Gary Moore: Guitar Players last interview

PLENTY OF GUITARISTS HAVE RECEIVED more acclaim in the rock arena than Gary Moore. Others have gotten more nods from headbangers. And certainly there are bluesmen with more cachet than Moore. But good luck finding a single guitarist who has garnered the kind of critical acclaim and commercial success that the Belfast, Ireland, native has had in all three genres.

While still a teen, Moore caught the eye of Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green. Besides becoming a seminal influence on the young guitarist, the fellow Irishman helped Moore’s then-band Skid Row (no relation to the ’80s hair metal band) seal a record deal. He also sold Moore his famed “out-of-phase” ’59 Gibson Les Paul that would become his main guitar for years to come.

Shortly thereafter, Moore’s eclectic side emerged. He started his own trio—taking up vocal duties in the process—before serving several stints with Thin Lizzy, appearing on an album by classical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and adding licks to projects by drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Greg Lake. In the early ’80s, he issued a series of metal-tinged albums full of impressive guitar work before turning back to his roots with his 1990 masterpiece, Still Got the Blues. Though it featured guest appearances by heavyweights such as Albert King, Albert Collins, and George Harrison, it was Moore’s tasty tones and incredibly lyrical lead work that won the album accolades worldwide. In 2008, Moore released, Bad for You Baby [Eagle Rock], one of his gutsiest and most compelling blues statements in years.

Did you have an overarching goal in terms of feel or tones when you began this project?
I wanted to capture more of the energy of my live playing. We were touring all last year, finished in November, and, by January, I was back in the studio. If you record after a tour, your playing is strong, your chops are up, your energy is up, your inspiration is there, and you’ve got ideas for songs. So the best thing to do is get in and make a record as soon as possible— before that post-tour energy dies off more
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