DEF LEPPARD Singer Remembers GARY MOORE

February 11, 2011

During a recent round of radio interviews to promote his DOWN 'N OUTZ project, DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott was asked to give his thoughts on the passing of former THIN LIZZY guitarist, noted session player, and blues rock icon Gary Moore.

"Well, he's definitely up at the top [of the list of the greatest guitarists of all time], isn't he?" Elliott said. "In fairness, I think that he was probably wrongly accused of being one of these speed merchant guitarists because he could play fast. But the thing about Gary was that he actually came from the blues. Whereas a lot of the '80s guitarists just ripped Eddie Van Halen off."

Elliott singer also spoke about the time Moore opened for DEF LEPPARD in the '80s.

"Funnily enough, he took over from JON BUTCHER AXIS on our 'Pyromania' tour about halfway through it and was special guest to ourselves and KROKUS," Elliott recalled. "He had Ian Paice from DEEP PURPLE on drums. I remember [DEF LEPPARD drummer] Rick Allen was just... [he] couldn't — he was beside himself. He was 16 years old or 17-18 years old and his hero, his drumming hero, was third on the bill to us, you know? We were almost apologizing for it, you know?"

Joe added, "We knew Gary pretty well and he was a lovely chap and it's such a shame and such a waste."

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