[Update 2/7/2011: Reports are coming in now as to the circumstances and cause of death. See below for update.]

Rock and blues guitarist Gary Moore has died at aged 58. It was revealed on Planet Rock radio earlier today that Moore was found dead in his hotel room in Spain in the early hours of Sunday morning. No cause of death has been revealed at this time.

Born Robert William Gary Moore in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 4, 1952, Moore was a prolific guitar player. Since the late 1960s, Moore contributed to many musical projects and had three spells as lead guitarist in rock band Thin Lizzy playing on their classic album, Black Rose.

Known to many as an exceptional rock guitarist and most famous for his 1979 hit “Parisienne Walkways,” Moore was also a highly respected and talented blues player. Much of his twenty-plus catalogue of solo studio albums and live albums reflect this.

My favourite performance of Gary Moore’s was on an old BBC2 music show called “˜The Old Grey Whistle Test’. In 1976. he appeared with his Thin Lizzy bandmates Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, and Brian Downey. Billed as Gary Moore & Friends they performed a stunning version of Thin Lizzy’s “Don’t Believe A Word,” the video of which I have included below. At the 2:40 mark, the video simultaneously demonstrates how incredibly talented Moore was and how tight this band was.

Update 2/7/2011: The Sun is reporting that Moore died after choking on his own vomit after a night of heavy drinking. He was discovered unconscious in his hotel room at 4AM by his girlfriend and was lifeless when medics arrived. There were signs of alcohol in the room.

Update 2/8/2011: The Mirror is now reporting that Moore’s death was from natural causes, a “suspected heart attack.” Tests are being done to determine exact cause of death.

Gary Moore & Friends – Don’t Believe A Word

Gary Moore
April 4, 1952 – February 6, 2011

[Source: Planet Rock]