PI have been in communication for almost two years now with the great Neil Carter, ex- Wild Horses, ex-UFO, ex-Gary Moore Band.
I had requested an interview with Neil regarding the greatest period of Gary’s career so far, the years when Neil was in the band and basically Gary’s complete rock era.
My focus of the interview was mine and Neil’s as well, the [i]Wild Frontier[/i] and [i]After The War[/i] albums.
The touring lineup for the 1987 Wild Frontier tour was perhaps arguably Gary’s most successful era.
The release of “After The War” and subsequent ‘final’ rock tour, signaled the end of the Moore-Carter collaboration, which yielded some of Gary’s most memorable songs.
Any true dyed in the wool Gary Moore fan (unless they came on board during his blues period (1990-2009), would consider the recording of the show at Isstadion Stockholm during the Wild Frontier tour, as being one of the greatest rock shows, ever recorded.
Just a total professional effort, produced by the excellent NFL Films, who also did his Emerald Aisles video, this video, only available on VHS to this day, and out of print of course. I have two copies, one played the other never played and converted mine to DVD format as I did with all my Gary Moore videos, mostly bought on VHS Japanese Imports.
Those who know me and my writing, plus my great love for Gary’s music and that of Phil Lynott/Thin Lizzy, realize that that golden era. with Neil’s triple threat talents, rhythm guitar (his main instrument previously), keyboards and fantastic vocals, very similar to Gary’s in range and tone. As good as a vocalist as Gary has become, Neil could always deliver a superb vocal effort.
Particularly on Shapes Of Things, Rocking Every Night and his great backing vocals on Empty Rooms, which he co-wrote with Gary.
As a fellow guitarist, Gary’s tone and equipment setup for this era, I consider his finest hour.
The use of his finest Marshall, the 1972 Super Bass, which someone had painted purple and Gary returned it to it’s native black, slaved off to two other 100 watt 1959 spec heads, allied with the great sounding Roland outboard gear, including the Dimension D. Chorus/Echo and Delay units.
Also an Ibanez Tube Screamer, used with those two magical Charvel Custom Shop guitars, delivered to him in 1986, the Strat head single pickup, EMG 85 and 81 equipped with Original Floyd Rose Tremolo’s, delivered a sound that he was in incredible control of.
This massive wall of sound, just on the edge of breaking loose into feedback, but having such clarity amongst the huge volumes he was working with.
Also Gary’s guitar playing, the techniques he exhibits here, mark him as one of the true maestros pf the top mounted Floyd Rose system.
The incredible line up of Bob Daisley on bass, Eric Singer in drums, the most powerful stadium style drummer and of course Neil’s great keyboard parts, his interchanges with Gary’s guitar and Neils own strong rhythm work on his guitar.
This was a band firing on all cylinders.
I recently completed the e-interview with Neil which is published on his website and the Official Gary Moore Fan Club site, “Lord of the Strings”
http://www.neilcarter.org
http://www.garymoorefc.com/en/
Almost two years ago now, I started writing to Neil, who resides in Brighton, England on the south coast as does Gary Moore, and told him how much his contributions to Gary’s rock era, especially WF and ATW, though his contribution to WF wasn’t as great in quantity as say ATW, nevertheless, his mark is all over these albums.
One of my favorite Gary Moore/Neil Carter songs is Blood of Emeralds, the autobiographical story of Gary and Phil’s struggles to make it in England and the hardships they endured. Also the tension between these two, caused some great music to be created.
Blood of Emeralds emotionally conveys Gary’s feelings of hopelessness concerning a Phil Lynott who was circling the drain of his life, ultimately dying as a result of his excesses and lifestyle.
The great Military Man, which Phil sings on the original version, contains in the first slow solo for guitar, one of Gary’s most beautiful works ever.
During the 1987-89 era, this song was frequently a jumping off point for extended improvisations by Gary, around the first solo.
The exciting news in all of this is Gary is going back to the Celtic Rock, we all so enjoyed and has three new songs in this vein, including a new tribute song to Phillip.
The bands lineup includes Jonathon Noyce ex-Jethro Tull, who played on the excellent One Night In Dublin tribute to Thin Lizzy with Gary. Darin Mooney will be on drums, Neil on vox, guitars an keys and Gary, lead guitar and vocals.
That I sent Neil copies of my extensive Gary Moore video and CD collection, both official and unofficial and he told me he was going to have Gary over to watch them together, leads me to believe, that if I had any small part as a catalyst in getting them back together, that is #1 on my bucket list.
The plan is a European festival tour and the one in Montruex, has also my favorite Steve Stevens with Billy Idol band and Cinderella, another of my favorite bands, that is a show I would love to see.
Plus the recently announced line up of Thin Lizzy with Robbo rejoining Scott and also Brian Downey and Darren Wharton form the old band, plus a new singer and bassist, but the addition of Dublin’s own Viv Campbell on guitar, always a huge GM and Lizzy fan.
A jam with all of these would be incredible.
It is very brave of Gary to tackle songs like Out In The Fields, Thunder Rising, Empty Rooms, Over The Hills and Far Away,as they have some intricately complicated guitar parts, plus Gary will need a Floyd Rose style guitar for songs like The Loner, ect.
So I am interested in what he will choose.
So GM/NC fans enjoy, Neil is a super nice chap.
I also have a Tommy Bolin article coming out soon on BSM Trebleboosters website.
I have my own rock web blog http://www.daveonrock.com
My years if research on the Washburn Steve Stevens Signature guitars on the site http://www.vintagewashburn.com
So enjoy, that Gary will be playing these songs again and Lizzy is back with the strongest lineup in years, makes this a very exciting year.. 
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Dave
http://www.garymoorefc.com/en/ http://www.neilcarter.org http://www.vintagewashburn.com SORRY YOU WILL HAVE TO COPY THE LINKS AND PASTE THEM IN YOUR BROWSER, I am having Tech difficulties pasting links
