Gary Moore, RIP.

[yngwie308]

Believe me guys I have been writing so much about the last tour on the LPF and on my blog, I feel like I have lost my brother, I am incredibly sad, this didn't have to happen, I had commented months ago that Gary wasn't just overweight, he had that out of breath ashen look like so many of my cardiac patients, his life could easily have been spared, that is the great tragedy here.
Here is what I wrote on the LPF, I had approached Gary's mgmt a few years about collaborating on an autobiography about Gary and was turned down by Graham Lilley, I'm sure Gary never saw my email though.
Through the amazing Neil Carter, who watched with Gary the DVD's from the 1984-89 era I sent him, not long later Neil told me they were tentatively arranging to reunite. I was so thrilled, to have even sparked a small flame of that and it was myself who enabled Gibson to reach Gary on the last tour concerning the MF Greeny replicas, Graham Lilley's mom had died and he wasn't looking at the urgent emails from Gibson to get Gary on board with those amazing replicas, I wrote to Zoli the guy who runs the Hungarian based Lord of the Strings fan forum amd site, he got a hold of the tour manager and Gary signed up with Gibson on these limited guitars.
The interview I did with Neil Carter, concentrated on the WF, ATW era, Neil's and mine favorite era of the GM band.
There has been a movement afoot on Facebook to get the Isstadion , Stockholm show from the WF tour, April 25 to be released in it's complete version on DVD, next year marks the 25th anniversary of that most incredible show, brilliant filmed and recorded, with Gary's playing and singing being at a major peak.
The Montreux 2010 show was slated for release in March on Bluray and DVD, I don't know how events have affected that process.
I am sad that it has taken Gary's untimely death for him to be appreciated for the major place he holds in the pantheon of greatest guitarists ever. He certainly was responsible, even more than Slash for the resurgence of the balls out Les Paul/Marshall sound, yet that was only one of his incredible list of achievements, his groundbreaking work as a session guitarist, his work with Greg Lake, Colusseum II, brief stints with Thin Lizzy, replacing Brian Robertson, his brillian work on the Black Rose album, his incredible solo albums, the WF, ATW and then 20 years of blues, starting with the groundbreaking Still Got The Blues album, his Blues For Greeny tribute, no one sounds remotely like Peter Green, Gary was the only one, not only because he had Peter's guitar, but it was all in his hands, that's where Gary's talent lay and his early use of thematic approaches to solos, like Empty Rooms, ect.
What I was so excited about on the last tour was Gary's mastery of a fixed bridge guitar on tunes that were recorded and played live previously on Super Strats with Floyd Rose tremolos and he was able through his amazing vibrato and hammer ons to replicate these tunes, nothing short of amazing.
George Harrison, his neighbor and friend of many years, summed it up saying that Gary had the most incredible pitch and bending of notes in tune that he had ever heard, Gary was known for his ability to be in tune always, one of his trademarks.
Ask Scott Gorham, who Gary constantly rode to keep him in tune, especially on the harmony parts.
It is ironic that at the start of a six day well deserved rest, Gary would leave us, for it while he was also on holiday that he learned of the death of Phil Lynott, back in 1986.
Gary was reliving that time frame in this past tour and he stopped playing Johnny Boy on the tour because it just broke him up to perform it.
The new songs "Days of Heroes" carried on the mourning for those brillant days of the Lynott/Moore collaboration, which started in Dublin and they both came over to England to start their careers.
"Where Are You Now" directly addresses Phil Lynott, Gary stating that "where was Phil now, now that he needed him by his side...well they are both together eternally now, Gary was never really the same after Phil's death, he was criticized, as usual, for not attending Phil's funeral, but it was too much for him to take and I understood that.
He did attend Rory Gallagher's funeral and was one of the last to see Rory alive, another Irish brother in arms that was taken from us all to soon.
I have lots to say about Gary, I always have, I had hoped it wouldn't take an event like his death for him to achieve proper recognition, but Gary had a detremination about him and that's what us fans and supporters loved about him.
Some say he would shoot himself in the foot with some of the things he would say, but the truth is not media friendly and Gary was all about that.
To say that he will be missed in a huge understatement, to me this is on par with the death of Jimi, Tommy Bolin, Rory, ect.
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showt ... p?t=173268" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here is the thread with all my enthusiasm for the new tour, ect, I was yngwie308 over there, but changed to Emerald last year.
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showt ... p?t=168213" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Listen to the lyrics of "Blood of Emeralds" I always used that for my signature..for me Gary Moore was a personal hero, I learned my whole technical approach to gear and guitars from him, he was the first guitarist who spoke to me in that way, I used the same gauge of strings and brand and always gleaned invaluable data from his interviews.
Here from Montreux 2010 is a great version of Parisienne Walkways, written by Phil Lynott and played on the #001 Melvyn Franks/GM Tom Murphy aged Greeny replica, two were sent to Gary during the tour after the events I described earlier.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0U0y9Sh ... =recentlik" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQMLpwSE ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGb1xCm5VJo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Brian Downey on drums on this great cover.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6OKgH-xoZ8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAf7fA3n ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4wMN4tQYqs&NR=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIgX62W ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqWn1YX ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Look for a tribute to my great musical inspiration and role model, Gary Moore soon..the forty shades of green have called him back.
Dave

