THIN LIZZY / DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell recently confirmed via his Facebook page that GUNS N' ROSES' Richard Fortus has stepped in to replace him temporarily while he honours touring commitments with Def Leppard:

"Well, that was it: my last U.S. show with Lizzy (April 1st) — and it was a great one to end on. New guitarist Richard Fortus came and played a couple of songs. I have one final gig with them in Ireland, and the very next day we start Def Lep rehearsals."

Footage from the above mentioned gig is available below:

Thin Lizzy recently confirmed a collection of dates for this upcoming summer in Europe. The dates are as follows:

May

28 - Dublin, Ireland- Slane Castle
29 - Horsens, Denmark- Jelling Festival
30 - Hillerod, Denmark - Frederiksborg Culture

June

2 - Swindon England - MEC Arena
7 - Belfast, Ireland - Odyssey Arena (with Def Leppard and ALICE COOPER)
8 - Dublin, Ireland -O2 Arena (with Def Leppard and Alice Cooper)
10 - Derby, England - Download Festival
11 - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
14 - Enschede, Netherlands - Enschede Atak Festival
18 - Clisson, France - Hellfest

July

10 - Weert, Netherlands - Bospop Festival

Visit the Thin Lizzy website for ticket links and VIP packages.

Billboard.com's Gary Graff recently caught up with This Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham. An excerpt from the report is available below:

Scott Gorham is thinking it may be time to bring the Thin Lizzy boys back into the studio again.

The venerable group hasn't released a new album since 1983's Thunder and Lightning and certainly have not thought about it since iconic frontman Phil Lynott's death in 1986. But guitarist Gorham, who was with the group from 1974-83 and has led various configurations of reconstituted Thin Lizzys since 1996 tells Billboard.com that the current lineup -- which includes original drummer Brian Downey, DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, TED NUGENT), singer Ricky Warwick and keyboardist Darren Wharton -- may just be good enough to try to add some music to the Lizzy legacy.

"That's the No. 1 question we're getting from people -- are we gonna record some new material?" Gorham says. "The fans seem to trust this line-up, and I don't blame them. We've kind of jumped this emotional hurdle together. Ricky's writing some f***ing killer lyrics, and with the kind of talent that's in Thin Lizzy now I think we can pull off a really cool set of tunes. At least it's something that we can think about now, where before it wasn't on the table."

Go to this location for the complete story.

As previously reported, Abstract Sounds Books are releasing Thin Lizzy's The Boys Are Back - The True Story book plus four-DVD set on March 28th.

A description reads as follows:

Featuring a masterful and comprehensive text by Dave Thompson plus a comprehensive track by track analysis by Robert M Corich, this unique production also includes four interview DVDs packed with candid film and audio interviews with past and present members. A heartfelt recollection from Philomena Lynott, mother of the late great Phil Lynott, is an unmissable addition. The interviewees span all eras of the band’s history and include original members Phil Lynott, Eric Bell, Brian Robertson, Snowy White and John Sykes. Insider interviews include the men who made Lizzy what they were including key producers, managers and album sleeve designers. The archive interviews with the band and insiders are compared and contrasted with the views of a leading team of music journalists, insiders and musicologists. This uncensored and independent title has not been viewed or approved by the band or its management and is completely free to tell the unvarnished story of the band as it really happened. The contents of this amazing book and DVD combination are completely essential reading and viewing for Thin Lizzy fans everywhere.

Says Philomena Lynott: “My son was the greatest rock star that ever was or ever will be.”