Live Review: Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
Support: CJ Wildheart
20th September 2025
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
KK’s Steel Mill once again played host to a night of gritty rock ’n’ roll, with Ricky Warwick (of Black Star Riders, The Almighty fame) playing a solo headline show with his band Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts, with support from the genius that is CJ Wildheart.
Taking the stage with his trademark understated confidence, introducing himself to the crowd “I’m CJ and this is my band The Wildhearts” with a cheeky grin on his face. CJ wasted no time in firing into ‘Kick Down the Walls’, a statement of intent that set the tone perfectly. The set leaned heavily on his solo material, but what really made it shine was the way he peppered it with choice cuts from his back catalogue giving long-time fans something to cheer about while keeping things fresh.
‘The Baddest Girl in the World’ and ‘Another Big Mistake’ carried a punchy energy, while ‘Lemonade Girl’ offered a sugary slice of The Jellys nostalgia that had heads nodding throughout the room. CJ hasn’t forgotten his Honeycrack days either, pulling out ‘Go Away’ and ‘Sitting at Home’, both of which sounded as sharp and defiant as they did back in the ’90s.
There was also room for Wildhearts fans to revel in the familiarity of ‘Stormy in the North, Karma in the South’ and ‘OCD’. Both tracks were delivered with raw grit, reminding everyone that CJ’s DNA is stamped all over those anthems.
By the time the final chords rang out, it was clear Wolverhampton had witnessed a tight, career-spanning performance from one of British rock’s most reliable underdogs.
After a career-spanning set from CJ Wildheart, the night at KK’s Steel Mill belonged to Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts. Best known as the frontman of The Almighty, Black Star Riders and a long-serving member of Thin Lizzy’s latter-day line-ups, Warwick has spent decades proving his worth as one of hard rock’s most honest storytellers. With The Fighting Hearts in tow, he brought Wolverhampton a show that stitched together every thread of his career.
The line-up; Ricky Warwick on vocals and guitar, Leigh Haggerty (of The Ruts) on guitar, Jack Taylor behind the kit, and Richard Vernon on bass, brought that raw rock ’n’ roll edge. Opening with ‘You’re My Rock ’n’ Roll’, Ricky immediately had the room singing back at him, the tone set for an evening of grit and melody.
What followed was a setlist that read like a love letter to Warwick’s musical past. Black Star Riders fans were treated to ‘When the Night Comes In’, ‘Another State of Grace’, and ‘Finest Hour’, all ditties that have already earned their place in the modern rock canon. For long-time followers, ‘Do You Understand’, ‘Jonestown Mind’, and the raucous ‘Free ’n’ Eas’y were a powerful reminder of just how vital The Almighty’s legacy remains, as Ricky reminded us just weeks ago at Stonedead Festival.
The Thin Lizzy nods – ‘Are You Ready’ and a thunderous ‘Jailbreak’ - were met with roars of approval, while ‘Born to Lose’, a tribute to The Heartbreakers, showcased Ricky’s punk roots.
His own solo material stood proudly alongside these classics. ‘When Life Was Hard and Fast’ carried a wistful nostalgia, ‘Angels of Desolation’ dripped with drama, and ‘Celebrating Sinking’ and ‘The Crickets Stayed in Clovis’ showed just how strong his songwriting is outside of the bigger-name projects.
Throughout it all, Ricky was a commanding presence. His gravel-edged vocals and natural rapport with the crowd gave the performance a warmth that balanced perfectly with the band’s muscle. Haggerty’s guitar work in particular shone, trading riffs with Ricky and lifting songs into the rafters, while the rhythm section of Taylor and Vernon provided a driving backbone.
Closing with Fighting Heart, Ricky left Wolverhampton with a reminder that his music is as much about resilience and spirit as it is about riffs and anthems. It was a show that proved once again, no matter where he performs or who he performs with, Ricky can do no wrong.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
