Hand Me Down that Gibson - A Portrait of Gary Moore

“Hand Me Down that Gibson – A Portrait of Gary Moore– features the blues playing of this remarkable guitarist in conversation about his heroes Peter Green; Albert Collins; Albert King and BB King. One of the founding fathers of Irish rock music alongside Cork’s Rory Gallagher.

Gary Moore was born on the 4th April 1952 , his first encounter with live music was in the coastal resort of Hollywood near his home city of Belfast watching the visiting showbands…by the age of ten his father bought him his first guitar and the following year he formed his 1st band in 1966.

At the age of fourteen he played the Maritime Hotel (home to The British Sailors Society Seamen’s Residential Club whose resident band in 1964 had been Van Morrison and Them ), and opened for Dublin band Sugar Shack – drummer with Sugar Shack Brian Downey mentioned the Belfast prodigy to Philip Lynott and Brush Shiels on his return to Dublin as they were forming Skid Row and on the look out for a guitarist . Rory Gallagher’s Taste had the residency at the Maritime and were blown away by the playing of young Moore.

I remember Gary’s first appearance in a Dublin Club was filling in for Dave Lewis of The Method ( later of Andwellas Dream), who had injured his hand , The Method were one of the hottest beat outfits in Belfast with Wilgar Campbell on drums. Within a few months Gary Moore had joined Skid Row with Brendan “The Brush” Shiels on bass guitar ,vocals and harmonica ; Philip Lynott on rhythm guitar and vocals ; and Noel “Nollaig” Bridgeman on drums, by 1968 Skid Row were opening for Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac at The National Stadium- playing in the round with Duster Bennett also on the bill. Gary Moore’s lifelong friendship with Peter Green began on that night on the South Circular Road….at a time when the only place to read about emerging beat musicians was in Pat Egan’s Beat Column in
Spotlight Magazine.

His career from his days with Skid Row playing clubs throughout the country , Slattery’s in Capel Street; the Speakeasy , The Marquee and the legendary Fillmore to his days with Thin Lizzy ; his remarkable solo career in hard rock and metal ; Colosseum II with Jon Hiseman ; BBM – featuring Gary; Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce; the Belfast born guitarist has left a remarkable legacy of recorded music to be enjoyed by his many fans around the world. Gary Moore died unexpectedly in Spain on Sunday 6th February.

Frank Murray

Friend and former Lizzy tour manager Frank Murray talks about Gary on Today With Pat Kenny on February 7th 2011.

“Hand Me Down that Gibson “ is presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton.