Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve O’Brien.
Hi Steve, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Steve O’Brien and I am a bassist originally from Dublin, Ireland. I got my first bass in 1986 and taught myself by listening to records of a lot of styles but was mainly influenced by the Blues like ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Rory Gallagher.
On a whim in 2003, I moved to Texas and started playing around the state with various Texas blues bands (including a ZZ Top tribute band).
In 2009, I answered an ad for a bass player for a U2 tribute band.
This led to the formation of THINK LIZZY with our Edge, Andy Sharp, in 2010, as a one-off gig for St Patrick’s Day at Fado Irish Pub.
After receiving positive feedback, I decided to see how far THINK LIZZY could go so I put a band together and dared/recruited Debrah Watts to be band manager to help spread the word around.
Since then, we have played all over Texas from tiny stages like Headhunters to the House of Blues and all points in between, and always in a Live and Dangerous style. People leave the show impressed with the musicianship and stage show, while we have fun doing it.
Among the many highlights of our THINK LIZZY career are two that stand out.
In 2011, Thin Lizzy’s longtime manager, Frank Murray, happened to see us at a SXSW gig in South Austin. He was so blown away by our show and the authenticity and sound of the band, he had to walk away for a minute.
Then in 2015, we met legendary Thin Lizzy guitar player Scott Gorham after a Black Star Riders show in Houston. We got the thumbs up approval and he dug the name of the band. He appreciated the fact that we are playing tribute to Thin Lizzy in Texas and encouraged us to keep the music alive and rockin’.
So after ten years, 150 guitar players and 19 drummers, all high calibre musicians, my goal remain to pay tribute and keep rocking the legacy of Thin Lizzy as the greatest ever Irish rock band!
Special mention must be made to some of our loyal and hardcore fans, who have supported the band from early on, and have given us reason to keep the band going: Uncle Ben from Brady, Texas, Abe and Katherine from McAllen, heavy metal Sean W, Greg G from Austin, Ernie and Silvano from San Antonio, Phil and Jenna from Old School Liquor and Market in South Austin, and of course, our favourite Stout Irish band, Blaggards.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road but it’s been a hell of a fun ride. There have been times where I have lost talented musicians for various reasons. The struggle is finding the right musicians as the music is very unique and precise.
Also, since the music isn’t as well known in America apart from three hit songs (Jailbreak, The Cowboy Song, and The Boys are Back in Town), it’s been a fun challenge to introduce Thin Lizzy’s music to a wider audience.
And then there’s the “coyote call”….!!!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a Thin Lizzy tribute band which means we try our best to look and sound lilke the original and keep it as authentic as possible. I’m most proud of bringing Thin Lizzy’s music to a wider audience and getting recognition from an original member of Thin Lizzy. We are the longest-lasting Thin Lizzy tribute band in this part of America.
What’s next?
To keep on rocking wherever we can!
Contact Info:
- Email: debrahwatts@hotmail.com
- Website: www.thinklizzy.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thinklizzytexas
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thinklizzytx
Image Credits
Debrah Watts