[Tone Slinger]

Great post Dave. I never imagined that Gary would have passed. I did see the weight coming on. Me and an old buddy who used to jam all the time, were reunited on Saturday. I remember we watched alot of old clips that we wanted to show each other. We watched the Smith's (another great Irish band), Some rare Woodstock footage, Old Funkadelic AND some Thin Lizzy. I played the video's to the songs on 'Black Rose'. "Waiting For An Alibi" was great, and to me, showed Moore at his best (appearance that is). Gary passed that same night.


Did Gary sell 'Greeny' because of health/heart problems back a few yrs ago. Was it because of health expenses, etc ?

[NY Chief]

Well said and very heartfelt, Dave.

[Freebird]

It makes me very sad to hear that Gary Moore has gone. For me the one and only guitar player! He was/is my favourite guitar player. Wanted to hear/see him this year again, and now...

My most liked solo from him is on his song "Empty rooms". Then also "Lost in your love" and many "moore". What a genius player has gone from us. No person other than him has a better finger vibrato then him (and maybe will never have)!

Because him I like to play a Les Paul guitar and still do. Also I learnd from him the make Charvel (of course a white one).

We want moore...

RIP Gary Moore
Daniel

[JimiJames]

I really liked this blazin' perfomance.
He always put his Heart & Soul in his perfomances

Making it personal... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXYjEMTQRm0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rockstah]

sick! great guitar player he was.
Mark

[yngwie308]

Gary sold Greeny due to the cost incurred from his injured hand which besides his uninsured medical costs, he was responsible for covering the lost tour costs, makes you wonder WTF is going on with his 'management', this doesn't seem to happen to other artists, they have insurance for health and professional losses???
Then that final insult with thesale, which my defense of the actual truth, caused me to be threatened with a libel lawsuit..
I think all these lawsuits against Gary really had an impact on his demeanor, the ludicrious "Stripe" charges, he lost a copyright lawsuit in Germany over his biggest selling record ever, "Still Got The Blues", by this German guy who won his case that claimed that Gary "stole" his song. So Gary had to fork over large amounts of his royalties to this guy.
Plus all the incredibly caustic criticism over his weight gain and appearance, even his playing, too many notes, overplaying, ect.
This is just internet crap from computer keyboard genuises, with no talent at all.
Now all the incredible VHS only videos, never released even in the US, hopefully will come out on DVD and many fine shows in the vaults will service and hopefully a tribute set to Gary.
I still do not fully believe it.
Dave

[yngwie308]

The recent Gitarre and Bass magazine with a Gary Moore special, of interest to me is the interview with the elusive Keith Page, Gary's guitar tech, prior to Graham Lilley, during Gary's 'golden years" 1986-89, if any one can translate that interview from the German that would be wunderbar!!

