This past Saturday, after their final concert as the opening act on the KISS/Motley Crue tour, Thin Lizzy have announced that they’re retiring the band name and are moving forward as Black Star Riders.

After touring the past few years as Thin Lizzy, the lineup adopted the new band name last fall to start recording a new album with a clean slate, and out of respect to the legacy of the late Thin Lizzy bassist/vocalist Phillip Lynott. Singer Ricky Warwick said in a statement, “To have spent the last 3 years being part of such a fantastic legacy has been amazing. I would to thank all of you out there for your past and continued support. And of course Mr. Phil Lynott for letting me stand beside your shoes, you have taught me so much."

Lynott, whose last years were dogged by drug and alcohol dependency, died of pneumonia and heart failure due to sepsis in January 1986. He's always been a favorite of mine, (and a HUGE inspiration as a singer/bassist) and I recently visited his statue in Dublin Ireland

During his SXSW concert last Thursday night in Austin TX, rapper LL Cool J has confirmed that Eddie Van Halen is among the guests set to appear on his forthcoming album, "Authentic." The Van Halen News Desk website also confirms the collaboration which will be released April 30, and also ran two recent photos posted by Eddie Van Halen featuring the pair in the studio.