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.
Trouble at Home
Gary Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got trouble at home
I made up my mind
I've got trouble in my home
And when the rain stops fallin'
I've got a feeling
I'll be alone
The baby keeps cryin'
She's in so much misery and pain
My baby keeps on cryin
Lord, she's in so much misery and pain
Well I tried to be a good man
But I keep going wrong again
I worry 'bout my children
Uhh, I'd hate them to see what's goin' on
I worry 'bout my children, people
Lord, I'd hate them to see what's goin' on
Why should they have to suffer
When it's you and me that's going wrong
The lyrics of Gary Moore's song Trouble At Home speak of a man who has come to the realization that he has problems in his home. He has made up his mind that he has trouble within his household and is feeling isolated and alone in dealing with the issues at hand. The rain serves as a metaphor for his turmoil, conveying his sense of despair and hopelessness.
The man's baby is crying, and he is wracked with guilt and sadness over her pain and discomfort. He has tried to be a good man and husband, but he keeps making mistakes and inadvertently contributing to the problems. He worries about his children and does not want to expose them to the negativity and tension in the household. He questions why they should have to suffer, as it is him and his partner who are struggling to create a stable and loving family environment.
The song captures the essence of the struggles many individuals face in their homes, dealing with the consequences of their choices and actions, and the impacts they have on those around them. It is a poignant reminder of the importance of honesty, accountability, and self-reflection in building and maintaining healthy relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I made up my mind
I have come to a decision
I've got trouble at home
I am facing problems within my household
I've got trouble in my home
My living situation is filled with difficulties and hardship
And when the rain stops fallin'
At some point in the future
I've got a feeling
I am anticipating something
I'll be alone
I will be without companionship
The baby keeps cryin'
My infant child is consistently shedding tears
She's in so much misery and pain
She is experiencing great discomfort and suffering
My baby keeps on cryin
My infant child continues to weep
Lord, she's in so much misery and pain
She is in great agony and hardship
Well I tried to be a good man
I attempted to exhibit moral virtue
But I keep going wrong again
However, I continue to make mistakes
I worry 'bout my children
I am concerned for the well-being of my offspring
Uhh, I'd hate them to see what's goin' on
I would be disheartened for them to witness current events
Lord, I'd hate them to see what's goin' on
I would be appalled if they bore witness to the circumstances
Why should they have to suffer
It is unjust for them to undergo hardship
When it's you and me that's going wrong
As the adults in the household, it is our mistakes that lead to these problems
Contributed by Kayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeanette Campbell
NO LONGER anyone ...with the 'feel' of this gifted quitarist.... thank you, over and over, Gary.... for your passion and dedication to your craft....💜
R2D2
Still... unmatched and unrivalled 👌
Andrea Tafani
My guitar hero for ever!!!
Anastasia
Господи, у меня аж мурашки от такой музыки. Это божественно 😍
Chris66JTM45
FANTASTIC PLAYER AND SINGER - A TRUE GUITAR GREAT... So much feeling. Really fortunate to have seen him play out of his skin live on is midnight blues band tour in 1990 with Albert Collins guesting.
Elly Winterquist
Just the real bluest of the Bluzzz... Man!!! I love this video and this song is so heartfelt by lots of people. This is the blues. Rest In Peace Gary Moore...✌
U-mano Lucam
Um homem que à frente do seu tempo. Essa música é um marco temporal, uma obra prima. Viva o Blues! Rest in Peace, my friend Gary!
Lie An Theodorus
Beautiful as always Mr.Gary Moore. Best blues singer🖤
Jorge Quiroga
Qué interpretación tan perfecta!!!
Nkop Srtd
I love this mans voice! It is raggedy & rough & just luscious! 🥰