http://www1.gitarrebass.de/gary-moore/d ... 0yahoo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
yngwie308

[fusionbear]

My little tribute to Gary Moore

R.I.P.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ukDw_j ... ideo_title" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[yngwie308]

Some moore better news, seems EMI have jumped on the bandwagon and decided to finally release the Wild Frontier VHS tape in CD/DVD format with the addition of the full 17 odd minute version of The Loner and Rockin' Every Night, though I would have preferred to have the added Shapes of Things, ie the full set, plus extras, which I know EMI has or NFL Films has still in the can, still better than nothing and it will be gr8 to see this brilliant show in a modern format, it kills!
http://www.garymoorefc.com/en/news_stockholm_dvd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also Ballads and Blues, which I also have on VHS, is coming out on CD/DVD, with a taped commentary and some guitar playing from the late Gary..
http://www.garymoorefc.com/en/news_balladsandblues_dvd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I wish these record companies would wait and say do interviews with the old band members, ect, as a tribute to Gary, but that would take time and money, and unfortunately I knew it would take a tragedy like Gary's death for this material to come out.
I had hoped for compassion and respect from the music industry..what was I thinking..??
The Live at Montreux 2010 is coming out around the same time and many will hear the brilliance with which Gary played right up until the end.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/ ... 26d6_o.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/ ... emoore.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/ ... aa07_b.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/ ... xz_115.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g219/ ... medium.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Ps check out the Vintage Washburn SS site as I have updated tech info and added some new pics

yngwie308

[Seabean]

Ya know, the 1978/9 "Black Rose" lineup of Thin Lizzy (Lynott, Moore, Graham, & Downey) is quite simply one of the best rock bands ever, ever, ever!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLjMmZ8D0E4[/youtube]


(and the Sydney concert too)

[yngwie308]

Here is a whole download of a Glasgow show of BBM, and a Japanese GM band show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQx2WndU ... h_response
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlWzhgvEFH8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xwUxXi7 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AMjjQ6J ... re=related
yngwie308

[yngwie308]

Great clip with Luther Allison, BB King, Gary..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssc2xppkVg8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also from the last tour in Bucharest, Romania..brilliant playing and singing, such a change from the horrendous never should be released Montreux 2010 DVD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iqdTpi7pgU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
yngwie308

[Blix]

Back in 97' or so I had the pleasure of being Gary's guitar tech for one night. I worked in a large music store in Trondheim and the day after his main concert he was doing a guest apperance with Bernie Mardsen and the Hell Blues band.
As his guitars and rig was already on it's way back home, he came to us to borrow some gear.
He picked a red 335 and a Fender Vibro King.
He was just a super nice and very down to earth person, and when he asked if I could come along and take care of setting up the rig, changing strings and setting up the guitar for him, I didn't have to think twice!

Never have I tuned a guitar so carefull lol, knowing what crazy bends and Garys forcefull attack could do to it. Luckily it stayed in tune.

Standing just a few feet away from him for the whole concert was something I'll never forget. Just breathtaking. No pedals, he just cranked that Vibro King and went at it.

A few weeks later he called back and bough the red 335.

[fillmore nyc]

Back in 97' or so I had the pleasure of being Gary's guitar tech for one night. I worked in a large music store in Trondheim and the day after his main concert he was doing a guest apperance with Bernie Mardsen and the Hell Blues band.
As his guitars and rig was already on it's way back home, he came to us to borrow some gear.
He picked a red 335 and a Fender Vibro King.
He was just a super nice and very down to earth person, and when he asked if I could come along and take care of setting up the rig, changing strings and setting up the guitar for him, I didn't have to think twice!

Never have I tuned a guitar so carefull lol, knowing what crazy bends and Garys forcefull attack could do to it. Luckily it stayed in tune.

Standing just a few feet away from him for the whole concert was something I'll never forget. Just breathtaking. No pedals, he just cranked that Vibro King and went at it.

A few weeks later he called back and bough the red 335.

Awesome story, Blix... and a memory to be cherished forever, THATS for sure!!