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Monday, May 2, 2011

Cry guitar, cry....

A year ago, I didn't know who Gary Moore was. I knew who Garry Moore was - a tv game show host in the 50s and 60s - but not Gary.

I heard about Gary Moore when I read about his death this past February. The small headline said something like: Blues Guitarist Dead Of Suspected Heart Attack. I went on to read about Moore being found dead in a Spanish hotel room while on holiday. Turns out, he played guitar for Irish rockers Thin Lizzy, a band I enjoyed from the 70s.

Intrigued because I love the blues and hadn't heard of him, I visited your friend and mine, YouTube. There, I learned something else about him: He might be the best blues guitarist these ears have ever heard.

What a revelation! He could give sustaining lessons to Carlos Santana, and Steve Vai would approve of his quicks. I'm going to open with Moore sharing the stage with B.B. King. Soooooo many of these Superstar Jam Sessions fall flat. This one doesn't. It takes a minute for the music to start because Moore has to tune up. Once it does, you'll be sorry it has to stop because the licks these guys exchange provide an aural orgasm. (That was for you, Cay. And q. And anyone else who enjoys a naughty pun now and again.)

Crank up those speakers boys and girls.

(I don't know if those occasional, annoying pop-up blurbs I see on the YouTube site will translate to here. If they do, you can close them if you hover your mouse over them to reveal the hidden x.)



Next up is the first clip of Moore I listened to. Like the nearly 10 million others who have tuned in, I became an instant fan. He plays notes with an astounding power and purity and his voice ain't chopped liver. The man could do it all on stage. Here's his Still Got The Blues.



Last, but hardly least, is a live, 1987 performance of Empty Rooms. The YouTube uploader refers to it as Moore's greatest guitar solo ever. I don't know. I haven't heard all of them. But it is four minutes of absolute genius and serves as a wonderful epitaph for yet another rare talent, gone too soon.

Cry guitar, cry....



Thanks to jukeiko, UndeadKuntiz and webmastergarymoorenl for uploading the clips.

11 comments:

  1. I couldn't believe it when I heard he had died. Far, far too soon. I've been a fan for many moons and I feel pride in my heritage knowing Moore was yet another Irishman (along with the likes of The Edge, Rory Gallagher, etc.) who could do astonishing things with an electric guitar. If I could pull a single note out of my guitar that was 1/100th of what Moore could do with that same note, I'd be as proud as hell.

    Here are a couple of my fave Moore vids from YouTube:

    Cold Day in Hell
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbKqTsQ3UIw

    GM revisits Hendrix's Red House
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXYjEMTQRm0

    Just imagine he and Rory and Jimi jammin' on the great stage in the sky....

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  2. One more, and possibly the best....

    Story of the Blues
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U9Q3UlO5gM&NR=1

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  3. I really enjoyed listening and watching. I found myself singing to "Still Got The Blues", so I remember that song very well. I must check my album collection. What a talent! thanks for the post, I have some bookmarking to do.

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  4. My pleasure, Bruce.

    Thanks for those additions, Charlie. (And God bless YouTube, eh?)

    Glad you enjoyed, Lisa. Thanks for saying so. :)

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  5. Smooooooooooooooooooooth Magick !!!!
    Thanks Frank(ie) :) Zia

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  6. Cay Sehnert with only one little bass to report.May 3, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    When one receives, one should consider giving back. Or at least clarify which place it is that one has been taken to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nePwvdWQMg&feature=related

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  7. Zia, as always, your taste is impeccable. :)

    Thanks, Cay. Great tune and another fine guitarist to check out further.

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  8. cry guitar cry indeed!

    this reminds me of something I heard an actor say - he explained that for him the most inspiring and rewarding thing about a performance was to imagine that someone watching and listening was feeling what he felt and therefore felt less alone

    I think Gary does that for many

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  9. You may be right, Dianne. I know I've yet to watch and listen to that last clip without getting teary-eyed.

    Thanks for the visit.

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  10. Never heard of Mr Moore before today .. but I now have a new guitar hero. This guy is amazing!!!! Thanks so much for putting him on ur blog.
    Say hey to H for me .....
    Gary :)

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