Ricky Warwick will release his new album Blood Ties on 14 March 2025 via Earache Records. The album will feature special guests Billy Duffy, Charlie Starr and Lita Ford. The first single, Don’t Leave Me In The Dark, has been released today.
“This was the first song written for the album,” Ricky Warwick told us about Don’t Leave Me In The Dark. “It details the intricacies of love and the battles we fight to stay in it. When you put everything into a relationship, and the significant other doesn’t reciprocate, there’s always a huge mental toll, a price to pay on commitment.”
Don’t Leave Me In The Dark features legendary The Runaways and solo artist Lita Ford on vocals. “When I first got the call to record a duet with Ricky Warwick my first thought was about the legacy that this man carries,” Lita told us. “From our beloved early Thin Lizzy days up to today, Ricky carries that torch. An era that is close to my soul.”
Ricky says that Lita is a true hardcore rocker. “She is the real deal in every way,” he said. “The attitude, energy and professionalism she brought to the video shoot was inspiring on every level. She also brought her famous original Hamer Guitar that dates way back to her time in The Runaways.”
“Ricky’s image and voice is as dark and mysterious as his black leather and black Les Paul,” Lita says. “But at the same time, a super cool and mega-talented artist. When I heard the song Don’t Leave Me In The Dark I felt that it would be a killer duet because our vocal styles and images would complement each other. I really enjoyed working with someone who is so talented, down to earth, and has real grit and determination.”
Ricky recognised the delivery style for the song from as early as the lyric writing process. “When I wrote the lyrics for Don’t Leave Me In The Dark I knew right away the song needed to be performed as a duet,” he said. “Lita instantly sprang to mind. I’m honoured that she agreed to be a part of it. She absolutely nailed it sonically and visually as I knew she would.”
Blood Ties is set to be one of Ricky Warwick’s most personal albums to date. Big cathartic guitar sounds and life-affirming, often joyous assessments of where he is in life right now have made it a standout body of work in a career that has spanned over four decades at the coalface of rock ’n’ roll.
“I mined a deep seam to make this record,” Ricky said. “It’s in the darkest, most uncharted of places where the real energy is to be found. There comes a time in everyone’s life when the game is afoot, and the decision is taken to face down and exorcise personal demons.
“The situation finally seemed right to deal with these and try to express my feelings, fears and anxieties in as uplifting a way as possible, turning negativity into positivity. To do that, I had to make sure the guitars were turned up way beyond driven.”
The album was produced by Ricky’s friend and creative compadre Mr Keith Nelson (Buckcherry). The cover of the Blood Ties was also designed and drawn by Ricky’s stepdaughter, Zoe Hinton.
“If people can connect with this album, musically, lyrically, its artwork, or better still all three, then that is all I can really ask and hope for,” Ricky Warwick says. “If it means as much to someone else as it does to me then I feel my work is done. For me, it’s all about what other people think!! What’s the point in creating art if you don’t share and care.”
