Thin Lizzy’s Scott Gorham Shares How He “Died” In Operating Table

Legendary guitarist Scott Gorham recently joined host Darren Paltrowitz on the latest episode of the Paltrocast, recorded over Zoom in May 2025. The conversation gave fans a closer look at the former Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders guitarist’s life today—one filled with art, recovery, and reflection after a serious health scare. The 74-year-old rock veteran is proving that creativity doesn’t stop at the edge of a stage.

From Life-Threatening Surgery to Recovery

When asked about the possibility of returning to touring, Gorham didn’t rule it out, but explained he’s taking things slow after a rough medical journey. “It’s possible right now. I had a health issue scare about a year ago with a kidney that had to be removed and I got sepsis from it,” he revealed. “And the second surgeon said I actually died on the operating table and all that. And I was, like, ‘Really, man? What the hell is all that about?’” He added:

“Now I had a third operation, and he said, ‘Maybe you should take some time out and just kind of rehabilitate and all that, get your strength back and all that.’ So that’s what I’m doing.”

While music is on hold for now, Gorham hasn’t stepped away from creativity. Instead, he’s diving deeper into his second passion—drawing. “So hopefully soon-ish down the road, I can get my buns back out on the road,” he added optimistically.

A New Canvas After 50 Years on the Road

Paltrowitz noted how creatively fulfilled Gorham seems these days, even without a guitar in hand. Scott agreed:

“Yeah. You’ve gotta remember, playing guitar in bands, I’ve been doing this for 50 years now, so sitting at Heathrow airport waiting for the next flight isn’t really a new thing for me anymore.”

The world of visual art, however, is refreshing for him. Gorham said:

“The drawing, to do this constantly right now, that kind of is the new thing for me.
“It’s something that I thought I’d never really do as a constant thing. So I’m kind of enjoying this kind of break from the music right now… It’s still entertainment, but it’s just another side.”

Back in April 2024, Gorham debuted six new works of art, with limited-edition prints made available for fans through his website. These pieces are part of a collection he’s been building quietly for nearly four decades.

The Twin Guitar Legacy and Moving Forward

Gorham’s journey in rock music began in 1974 when the California native moved to the U.K. and joined Irish rock powerhouse THIN LIZZY. He contributed to ten albums including Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, and Bad Reputation, and helped shape hits like “The Boys Are Back In Town” and “Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In Its Spotlight).” His signature twin-guitar harmonies became a major influence on countless bands that followed.

In 2013, Gorham co-founded Black Star Riders with several Thin Lizzy bandmates to release new material under a fresh name. He remained with the group for nearly a decade. When Gorham left the band in 2021, vocalist Ricky Warwick stated:

“We are very sad to see Scott go, but we discussed a very heavy world touring commitment on the new record and Scott decided he wanted to concentrate just on Thin Lizzy — and being the legend he is, none of us can blame him.”

Whether it’s in music or art, Scott Gorham continues to inspire with a career that refuses to slow down—even as he explores a whole new side of his creativity.

Watch Scott Gorham’s interview below: