In a career dating back to the 1960s he has played with bands including Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, Greg Lake and Skid Row as well as having a successful solo career.
Moore started performing from a young age and got his first good guitar at the age of 14. In a career lasting over 30 years he has demonstrated that he is a fine musician, and his unique style of playing has adapted to very different music genres, including jazz rock jazz, blues, electric blues, hard rock, celtic rock and heavy metal.
One of his most famous non-blues records is Wild Frontier, his first studio album after a trip back to his native Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1985, this album has several songs about Ireland and even the music itself is steeped in Celtic roots. The title track was intended to be sung by Phil Lynott, however Lynott's death in January 1986 prevented that. The album is dedicated to Lynott's memory, with the words "For Philip" on the rear cover.
Wild Frontier contains the hit "Over the Hills and Far Away", which reached #20 in the UK as well as a cover of the Australian band The Easybeats' hit of the middle of the 1960s, "Friday on My Mind". The Max Middleton-penned "The Loner" was originally recorded by Cozy Powell for his Over the Top album in 1979 (which Moore did perform on, albeit not on Powell's recording of "The Loner"), but was substantially altered by Moore for his own recording, thus he was credited as a co-writer.
For blues fans, Moore's best recorded, live performance on video is "LIVE BLUES" recorded in a small night club in London and was released in 1992 on VHS. It is now available on DVD as well. "LIVE BLUES" also features two songs with B.B. King appearing on stage with Moore. "The Thrill Is Gone" on this recording is probably the best version of this, complete with More's Midnight Horns, female backup singers and dueling guitars. Many of Moore's standard songs are on this 90 minute show and were mixed better than most of the studio versions of the same tunes for a very rich and full sound. Even Moore's voice sounds better than it usually does in the studio. Moore did not seem interested in touring the United States.
Connection with Peter Green
According to numerous interviews he has given to guitar magazines, he was the protege of British Blues pioneer Peter Green, whom he had always admired ever since the Bluesbreakers days. When Green quit Fleetwood Mac and the entire music scene, he sold his famous nasal-sounding 1959 Gibson Les Paul to Moore for the same price that Moore had managed to sell his then guitar (a Gibson SG) for. The nasal sound of the neck pickup on Green's guitar was not, as used to be believed, the result of the pickup having been turned backwards, but instead its two coils had been - perhaps accidentally - reconnected in parallel and out of phase, as per the "in between" positions of a Fender Stratocaster. Moore has used this guitar in the recordings of some songs of his albums Still Got The Blues, After Hours and Blues For Greeny. Green and Moore also reportedly had a disagreement regarding what guitar the former was playing in the song "Albatross". Moore insists it was the Les Paul, because the guitar tone was particularly warm and rich in the bass, while Peter Green maintains he was using a Strat, as the vibrato in that song was not finger vibrato, but subtle tremolo arm vibrato. Up to the day of his death, Green and Moore remained good friends.
Guitars used
Over the years Gary has used numerous guitars. These include: Peter Green's 1959 Gibson Les Paul, Peter Green's 1961 Fender Stratocaster and 1950s Gibson Les Paul Junior. He has also used guitars from Charvel, Ibanez, Hamer, Jackson and Heritage. Amplification has generally come from Marshall, though Soldanos and Fender have also been used, as well as transistor-driven Dean Markley units (especially in the studio). He also has used numerous effects over the years. these include; Delay units such as the Echoplex, Overdrive/Booster units such as the Boss DS-1, Ibanez Tubescreamer variants, Marshall Bluesbreaker and Guv'nor pedals as well as Wah-Wah pedals such as the Vox Wah. He appears nowadays to favour Gibson and Fender Guitars through Marshall amps with any of the above Overdrive pedals and Wah pedals to make his sound.
Solo career
In 1973 he released his first solo album as the Gary Moore Band. In 1979 his solo career started again with help from Phil Lynott, the combination of Gary's blues based guitar and Phil's voice produced "Parisenne Walkways" which reached the UK Top Ten in April 1979 and the no.2 album 'Black Rose'. After a series of powerful rock records Gary returned to blues music with Still Got the Blues, with contributions from B. B. King, Albert King and Albert Collins the album was well received by fans and a huge success. Gary stayed with the blues format until 1997 when he decided to experiment with modern dance beats in Dark Days In Paradise; this left many fans as well as the music press confused. Back to the Blues saw Gary return to the tried and tested blues format.
Albums
* Grinding Stone, 1973
* Parisienne Walkways, 1977
* Back on the Streets, 1978
* Corridors of Power, 1982
* Live at the Marquee, 1983
* Rockin' Every Night - Live in Japan, 1983
* Victims of the Future, 1983
* Dirty Fingers, 1984
* We Want Moore, 1984
* Run for Cover, 1985
* Wild Frontier, 1987
* After the War, 1989
* Still Got the Blues, 1990
* After Hours, 1992
* Blues Alive, 1993
* Ballads & Blues 1982-1994, 1994
* Blues For Greeny, 1995
* Dark Days in Paradise, 1997
* Out in the Fields - The Very Best of Part 1, 1998
* Blood of Emeralds - The Very Best of Part 2, 1999
* A Different Beat, 1999
* Back to the Blues, 2001
* Power Of The Blues, 2004
* Old New Ballads Blues, 2006
* Close As You Get, 2007
* Bad For You Baby, 2008
Singles
* Parisienne Walkways
* Out in the Fields
* Empty Rooms
* Wild Frontier
* Still Got the Blues
The Future (2005-present)
Later on in 2006, Gary will support BB King on his 'Farewell UK Tour'. It unfortunately did not lead to a tour of the United States with BB King.
