This was posted on Metal Sludge forum this morning....

I can't find corroboration. The Hot Press site won't load for me.

If true this sucks. What a fantastic guitarist.

Gary Moore (1952 – 2011) dies in Spain
06 Feb 2011

Hot Press has learned of the death of Gary Moore. The legendary Belfast-born guitarist died in his sleep last night, while on holiday in Spain.

One of the greatest players of his generation, Gary Moore began his professional career in his teens. He was still only sixteen years of age when he moved from Belfast to Dublin in 1969, to join Skid Row – originally a four-piece that featured Brush Shiels on bass, Nollaig Bridgeman on drums and Philip Lynott as lead vocalist, as well as Gary on lead guitar.

Soon afterwards, Philip Lynott was sidelined, with Brush and Gary sharing vocals, turning Skid Row into a power-trio of the kind that was in vogue at the time, following on the success of Rory Gallagher's Taste and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Skid Row were signed to CBS Records and released two albums, Skid in 1970 and 34 Hours in 1971.

Adept at blues, hard rock and jazz, Moore was also a superb, lyrical, melodic guitar player and featured on a number of other Irish albums in cameo roles, including records by Dr.Strangely Strange among others. He was drafted into Thin Lizzy by Philip Lynott to replace the departing Eric Bell, before the formation of the definitive 4-piece Lizzy line-up, with Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson on twin lead guitars. However, on the Nightlife album (1974), he played the extraordinary solo on 'Still In Love With You', which became one of Thin Lizzy's most enduring tracks and a perennial live favourite. Gary returned to the Lizzy line-up briefly again, when Brian Robertson was ruled out of a US tour in 1977. Moore also featured on the Lizzy album Black Rose, released in 1979.

"He was a genius player," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. "Even as a teenager, he had something special about him and throughout his career he worked really hard at improving his technique. His contribution to the Irish rock canon was immense, both in his own solo work, his days with Skid Row, the great records he recorded with Philip Lynott and with Thin Lizzy and in various other cameos. My heart goes out to all of his close friends and family. It is a huge loss."

While his relationship with Lizzy lead singer and songwriter Philip Lynott was hugely competitive, and there were often disagreements between them, they remained musical cohorts, and joined forces for the hit single 'Parisienne Walkways' (1979) on which Philip sang and the later single, 'Out In The Fields' (1985), which reached No.5 in the UK charts.

While he featured along the way as part of Jon Hiseman in Colosseum II, for most of his career Gary Moore led his own band, shifting between hard rock, metal, jazz-influenced fusion music and the blues. The first Gary Moore Band LP, Grinding Stone, was released in 1973. In recent years he had returned to his roots, first with the release of Still Got The Blues in 1991 and later with Back To The Blues, in 2001. In all, he released 20 studio albums, as well as six live collections, including the Live At Montreaux DVD.

Here's the link discussing this at metal sludge....

http://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/...f4cebad8fdd9c1

Wow. If this is true it really sucks.

Gary was one hell of a guitar player.

I hope it's not true.

In high school I spent a lot of time listening to Gary and he was a big influence on my guitar playing. Loved the stretch of the Corridors of Power/Victims of the Future and Dirty Fingers albums.

Looks like this might be true guys... Fuckity.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking25.html

It's fucking true. Thin Lizzy has also reported it on their site.

FUCK.

One of the most AMAZING players to ever walk the planet. He could shred like a motherfucker, he could play soul, blues, the works. Unbelievable talent.

Damn, I first saw him in 83 opening for Def Leppard. He was incredible.

God dammit! RIP

Got to see him live a couple of years ago. Awesome player.

Wow, this was really a bit of a shocker. Guess they aren't sure what he died of yet, either.

But, you're 100% correct in your assessment. Moore has always been one of my favorite guitar players, too. R.I.P. Gary Moore - now reunited and rocking with Phil Lynott again in heaven.

One of the greats. RIP.

Very sad to hear it was true.

Gary

Totally wasn't expected to read that when I went to Yahoo news a few seconds ago. What a bummer. One of the BEST players I've ever heard. The guy had it all: tone, song writing ability, vibrato, dynamics, etc. I'm really at a loss for words.

Whaaat? Wow....

Damn, i really enjoyed a lot of his music. He was / is one of my favorites. Terrible news. He had a few more cd's left in him. Just loved his music.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sAmmhp0nYwk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

RIP

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UlZvGW-CWUw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>




RIP Gary... -kd5-

Just got into his solo stuff over the last couple of years. He did some incredible work. RIP

Saw him a ton of times in England in the 80's. Amazing guitarist and always a great live show.

At least he went out in a rock 'n roll way - reports this morning are that he choked on his own vomit after a drinking binge. What a shame. RIP.

That pretty much what happen to John Bonham's death.

Gary.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lqAuuIDU2sw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you haven't seen this video, do yourself a favor.

My favorite singer (Dio), and now my favorite guitarist, both gone in less than a year. Sad days!

UPDATE GARY MOORE Died Of Suspected Heart Attack - Feb. 7, 2011
According to Mirror.co.uk, legendary guitarist Gary Moore died of a suspected heart attack, a postmortem revealed earlier today (Monday, February 7).

Moore died in his sleep yesterday morning, hours after checking into the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Estepona on the Costa del Sol, Spain with an unnamed female friend. He was 58 years old.

While forensic experts are satisfied Moore died from natural causes, they requested further tests on tissue samples taken from his body ahead of a final report.

A Spanish police spokesman said today, "Mr. Moore died of natural causes and his death is not in any way suspicious. An investigating magistrate has opened a standard inquiry to determine the exact cause of death."

British tabloid The Sun reported earlier today — apparently erroneously — that Moore choked on his vomit after knocking back champagne and brandy before being discovered around 4 a.m.

Well if you have to go, that's probably the best way. Dying in your sleep. So i'm assuming he didn't have to suffer before dying. But i don't really know, i'm hoping he didn't have to suffer.
Now that he's gone , I really don't have anyone who is alive these days to look forward to as far as future cd's, concerts, etc. that did what he did. Although there is a lot of postmortem things, like cd's, but the postmortem things aren't the same as someone who is alive and cranking out good music. I guess the closest one that I can think of would be Kenny Wayne Shepperd but I don't think he's as talented as Gary was. At least not yet anyhow. Maybe he can pick up the torch, maybe. This is just such a terrible thing, when I heard of this Sunday night, I actually felt a trembling in my chest, like i had just lost someone very important to me even though I have never met or ever seen him in person.

Well this completely blows. Hadn't heard anything about it until today and now I'm completely bummed out. I've got After the War on now. 58 is just way too young for a guy this good. "Blood of Emeralds" won't be about just Phil anymore, for me at least.

Nice tribute by Kirk Hammett:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...moore-20110209