Music/News: 08 Feb 2011
The Hot Press Newsdesk

Gary Moore's former bandmates remember the late guitarist

Brian Downey and Scott Gorham spoke to Hot Press before going on stage in Warsaw last night

Two of Gary Moore’s former Thin Lizzy bandmates spoke to Hot Press about the legendary guitarist last night before going on stage in Warsaw.

“He was a great friend,” drummer Brian Downey recalled fondly. “We used to go out drinking together when we were all living in Dublin and he was playing in Skid Row. I always got on really well with Gary. We both had a great love of the blues. I remember the first time Fleetwood Mac came to Dublin, when Peter Green was with them. We went up to the gig together – myself, Phil, Frank Murray and a few others. We were good friends who loved the same kind of music.”

Echoing those sentiments, guitarist Scott Gorham added: “Gary was a great friend. He had a wicked sense of humour and you better be ready for it! You needed a bit of a thick skin around Gary because he would go for you, but in such a funny way you’d have to laugh. At the same time you’d be thinking, ‘Oh My God he’s right!’ He had such a keen sense of humour and he was a really quick-witted guy. I’ll miss him for that – but most of all for his extraordinary gifts as a musician.”

We’ll have more from Brian Downey and Scott Gorham in our next issue’s tribute to Gary Moore, out on Thursday February 10.