Latest NewsUpdated 3 February 2000
Latest NewsYou'll notice I haven't updated in a while. That's because I'm busy. Sorry for the inconvenience. Check out the GAZ webpage or the official webpage for the latest info. Concert dates coming up in Europe and Scandinavia!
Good news! Some new dates have been (officially) announced for March 2000. Check the Concert 2000 Page for exact dates. These are new dates, not rescheduled shows. The Official Website hints at the possibility of rescheduling some of the cancelled shows before March 2000.
The December 1999 issue of Record Collector features an interview of Gary Moore. Despite minor mistakes (see OJ's notes) it is a nice article which covers many obscure parts of Gary's career. Not much is said about the new album.
Did I say there was nothing new on the Official Website yesterday? Well, today the official announcement was made. The tour is indeed cancelled for the obvious reason. Dates will be rescheduled for next year. We wish Gary a speedy recovery.
O-J again provides the up-to-date news, and this time it's very bad. The entire tour has been cancelled. Presumably to give Gary's hand a chance to heal properly. Nothing has been posted on the Official Website recently, but be sure to check it on a regular basis.
O-J reports more concert cancellations: yesterday in Lichtenfels and today in Berlin. It seems that hand is not healing fast enough by anyone's standards... Check the concert page for upcoming dates.
The latest issue of MOJO Magazine (with Hendrix on the cover) features a short interview of Gary Moore under the Concert Guide section. (Thank you, Stephen!)
I jut got word (thank you, Ralph) that tonight's show in Cologne was cancelled at the last minute (as in: after the audience had already showed up). O-J's GAZ newspage offers more details. It seems Gary cut one of his fingers while playing that sustained note in Parisienne Walkways at the show in Mannheim. Be advised: tomorrow's Offenbach show is cancelled.
A Different Beat was released on schedule in the US (October 26th). It is identical to the UK issue (except for the numbers of course: Raw Power CMACD550).
A bunch of new concert reviews were just posted, all about the Tilburg (Holland) show. Let me take this opportunity to reiterate my plea: if you attend any GM show within the next three weeks, let the rest of us know about it! your reviews. Thanks in advance.
A couple of reviews came in for the Wolverhampton and Leeds shows. Thank you! Go to the Concert Dates page to check them out. Keep'em coming!
Gary's tour starts today in Wolverhampton. In fact, as this page is being updated, the show is probably under way. If you are lucky enough to be attending this show (or future shows), I would really appreciate reviews. The rest of us need someone to live vacariously through! Send e-mail to the usual address: !
Just a reminder to US fans: The new album (A Different Beat) will be released over here on October 26th, next Tuesday. If you haven't yet purchased the import, there's your chance to get it a little cheaper. Still hesitating? See what people have to say about the album on the Northern Light WWW Board.
Those of you seeking other people's opinion of the new album (or Official Website) can head over to the Northern Light WWW Board. Most (all?) recent messages are about Gary Moore.
The Official Gary Moore Website opened yesterday! Go check it out! It's full of interesting news (some not featured hereWhat can I say? They're closer to the source). Cool pictures, too! And the on-line store should open next year, they say. Worth the wait, since some items will be sold on-line only...
The new album, A Different Beat, has been out for a few days, so I've had a chance to listen to it a couple of times. Mind you, the following remarks are only a first impression (and my own opinion). My first thought when listening to the beginning of the first track was for Jeff Beck's latest effort, Who Else? (released earlier this year). And I thought of Jeff Beck again when listening to "Fatboy".
? ? If you didn't like Dark Days in Paradise, my guess is you won't enjoy this one much either. Keep on reading however. The guitar work is unmistakably Gary's; in "Lost in your Love" and "Surrender" for instance. The latter clocks at almost ten minutes, at least half of which is instrumental. The control and restraint exercised by Gary on this song is remarkable! Also very interesting are the bluesy (in terms of melody and lyrics, but not rhythm) "Worry No More" and "Bring my Baby Back". And what a kick to hear Gary's rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Fire"!
? ? I can't say I like everything on the album (both mixes of "Can't Help Myself" are my mainonly?complaint). But I can't help but admire someone who is willing to experiment and change while keeping an identity (again, the guitar playing is absolutely unmistakable). The form might be somewhat different, but the substance is the same.
It seems A Different Beat will get a US release soon. The date I've seen advertized is October 26th (yet to be confirmed by Castle Music). This is a welcome change from Virgin's no-US-release policy of late. Don't get too excited! That does not mean there will be a US tour... Wouldn't that be nice, though?
The Official Website (www.gary-moore.com) will feature news (the official, reliable kind) about releases, concerts, and what not; and eventually an on-line store with CDs, tee-shirts, videos, etc. It seems further expansion will depend on feedback from, well, us! Some music clips perhaps? (Many thanks to Graham, webmaster of the Official Website).
The American cable station VH-1 will devote an episode of their series "Behind the Music" to Thin Lizzy. The premiere is October 17th at 9 p.m. (Thank you, Dave.)
The tour begins in a little more than two weeks in the UK. If you are lucky enough to attend, please share with the rest of us! Submit your reviews.
The new album (see preceding entry below) is to be released on Monday in England. It seems it is already out in some places, and early promotional copies have been circulating. I have not received my copy yet, so I have no review to offer. Anyone?
Speaking of releases, there is also Blood of Emeralds - The Best of Part 2 from Virgin. Any details on the UK release (as opposed to the Swedish release) are welcome. Castle also recently released yet another collection titled just that, The Collection.
An Official Gary Moore Website? That's what the booklet for A Different Beat advertizes. The address is www.gary-moore.com but there is not much to see yet. I will be keeping an eye open. (Thank you, Michel.)
? ? Another website was brought to my attention: www.gary-moore.bog.net. It is completely graphics-based, which means two things: it looks great, but it's a little slow (not that this site right here is fast...).
Tour dates! Here are the few dates for the UK:
This is what the new album will look like. (Click on the image for a larger version; image courtesy of Castle Music). It will be released on Raw Power (RAWCD142) on September 27th, as previously announced.
? ? We have all been wondering what musical direction the new album would take, and the press release confirms some of the rumors: "1997's 'Dark Days In Paradise' was one of his most personally rewarding projects so far, and 'Different Beat' picks up on some strands thrown down by that album. It also features some recognisably Gary Moore traits as well as some interesting experimentation with rhythm programming..."
? ? The tracks are:
It's official! Castle Music just confirmed that they will release the new album (A Different Beat) on September 27th. More details as they become available.
The release of Blood of Emeralds - The Best of Part 2 has been pushed back to September 1. The 2-CD Swedish edition is a beauty, its insert filled with pictures and text, just as part 1 was. (Thanks to P. Winberg of Virgin Sweden)
A short review of Gary's performance at the Dr?bak Blues Festival on August 7 is featured in a GAZ newsflash released yesterday. Also reported there is a new concert date (also mentioned on the The Northern Light news page): October 20th at the Town & Country Club in Leeds. Unfortunately, the show is already sold out!!! However I have been told of another date: October 23rd at Shepherd's Bush Empire. (I could not find any on-line confirmation on this.)