Gary Moore biography

 

Acknowledged as one of the finest musicians that the British Isles has ever produced, and with a career that dated back to the 1960s, there were few musical genres that Gary Moore had not turned his adroit musical hand to. Gracing the line-ups of several notable rock bands, Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II and (The Original) Skid Row, in his time, he also established himself as a world-class guitarist, with few equals.

 

Gary was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 4th 1952. Like many others, he was turned on to rock and roll first through hearing Elvis Presley, and then via The Beatles. Seeing the likes of Jimi Hendrix and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in his hometown in the mid-60s opened up to him the rich world of The Blues.

 

In 1979, Gary's solo career began in earnest with the evocative hit single, 'Parisienne Walkways', which pitched Gary's tasteful, blues-soaked lead guitar with a moody Phil Lynott guest vocal. The single reached the UK Top Ten in April of that year, and the subsequent album, 'Back On The Streets' was similarly well received.

The late 1970s and early 80s were characterised by Gary's restless search for the best musical settings for his talents; a reunion with Phil Lynott produced the powerful 'Out In The Fields' hit single (1985). He explored his Celtic roots on the album 'Wild Frontier' (1987), but it was with the 1990 album, 'Still Got The Blues', that Gary arrived at a rich musical vein within which his creativity could flow freely.

 

In 1994, Gary worked alongside Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the band BBM, cutting one accomplished album, before resuming his solo career. The, Back To The Blues' (2001) album saw him revisit the blues with renewed vigour and determination, after the more experimental 'Dark Days In Paradise' (1997) and 'A Different Beat' (1999) albums.

 

2002 saw Gary Moore crashing back onto the music scene with what had to be his heaviest collection of songs since the late 1980's, once again forcing people to reassess any opinions and preconceptions they might have had of him. That time round though, Moore had decided to share the limelight, joining forces with ex-Skunk Anansie bassist Cass Lewis and Primal Scream drummer Darrin Mooney to form 'Scars', a true power trio in every respect.

The 'Scars' album was completed in early 2002 and that line-up, then went on to record the 'Live at the Monsters of Rock' (2003) live CD.

 

Taking time out in August 2005, for a brief reunion with former Thin Lizzy band members, for a one off concert in Dublin, to mark the occasion of Phil Lynott's birth. The evening was filmed for the 2006 DVD release, 'Gary Moore and Friends, One Night in Dublin, A Tribute to Phil Lynott'.

 

September 2008 saw the release of what would turn out to be Gary's last studio album, "Bad for you Baby". Again, a powerful collection of tracks, mixing original material and selected blues covers. After being on the road for most of 2008 and into 2010 with the "Blues" line up of the touring band, Gary returned from a tour of Russia and the Far East, and decided to reunite with his old sparring partner from the rock line up's of the 1980's, Neil Carter for a new album. Unfortunately, that was not to be, as Gary passed away in his sleep in the early hours of February 6th, 2011, in Estepona, Spain.