Legendary Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders guitarist Scott Gorham, 74, has opened up about a severe health scare he experienced over the past year, which included kidney removal, sepsis, and a moment where he says a surgeon told him he “actually died on the operating table.” Speaking with Darren Paltrowitz on a May 2025 episode of the “Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz” video podcast, Gorham discussed his ongoing recovery, his current focus on visual art, and his hopes to return to touring.
Detailing the critical health situation, Gorham explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I had a health issue scare about a year ago with a kidney that had to be removed and I got sepsis from it. 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 confirmed he recently underwent a third operation and is following medical advice: “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.”
During this period of recuperation, Gorham, who recently launched his second art collection, has found a fulfilling creative outlet in drawing. “And in the meantime, I’ve got the drawing to keep me occupied,” he shared. After a storied 50-year career in music, he finds this new focus refreshing. “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,” Gorham remarked. “But the drawing, to do this constantly right now, that kind of is the new thing for me… So I’m kind of enjoying this kind of break from the music right now and going into this little bit of a different direction.”
Despite the seriousness of his health battle and his artistic focus, the iconic guitarist is optimistic about returning to live music. “So hopefully soon-ish down the road, I can get my buns back out on the road,” he stated.
Scott Gorham, a Californian musician, famously moved to the United Kingdom in 1974 and joined the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, becoming a key architect of their signature twin-guitar sound. During his tenure, he performed on ten best-selling albums, including hard rock classics like Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Bad Reputation, and the seminal Live And Dangerous. He also co-wrote and played on many of their enduring hit singles, such as “The Boys Are Back In Town,” “Rosalie,” “Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In Its Spotlight),” and “Waiting On An Alibi.”
