Darren Wharton
Encyclopedia
Darren Wharton is a British keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He has fronted his own band, Dare
since 1989, but first came to attention as a member of Thin Lizzy
.
while performing with a cover band. He was only 17 when he contributed keyboards to their 1980 album Chinatown. By the following year on the album Renegade he had become an official member of the band, co writing the opening track with Lynott 'Angel Of Death'.
Wharton continued with the band on the follow-up Thunder And Lightning in 1983, having an greater share in the writing credits, most notably on "The Sun Goes Down
", but that year Lynott announced the break-up of Thin Lizzy.
Wharton also worked with Lynott on the latter's 1982 solo recording The Philip Lynott Album
, where he played on most of the record's eleven tracks.
In 1999 Darren reunited with Thin Lizzy touring Europe and the US documented on the 2000 live album One Night Only
.
He resurfaced with his own band Dare
in 1989. Following his move to North Wales
in 1992, their music has come to reflect a more Celtic
influence. After forming his own label 'Legend Records' the 2001 Dare album 'Belief' was featured on Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2 breakfast show when the single 'White Horses' was played every week for 3 months. In 2004 , now signed to Warners ADA Music, Dare released their Beneath The Shing Water album. The first single "Sea of Roses" was again playlisted by Terry Wogan on BBC Radio Two. 2009 saw the release of Dare's sixth studio album 'Arc Of The Dawn' After John Sykes
' departure from Thin Lizzy 2009, Scott Gorham
set to work on creating the greatest line-up of Thin Lizzy since Lynott's death. Rejoining him are old bandmates Brian Downey
, and Marco Mendoza
. New to the line up are Def Leppard
guitarist Vivian Campbell
and former The Almighty vocalist Ricky Warwick
. After months of pre-production and rehearsals, the world at large was told about this new line-up in May 2010. This version of Thin Lizzy started an extensive world tour in January 2010 and is scheduled to continue for the foreseeable future. Wharton will be releasing his seventh Dare studio album 'SEVEN' later in 2011.
He also has a son called Paris who takes on lead guitar duties on the track 'Circles' from the album Arc of The Dawn.
Dare (band)
Dare is a hard rock band from Oldham, England, fronted by Thin Lizzy keyboard player Darren Wharton. They formed in 1985, and have released seven albums to date, including the #48 UK hit, Blood from Stone.-History:...
since 1989, but first came to attention as a member of Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
.
Biography
Thin Lizzy had not had a keyboard player since their early gigs in Ireland, and Wharton was contacted by Phil LynottPhil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
while performing with a cover band. He was only 17 when he contributed keyboards to their 1980 album Chinatown. By the following year on the album Renegade he had become an official member of the band, co writing the opening track with Lynott 'Angel Of Death'.
Wharton continued with the band on the follow-up Thunder And Lightning in 1983, having an greater share in the writing credits, most notably on "The Sun Goes Down
The Sun Goes Down (Thin Lizzy song)
"The Sun Goes Down" was a single released by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, the last single to be released before they split in 1983. It is featured on the group's 1983 album, Thunder and Lightning....
", but that year Lynott announced the break-up of Thin Lizzy.
Wharton also worked with Lynott on the latter's 1982 solo recording The Philip Lynott Album
The Philip Lynott Album
The Philip Lynott Album is the second solo album by Philip Lynott, released in 1982.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Philip Lynott, except where indicated.# "Fatalistic Attitude" The Philip Lynott Album is the second solo album by Philip Lynott, released in 1982.-Track listing:All tracks...
, where he played on most of the record's eleven tracks.
In 1999 Darren reunited with Thin Lizzy touring Europe and the US documented on the 2000 live album One Night Only
One Night Only (Thin Lizzy album)
One Night Only is a live album by rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 2000. Thin Lizzy had reformed in 1996 for a series of gigs marking ten years since the death of singer/songwriter/bassist Phil Lynott. Latterday Lizzy guitarist John Sykes now took the lead vocal while Marco Mendoza was recruited...
.
He resurfaced with his own band Dare
Dare (band)
Dare is a hard rock band from Oldham, England, fronted by Thin Lizzy keyboard player Darren Wharton. They formed in 1985, and have released seven albums to date, including the #48 UK hit, Blood from Stone.-History:...
in 1989. Following his move to North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
in 1992, their music has come to reflect a more Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
influence. After forming his own label 'Legend Records' the 2001 Dare album 'Belief' was featured on Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2 breakfast show when the single 'White Horses' was played every week for 3 months. In 2004 , now signed to Warners ADA Music, Dare released their Beneath The Shing Water album. The first single "Sea of Roses" was again playlisted by Terry Wogan on BBC Radio Two. 2009 saw the release of Dare's sixth studio album 'Arc Of The Dawn' After John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
' departure from Thin Lizzy 2009, Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham
Scott Gorham is an American guitarist and songwriter who rose to international recognition as one of the "twin lead guitarists" of the Irish-formed rock band, Thin Lizzy...
set to work on creating the greatest line-up of Thin Lizzy since Lynott's death. Rejoining him are old bandmates Brian Downey
Brian Downey (drummer)
Brian Michael Downey is an Irish drummer.Downey is the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, and a friend from childhood of co-founder and frontman Phil Lynott. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in...
, and Marco Mendoza
Marco Mendoza
Marco Mendoza is an American musician. He spent his formative years living with his grandmother in Tijuana, Mexico. He started playing the guitar at an early age, adopting the bass when he was invited to join a band that needed a player....
. New to the line up are Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
guitarist Vivian Campbell
Vivian Campbell
Vivian Patrick Campbell is a Northern Irish rock guitarist who is a member of Def Leppard and was, from May 2010 to November 2011, a member of Thin Lizzy. Prior to joining Def Leppard in April 1992, he had been a member of Whitesnake, Sweet Savage, Trinity, Riverdogs, and Shadow King...
and former The Almighty vocalist Ricky Warwick
Ricky Warwick
Ricky Warwick is possibly best known as the frontman for the Scottish band The Almighty. Starting out as a rhythm guitarist in New Model Army, Ricky formed The Almighty in 1988. Warwick was the lead vocalist and played guitar in various formats of the band. In 1996 he left The Almighty...
. After months of pre-production and rehearsals, the world at large was told about this new line-up in May 2010. This version of Thin Lizzy started an extensive world tour in January 2010 and is scheduled to continue for the foreseeable future. Wharton will be releasing his seventh Dare studio album 'SEVEN' later in 2011.
He also has a son called Paris who takes on lead guitar duties on the track 'Circles' from the album Arc of The Dawn.
with Thin Lizzy
- Chinatown (1980)
- Renegade (1981)
- Thunder and Lightning (1983)
- LifeLife (Thin Lizzy album)Life is a double live album by Irish band Thin Lizzy, released in 1983. This double album was recorded during their farewell tour in 1983, principally at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, UK...
(1983) - One Night OnlyOne Night Only (Thin Lizzy album)One Night Only is a live album by rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 2000. Thin Lizzy had reformed in 1996 for a series of gigs marking ten years since the death of singer/songwriter/bassist Phil Lynott. Latterday Lizzy guitarist John Sykes now took the lead vocal while Marco Mendoza was recruited...
(2000)
with Dare
- Out of The Silence (1988)
- Blood from Stone (1991)
- Calm Before the Storm (1998)
- Belief (2001)
- Beneath the Shining Water (2004)
- The Power of Nature (2005)
- Arc of the Dawn (2009)