Ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore dies in hotel bed after washing down burger with champagne

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Ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore dies in hotel bed after washing down burger with champagne

 

 

By Tom Kelly and Gerard Couzens

Last updated at 11:03 AM on 7th February 2011

 

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Former Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore died in his sleep in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The 58-year-old had just began a six-day holiday at a luxury hotel on the Costa del Sol.

The cause of death remained unclear last night, and friends said they were ‘shocked’ by the news. Fellow Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell said: ‘I still can’t believe it. He was so robust, he wasn’t a rock casualty, he was a healthy guy.’

 

Legendary: Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore has been found dead in a hotel room in the Costa del Sol. Moore had a successful solo career but it was for his time in Thin Lizzy that he will be best remembered

 

 

Moore died hours after checking into the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Estepona with an unnamed female friend

 

Belfast-born Moore first made his name in 1960s Irish band Skid Row and was later invited to join Thin Lizzy by singer Phil Lynott.

 

Over a long career, he also had a string of top-40 hits as a solo artist, including Parisienne Walkways in 1979 and Out in the Fields in 1985.

He died hours after checking into the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Estepona with an unnamed female friend. Suites at the luxury resort can cost up to £3,500 a night.

Moore's companion, who is in her 30s, was described as 'very distraught, in floods of tears' as the tragedy unfolded.

 

A hotel source said: ‘They were going to eat at the restaurant after they checked in but it was closed so they had a hamburger and sandwich instead at the hotel bar, which they washed down with a bottle of champagne.

 

'Great guy': Thin Lizzy founder Brian Downey paid tribute to his old bandmate Gary Moore, seen here on the right. Moore joined the band in 1973 after the sudden departure of guitarist Eric Bell but only played with them for four months

 

‘Later they went for a stroll along the beach and when they came back Gary and his friend went back to the bar where Gary had a couple of brandies.

‘He was recognised by a fan who talked to him about his music and was really chatty and friendly. He seemed fine when he left around 11pm.’

Undertakers were called to retrieve his body from his suite at 4am yesterday. His guitar was close to his bed.

 

Moore’s companion made a string of tearful phone calls from the hotel foyer but declined to comment.

 

Going it alone: Moore had a successful solo career with a string of top 40 hits in the 1970s and 1980s including Parisienne Walkways in 1979 and Out in the Fields in 1985, but it was for his time in Thin Lizzy that he will be best remembered

 

A post-mortem examination was expected to be carried out today in Malaga. Moore started playing the guitar at the age of eight after being inspired by Elvis Presley, The Beatles and later watching Jimi Hendrix ­perform in his home town.

He joined Thin Lizzy in 1973, but played with them for only four months. Four years later he returned and played on the band’s Black Rose album.

Singer Lynott died in 1986 after falling into a heroin-induced coma. Moore said he had tried to stop his friend taking drugs. He continued to perform in recent years, and last year went on tour in Ukraine.

Thin Lizzy founding member Brian Downey paid tribute to his friend.

He said: ‘I am in total shock. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers and I just can’t believe he is gone.’

 

Sir Bob Geldof has also paid tribute to Moore, describing him as 'without question, one of the great Irish bluesmen'.

 

'His playing was exceptional and beautiful. We won't see his like again,' he told the BBC.

 

Singer Bryan Adams took to Twitter to remember Moore as a 'guitarist extraordinaire'.

 

Niall Stokes, editor of Irish music magazine Hot Press, described Moore as a ‘musical genius’.

He said: ‘His contribution to the Irish rock canon was immense.’

 

 

Fellow singer Bryan Adams paid tribute to Moore's passing on Twitter

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354259/Gary-Moore-ex-Thin-Lizzy-guitarist-dies-hotel-bed-burger-champagne.html#ixzz1DI88J9pL

[ladypro615]

I laughed at the burger ad-lib in the title, but may he rip