Gary was a fairly modest sort of guy, who just loved the music. From what I understand the house that he had down in Brighton was average, when he probably had earned a fair bit over the years. I remember seeing a picture of his guitar collection which would have filled an average house, so that is perhaps where the money went.

There is now a new generation great British blues players coming up. One such guy is Davy Knowles, who has already played with many of the top stars in the states. Here is a video playing with Chicken foot (you will recognise the members of that band) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZKG5iOz--I

I went to a Cream reunion gig at the Royal Albert Hall and nipped into the bar for a swift one before kick-off... And there was Mr Moore sitting on his own, nursing a pint. I couldn't muster the nerve to intrude on his evening, which I still regret, especially given what's happened since.

Kevin

Yes, I have got a tape somewhere. Many years ago, I had a couple of years of buying everything by him. I have a video somewhere of Gary playing with various blues legends, including Albert Collins and Albert King. I saw him live on the 'Run for cover' tour in 1985. One of the best guitarists I have seen.

When I was looking the Youtube videos. I noticed the Moore and Mick Jagger did a blues gigs at the Hammersmith Odeon. I would loved to have seen that, as Jagger is probably the best frontman there has ever been. On a par with Freddy,

Have you heard Gary's work in Colosseum II? Mind-blowing.

Kevin

Kevin Pratt:Good call. Didn't Gary Moore once complain that people had started using a stopwatch to measure the length of that sustained note in the main solo when he played it live?

Ha-ha - I certainly wouldn't want to have to hold my breath for that long, especially as I am a 'recycled teenager' since those days.

Link here for the poor unfamiliar people who have never heard the pure pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18FgnFVm5k0

exterminator:

Still sends chills down my spine after all these years, Parisienne walkways... by Gary Moore and Phil Lynott. Forever brilliant.

Vinyl or CD - don't care!

Yes brilliant. I have seen Gary Moore live and have actually seen his brother Cliff play as well. His brother is a pretty good guitarist but not on the same level.

Some guitarists start very young !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJmCKY1SR-E

Check out some of her other videos on Youtube, She is a band with other kids all under 10 called ' The Mini Band'. They are members of a Newbury Rock School.

Still sends chills down my spine after all these years. 'Parisienne walkways'... by Gary Moore and Phil Lynott. Forever brilliant.

Vinyl or CD - don't care!

The world's best Metallica Tribute band is Metallica :)

Maiden are still churning out good stuff because they stick to what they do best, and not try to change like Sh*tallica did with St Anger and other stuff.

Re: The Smiths remastered being great on CD - the remastering would mean that entire tracks would have been remixed before putting on to cd. This is not an indication that the CD format is superior as the same treatment hasnt been applied to a vinyl pressing...

Hi - I'd better not drag us down a music cul-de-sac, but check out Black Country Communion: Glenn, Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Jason Bonham on drums (I think he hits them even harder than his Dad) and Derek Sherinian on keys. Old school blues rock. V powerful.

Kevin

I don't buy too many 'metal' CD's any more. I went off Metallica from St Anger, which I thought was just a waste. I don't think they have put out anything decent since the black album. I have seen them live a few times and it is always their old stuff and covers that go down best. The reason as you pointed out, was that they have got stuck in a rut, producing the same tired stuff, with very little variety. I also hate the way the recordings are done, which don''t lend to a happy listening experience. I understand that Jason Newstead is coming back to them, so they will have two bass guitars on the next record, perhaps to overcome the volume of the guitars.

I haven't really listened to Rush that much. I think the last record I bought was 'power windows' which was a disappointment, as they had wimped out. Well that was in the mid 80's. I think their best output was during the 70's, particularly the live album, 'All the worlds a stage'.

I am still a fan of Maiden, who I think still put out some quality records. Steve Harris has quite a lot to do with the recordings, so I expect he makes sure the band are happy.

My music taste has mellowed a bit and my current favourites are Incubus, Muse, Pearl Jam and anything by Paul Weller. I still like some of the bands around in the 70's. The Glenn Hughes/Toni Iommi 'fused' record is worth a listen. I think Glenn has one of the best voices in rock.

Hi Huckster.

Given that you like, ahem, "proper" music, I wondered if you had any thoughts on the "loudness wars" issue, where recording engineers push the volumes of all instruments to the max and rob songs of any subtlety and variation.

I'm thinking of two albums in particular - Death Magnetic by Metallica, and Vapor Trails by Rush.

A whole Metallica album in one sitting can be a bit much at the best of times, but the relentless barrage on this one is just exhausting. And not in a good way as with, say, Ride the Lightning. As for the Rush disc - what a massive disappointment. You can tell there are some cracking songs in there, but they are just squashed flat by the recording/mixing/mastering process. Makes me very cross!

Ditto the last few Dream Theater records. What a racket, what a waste. You could listen to a whole album and not know they had a bass player because the guitars are too loud.

Let me know if you have any examples.

Cheers

Kevin

Content editor, insure & home

Agreed, huckster.

I remember a mate and I chatting this through at many, many moons ago. His argument was that there’s something about vinyl that makes the experience more personal: that when you scratch your vinyl copy of something and the record jumps every time you play it, it almost becomes ‘your’ version of the track. So when you hear a true hi-fidelity version, something doesn’t quite sound ‘right’ about it.

Having said that, my missus bought me the complete ‘The Smiths’ remastered CDs for my birthday last year. I was a bit sceptical about how good they’d be, but comparing them side by side, the difference was incredible. The remastered versions really are - IMHO - far superior to the original CDs. I was hearing things through the speakers that I’d only heard 30 years ago when I listened to the original vinyl versions.

I'll hold on to my vinyl, though, and if I ever get that cash together to buy a top of the range deck, needle and speaker system - without interruptions from the kids, telephone or wife - I'll let you know how wrong I was! For now, though, it's interesting to see how vinyl is appreciating in value - both monetary and as a pleasureable musical experience.

Eeeeh, takes me back.... :-)

Graeme
Community Manager
graeme.delap@moneysupermarket.com

Graeme

That is the point which I was tempted to make earlier. It is about the quality of the equipment and the room the music is being played in. Not forgetting the ears listening to it. I am a heavy metal fan, so personally I am not bothered about having crystal clear sound and prefer a more rustic 'live' sound.

A relative of mine is an absolute vinyl not. He has a top of the range turntable on a slab of some material that has been spirit leveled to make sure is perfectly horizontal. He has also a separate amp and really good speakers. The sound is absolutely fantastic, but then I expect it would cost a few thousand to replace. I would expect however, that for the same money, I could purchase CD hi-fi components that can produce as good a sound, as my ears could distinguish.

For those with vinyl collections, you should hold on to them, as they are now worth much more than their CD version. A second hand CD would probably be worth £1 if lucky, but an original vinyl can be £10 or more.