart, Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Richard Fortus (Guns ‘N’ Roses/The Dead Daisies) and Mark Thwaite (The Mission, Peter Murphy).
The artwork for the double albums reflect the tone of each - ‘When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues)’ showcases the electric rock and roll side of Ricky, whilst 'Hearts On Trees' veers more towards tender stripped-back songwriting, influenced by both Americana and, more importantly, Ricky's Northern Irish roots.
Ricky and his band The Fighting Hearts featuring Robbie Crane on Bass (Black Star Riders), Guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Mission, Peter Murphy) and Drummer Gary Sullivan are back on the road for a UK Tour in November & December.
Tour dates as follows:
11/11/16 Pwllheli – Hard Rock Hell*
12/11/16 Birmingham – O2 Academy3
13/11/16 Sheffield – O2 Academy2
15/11/16 Leicester – O2 Academy2
16/11/16 Edinburgh – Bannermans
17/11/16 Newcastle – Riverside
18/11/16 Chester – Live Rooms
19/11/16 Grimsby – Yardbirds
20/11/16 Norwich, Waterfront Studio
22/11/16 London – O2 Academy Islington
23/11/16 Oxford – O2 Academy
24/12/16 Trecco Bay – Planet Rockstock*
*Vice Squad not on these dates.
We have “Celebrating Sinking” on The Friday NI Rocks Show on 17th June.