The studio album entitled 'Old New Ballads Blues' was a follow up of 2004's 'Power of the Blues' and it featured new material as well as new versions of fan favourites 'Midnight Blues' and 'All your Love'
Gary Moore has also sold his Les Paul that was given to him by Peter Green to a private owner.
On February 6th 2011, he died from a heart attack in his sleep while on holiday in Spain.
External links
* The Official Gary Moore World Wide Website: http://www.gary-moore.com/
* The Lord Of The Strings - World Wide Gary Moore Fansite: http://www.garymoore.hu/eng.htm Thanks for the music.
Dancin'
Gary Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was just the other day
My head was hangin' down
'Cause I'd been up for days dancin', dancin'
Well, he wrote me a prescription
You will find at any store
He said that "You're an idiot
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Don't you feel like movin'
Till your back is breakin'?
Don't you feel like rockin'?
Don't you feel like rollin'?
Don't you feel like dancin'
Dancin' all night long?
I went 'round to see my sister
'Cause my head was hangin' low
She asked me what was shakin'
I said, "Sister, don't you know
I've been dancin', dancin'"
She said "Willie, what's your problem
Can you tell me what's the score?"
I said, "I'd feel alright
Once I get out there on the floor dancin', dancin'"
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Don't you feel like movin'
Till your back is breakin'?
Don't you feel like rockin'?
Don't you feel like rollin'?
Don't you feel like dancin'
Dancin' all night long?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Don't you feel like movin'
Till your back is breakin'?
And don't you feel like rockin'?
Don't you feel like rollin'?
And don't you feel like dancin'
Dancin' all night long?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Don't you feel like movin'
Till your back is breakin'?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Don't you feel like movin'
Till your back is breakin'?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Don't you feel like shakin'?
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Don't you feel like movin'
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Till your back is breakin'?
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Don't you feel like rockin'?
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Don't you feel like rollin'?
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Don't you feel like shakin'
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Till your back is breakin'?
(Don't you feel like dancin'?)
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
The lyrics of Gary Moore's "Dancin'" seem to suggest a protagonist who is feeling down and seeks solace in dance. The opening lines suggest that the singer is in a bad place and seeks medical attention. His doctor prescribes something, but it's not clear what that is. Then, the singer goes to see his sister, who inquires about the state of his mind. He replies that he's okay as long as he gets to the dance floor. The repeated chorus, asking if he feels like dancing, shaking, and moving until his back breaks, seems to reinforce this idea.
One interpretation of the song could be that it's about escapism. The singer is going through a rough patch, and he needs a break from reality. Dance, for him, is a way to forget about his troubles and find some relief. It's also possible to read the song as a celebration of dance and music. The chorus is an invitation to the listener to let loose and move to the rhythm. The repetition of the lyrics emphasizes the infectious quality of music, and how it can make one forget everything and just dance.
Overall, Gary Moore's "Dancin'" is a fun, upbeat song that celebrates the power of dance and music. It's an invitation to let go of one's worries and just have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the doctor
I went to a medical professional for advice
It was just the other day
It happened recently
My head was hangin' down
I was feeling down and sad
'Cause I'd been up for days dancin', dancin'
I had been partying excessively and dancing for days
Well, he wrote me a prescription
The doctor gave me a remedy
You will find at any store
It's easily available
He said that "You're an idiot
The doctor insulted me
Whose back out on the floor dancin', dancin"
I need to stop dancing recklessly
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Do you want to move energetically?
Don't you feel like movin'
Do you want to move your body?
Till your back is breakin'?
Do you want to dance like crazy until you drop?
I went 'round to see my sister
I visited my sister
'Cause my head was hangin' low
I was feeling really down
She asked me what was shakin'
My sister asked me what was wrong
I said, "Sister, don't you know
I replied sarcastically to my sister
I've been dancin', dancin'"
I've been partying too much and dancing excessively
She said "Willie, what's your problem
My sister asked me what was bothering me
Can you tell me what's the score?"
Can you tell me what's going on?
I said, "I'd feel alright
I replied that I would feel better
Once I get out there on the floor dancin', dancin'"
If I could just dance excessively again, I would feel better
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Do you want to move energetically?
Don't you feel like movin'
Do you want to move your body?
Till your back is breakin'?
Do you want to dance like crazy until you drop?
Don't you feel like rockin'?
Do you want to rock out?
Don't you feel like rollin'?
Do you want to keep the movement going?
Dancin' all night long?
Do you want to dance all night long?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Do you want to move energetically?
Don't you feel like movin'
Do you want to move your body?
Till your back is breakin'?
Do you want to dance like crazy until you drop?
Don't you feel like rockin'?
Do you want to rock out?
Don't you feel like rollin'?
Do you want to keep the movement going?
And don't you feel like dancin'
Don't you have the urge to dance?
Dancin' all night long?
Do you want to dance all night long?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Do you want to move energetically?
Don't you feel like movin'
Do you want to move your body?
Till your back is breakin'?
Do you want to dance like crazy until you drop?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like shakin'?
Do you want to move energetically?
Don't you feel like movin'
Do you want to move your body?
Till your back is breakin'?
Do you want to dance like crazy until you drop?
Don't you feel like rockin'?
Do you want to rock out?
Don't you feel like rollin'?
Do you want to keep the movement going?
Don't you feel like shakin'
Do you want to move energetically?
Till your back is breakin'?
Do you want to dance like crazy until you drop?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Don't you feel like dancin'?
Do you have the urge to dance?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY (GB MOORE, WILLIE DEE, ANTHONY NEWTON, MARK J. JOSEPH NAUSEEF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind