Gary Moore, 1952-2011
The versatile and virtuosic Irish guitarist Gary Moore died in his sleep Saturday night while on vacation in Spain. Moore did several stints playing lead guitar for the forever awesome, never-enough-appreciated Thin Lizzy in the '70s and '80s—most notably on the 1979 album, Black Rose—and enjoyed a long and successful career as solo artist, too. He's in the silver blazer in the video above.
Here, watch him absolutely destroy the world with co-guitarist Scott Gorham at the end of a television performance of "Don't Believe A Word."
Here's Moore's biggest solo hit, "Parisienne Walkways," which was actually written and sung by Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynot.
And here's a rather incredible video for another song the two did together, "Out in the Fields."
I saw Thin Lizzy with Moore on guitar and I got the impression that Phil Lynott didn't like the way he was hogging the spotlight doing big solos center stage all the time. But they worked together a lot after that so it was probably my imagination.
Phil knew that "hogging the spotlight doing big solos center stage all the time" is what lead guitarists do, especially those as soulful as Gary Moore. RIP, my Irish brother.
As long as Phil's fine I think Lizzie has a good, long path ahead of them.
What? What!?
Oh dude way to lead with a Black Rose cut, seriously their best record and an under-appreciated classic! Yeah buddy!!
I'd just been listening to it—at your inspiration! From your reference to "S&M" last week. It is the awesomeness.
Gawd Rest You Merry Gary. Tell Phil Speedy sez hi.