Gary Moore a Legendary Guitarist with Thin Lizzy

Gary Moore, 58, died in Spain on Feb. 6, 2011. It's clear that a legendary guitarist and rock icon has passed. The guitar hero was on vacation with his girlfriend when he passed in his sleep. Moore will be remembered most for his affiliation with the rock band Thin Lizzy, but also for his solo career.

The girlfriend of Gary Moore summoned the paramedics around 4 a.m. to the Kempinski Resort Hotel in Estepona. They arrived too late and the singer was already gone. It is suspected at this time that Moore died as the result of a heart attack, according to The Belfast Telegraph. However, the results from the full autopsy can take weeks.

Moore, born in Belfast on April 4, 1952, began his musical career in 1969. According to many sources, including Rolling Stone Magazine, Gary did three separate stints as a member of Thin Lizzy in 1974, 19778, and 1979. The band recorded "Black Rose, A Rock Legend" in 1979 and this is the only studio album that Moore recorded with the band. That album remains one of the best selling albums for Thin Lizzy.

He did, however, tour with the band extensively, as he excelled at his solo career. Moore was fundamental in developing the twin guitar lyrical method, which can be readily heard on the song "Parisienne Walkways" which was first recorded in 1979 with Thin Lizzy. Many bands began to include the twin lyric guitars in their performances to the delight of fans everywhere; we have Gary Moore to thank for setting the standard.

Fans of Moore know he was an acclaimed rock guitarist and singer, but his fans also remember him for the way he played blues songs that were extremely popular. He began his career with blues music and returned to it in later years. Not many artists are able to be liked to two vastly different genres of rock and blues, but talented Gary Moore accomplished this feat.

While sales of his albums will skyrocket now with his passing, the eulogies from his family and friends are coming forth. The fans, whom Moore touched in profound ways, are still tweeting about the legend. Some of the messages are sweet and reflecting on his music, while others are painful to read. It's a sure bet that Gary Moore will go down in history as a rock icon like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and others have become.

Terri Hooley, founder of Good Vibrations records, feels that a statue should be placed in Belfast for Moore. He added that Dublin has a statue for Phil Lynott, so Moore needs one as well. He also called Moore a musical genius.

Many big names in the music industry are expressing their sadness, such as Sharon Osborne, Bryan Adams, Danny Jones, and Thin Lizzy band members Eric Bell and Scott Gorham. All have expressed that Gary Moore will be missed.

Resources

BBC news report

Belfast Telegraph article on suspected heart attack

Twitter feed on the guitar hero