Gary Moore, former guitar player for the band Thin Lizzy, was found dead in his hotel room yesterday. According to Adam Parsons, manager for the band Thin Lizzy, he died at the Costa Del Sol Hotel in Spain. He is said to have been on holiday with his girlfriend.
Gary Moore's Thin Lizzy bandmate Eric Bell had this to say to BBC 6Music News:
"I used to see him quite regularly up until about a year ago, he was a very robust guy, he was off all drugs and he only had a few Guinness's with me, so he was a pretty healthy bloke. He was just as an amazing guitar player and a superb musician, it was his energy that got me, his enthusiasm for the instrument was remarkable."
Thin Lizzy drummer and founding member Brian Downey gave his thoughts to the Guaurdian UK:
"I am in total shock. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers and I just can't believe he is gone. I have known Gary since 1967 when he was in [the band] Platform Three and he's been an amazing friend ever since. It was a pleasure to play with Gary again in 2006 after his days with Lizzy."
Comments praising Moore - as a musician and as a person - have been poring in to the web from such musicians as: John Sykes (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake); Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath); Henry Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band); Alex Skolnick (Testament); Bob Daisley (Rainbow, Ozzy, Uriah Heap, Gary Moore); Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth); and many more.
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One of the most impressive aspects of Moore was that he could play Blues, Rock and Metal equally as well. His work with Thin Lizzy is filled with strong rhythm playing, lead playing and great riffs as well as screaming solos and harmonized guitar interplay with his co-guitarists. Moore’s solo albums run the gamut from Irish-tinged Rock - like on the song ‘Over The Hills And Far Away’ from the ‘Wild Frontier’ album - to Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal - like the songs ‘‘Running From The Storm’ and 'Speak For Yourself' on the ‘After The War’ recording. (Ozzy Osbourne sings on two songs, including 'Speak For Yourself', on ‘After The War’).
Starting in 1990, Moore went straight Blues. His release ‘Still Got The Blues’ is phenomenal - pure, raw emotion and feeling. Moore can bend the guitar strings to produce heart-wrenching sounds - sometimes so beautiful they can inspire hope and renew faith and sometimes so sad and soulful they can bring one to tears.
Geezer Butler, bass player for Black Sabbath, wrote this about Moore: “His ‘Still Got The Blues’ album was one of the great albums, certainly one of my favorites. His way of playing cannot be learned - it comes from the soul”.
Comments
saw Gary many times in concert. A wonderful guitarist who played from the heart. So sad that he's gone but I am honoured to have seen him and heard his music.
Rest in peace Gary you will be greatly missed
Ah Gary, what happened man? So sad. I've been with you since 1985. A huge fan... I'm very saddened to hear this today. As God now embraces you Gary... Rest in Peace Brother...
what a terrible loss.im a fender man but hell you made that les paul scream.r i p gary
He could make that guitar sob. Great musician, will be greatly missed.
Truly saddened one of my favorite guitar players of all time. Rest in Peace Gary.
I play guitar since young. I will miss gary
Gary was one of the greatest blues guitarist. Such a tragedy. He was one of my all time favorites. My sympathy goes out to his family, he will be sorely missed.
I first heard of Gary through a guitar playing friend of mine who was a big SRV fan but when he turned me onto Gary I thought that he was a deeper, more (no pun intended)soulful guitar player than Stevie was. I saw him on David Letterman years ago when "Still Got The Blues" was still on the charts. He was playing a white Washburn if I remember correctly. I recorded that segment and then another guitar buddy of mine "borrowed" the video tape...I never got it back and now I am going to miss it more(no pun intended again) than ever. From now on I guess I'll have to You Tube it if I want to get my fix of the Blues... the way that real blues should be played with passion and emotion. The only other time I have felt this sad is when I heard about Stevie and then again when I found out about Jeff Healy about a week after he passed away.
Man this is so, so sad :-( I have been a fan of Gary since my uncle talked me in to buying the Wild frontier album when it came out. I cant believe Gary is gone! I always said that before I die I have to see Gary Moore live but never once thought that he would die before I got the Chance! condolences to all Family and friends. RIP Gary - you will always be the greatest in my ears.......
So sad to see him go. My prayers go out to his family
Tx for the years of inspiration,music and amazing gt work...You will be remembered! R.I.P.
saw Gary in 83 he blew everyone off the stage...what a great talent
What a loss, Gerry Rafferty then Gary Moore. i just don't know what to say. Two of the best gone way too early.
go with the gods
He touched more souls than he knows... and will be missed . RIP
I will.never understand how the most talented musicians always seem to leave too soon...i am a big thin lizzy fan and the band had so much talent it is sad the way the band ended..
selamat jalan gary...dont wory, q slalu ingat km dan petikan gitarmu....i love blues
we lost one of the geat guitarist but we always remember you gary,God bless you.
To bad he was great played wit soul . He inspired me so much love to listen to him R.I.P Gary
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