Farewell Gary Moore

Fans of heavy metal the world over are once again mourning today at the news that another member of the genres pantheon of greats - this time former Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore - has died, aged fifty eight.

The cause of Moore's death was still unknown at press time with an announcement made by Spanish Police that a post mortem would be carried out sometime today (Monday) local time.

Moore, who featured on the Thin Lizzy albums Nightlife and Black Rose also played in seventies rock acts Skid Row (NOT the eighties hair metal band) and Colosseum II before embarking on a succesful solo career fronting his own band, G-Force as well as becoming a staple in the pop charts with hits such as Parisienne Walkways, Empty Rooms, Over the Hills and Far Away (later covered by Finnish symphonic metallers Nightwish) and his collaboration with former Lizzy bandmate Phil Lynott, Out in the Fields. As the eighties turned into a new decade Moore returned to his early love of the blues to forge a new career as a powerful electric bluesman, with his Still Got the Blues album cited by Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler as one of his 'favourite ever albums'.

On his facebook page Tank lead guitarist Cliff Evans wrote

" Gary Moore was the guitarist that other guitar heroes looked up to. He was the master of many styles of playing and a genuinely nice person who always remained approachable throughout his career. He is one of the main reasons why I
picked up a guitar all those years ago and his playing still inspires me to the same degree today. A great, great loss."

Moore's guitar partner in Lizzy, Scott Gorham, told the BBC

"Playing with Gary during the Black Rose era was a great experience, he was a great player and a great guy. I will miss him."

Bob Geldof, also talking to the BBC, added

"Gary Moore was, without doubt, one of the great Irish bluesmen. His playing was exceptional and beautiful. We won't see his like again."

Amen to that...