By Andrew Clarke

Published at 13:09, Thursday, 15 November 2012

AN acclaimed local Thin Lizzy tribute band are jetting off for a headline tour of Germany this weekend – and may have the chance to meet the real deal while they’re over there.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: Five and Dangerous play a storming show of classic Thin Lizzy covers during their set at the H-Fest in Whitehaven this summer

Five and Dangerous, who’ve been rocking local festivals and pubs as their heroes Phil Lynott and co for the last couple of years, fly out today (Thursday) for a four-date tour of Germany.

And on Friday night, the real Thin Lizzy are playing in a venue only a stone’s throw from Five and Dangerous’ gig – and the hope is that the bands can arrange to meet up.

“That would be the icing on the cake,” says drummer Allan Hall. “We are playing in Düsseldorf along with The Firebulls (an AC/DC tribute) and The Hip Hop Killers on Friday, and Thin Lizzy are playing in Cologne which is only 20 miles away.

“I met Marco Mendoza (Lizzy’s guitarist) at a gig and we’ve stayed in touch. We’re going to try our best to meet up as it would be unbelievable to get together with the whole band.”

The band – singer Steve ‘Pecker’ Woods, guitarists Bob Cullen, Paul Nichol and Mark McCarten, and drummer Allan Ball – are set to play four gigs in the Düsseldorf area. The first is only an hour after their plane lands, and the biggest is on Saturday night, a headline slot at the huge Aula Heslingeuhaus.

“We can’t wait; it’ll be a great experience,” said Bob, landlord of Whitehaven’s John Paul Jones pub. “We’ve all been getting our phrasebooks out – ‘funf grosse bier bitte’ – that sort of thing!”

The German link came about from a friendship that developed between Pecker Woods and a musician from German band The Hip Hop Killers.

Pecker arranged a tour of West Cumbria for The Hip Hop Killers last October – they played The Royal Oak (Beckermet), The Three Tuns (Whitehaven), Trades Hall (Workington) and Seaton Legion. And Five and Dangerous’ trip is the favour now being returned.

The band have only been formed for just over two years, but can boast a number of high-profile gigs on their CV.

“We had all been in previous bands, but Dave Polkey came up with the idea of forming a Thin Lizzy tribute. We are all huge fans – we have seen them play live a number of times, both recently and back in the day – and it’s gone on from there.”

Dave has since left the band, and they brought in Mark to replace him on bass. Two consecutive headline slots at Cock Rock have followed, along with an acclaimed set at Workington’s Nuts In May festival, and they had the honour of being the first band to play Workington’s revamped Carnegie Theatre.

“We love playing pubs, but we are more of a festival and big arena band. Hopefully this tour will lead to some bigger dates,” said Allan.

The band’s next local gig is at the John Paul Jones on December 14. Visit the group’s Facebook page for more information.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk