Vale Gary Moore - old style rock and roll death

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/music/3394698/Gary-Moore-found-dead-in-hotel-room.html


By CHRIS POLLARD, FERGUS O’SHEA and OWEN CONLON


GUITAR ace Gary Moore died on holiday yesterday - choking on his vomit after knocking back champagne and brandy.
The 58-year-old ex-Thin Lizzy star was discovered just before 4am by his girlfriend, unconscious in their Spanish hotel room.

Medics found him lying lifeless on his back wearing just his underpants.

An ambulance source said: "We believe the deceased had been drinking heavily."

A source at The Kempinski hotel on Spain's Costa del Sol - where suites cost up to £3,500 a night - said: "There were definite signs of alcohol in the room.

"His girlfriend was very distraught, in floods of tears."

Moore, rated as one of the finest guitarists of his generation, was best known for his time in Thin Lizzy. He played on their chart hits Waiting For An Alibi and Do Anything You Want To.

He also teamed up with Thin Lizzy frontman and fellow Irishman Phil Lynott for the top ten solo hits Parisienne Walkways and Out In The Fields.

In recent years the Belfast-born guitarist and singer had forged a new career as a blues musician, releasing critically-acclaimed albums and performing with legends BB King and Bob Dylan.

Bob Geldof yesterday described Moore as one of Ireland's musical legends. He said: "One of the greatest blues players of all time. Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore - the glorious trinity of the Irish blues men."

Moore's shocked former bandmates also paid tribute. Eric Bell, another ex-Lizzy guitarist from Belfast, said: "I can't believe it.

"He was so robust, he wasn't a rock casualty, he was a healthy guy. He was a superb player and a dedicated musician."

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The band's drummer Brian Downey added: "I am in total shock. I've known Gary since 1967 and he's been an amazing friend ever since. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers."

Thin Lizzy's management said: "Our thoughts go out to Gary's family at this time. Our memories of Gary and his contribution to Thin Lizzy and music in general will live on forever."

Moore died hours after checking into the Kempinski Hotel at Estepona with his girlfriend, who is in her 30s, for a six-day holiday.

The hotel source said: "They were going to eat at the restaurant but it was closed so they had a sandwich at the bar with a bottle of champagne. They went for a stroll then back to the bar where Gary had brandies. He seemed fine when he left around 11pm."

Moore was in Thin Lizzy in the late '70s when the band was notorious for drink and drug binges.

In 1986 Lynott, who had known Moore since they were teenagers, died of pneumonia brought on by his heroin addiction. He was 36.