Posted on 02/09/2008 5:13:01 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
Whitesnake Guitarist Mel Galley Dying Of Cancer
Feb 8 2008
FORMER Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley is dying of cancer, he revealed yesterday.
The 59-year-old has told friends he has only a short time to live after recently being diagnosed with the disease.
It comes just a month before the rock legend was due to take to the stage again with a new band after years away from the spotlight.
Mel, of Cannock, Staffordshire, said: "It happens. But I have had a fantastic life and been very lucky.
"I have seen some great bands and played with many great musicians, and have enjoyed some tremendous experiences."
The rocker added: "I am thankful that I can say a proper goodbye to all the friends I have made, who are now rallying round me and my family."
Galley's discography includes: With Finders Keepers
"Sadie, The Cleaning Lady" (single)
[edit] With Trapeze
* Trapeze * Medusa * You Are the Music...We're Just the Band * The Final Swing * Hot Wire * Live At The Boat Club * Trapeze * Hold On a.k.a. Running * Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos * Welcome to the Real World * High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze * Way Back to the Bone * On the Highwire
With Glenn Hughes
* Play Me Out
With Whitesnake
* Saint & Sinners * Slide It In
With Phenomena
* Phenomena * Phenomena II "Dream Runner" * Phenomena III "Inner Vision" * Psychofantasy
* "Love Ain't No Stranger" * "Slow An' Easy" * "Guilty of Love" * "Standing in the Shadow" * "Gambler"
Very underrated guitarist. Thanks for the memories Mel...class act.
His blog on Myspace today....
Saturday, February 09, 2008
A Wonderful Life
Category: Life
Hello Everyone.
Well, as some of you may already have read in the press or seen/heard on other websites, the verdict from the doctors following a full MRI scan is that my condition is terminal. Rather than sit around feeling sorry for myself I intend to make the most of the time I have left with my family and friends. I am blessed with a fantastic wife and two sons who I am very proud of. For now I am just aiming to make my 60th birthday in March.
I have enjoyed a great life, travelled the world having some amazing experiences, met all sorts of people and played with some of the best musicians there are.
Back in the late 60s when I first started playing in local bands I never imagined how far I would go and the shows I would play. I seemed to tour non-stop with Glenn and Dave in Trapeze in the early 70s. We supported The Kinks and The Moody Blues while still very young men, had people like John Bonham come on and do encores with us, and the likes of ZZ Top as our support act. We loved to play live and the fans seemed to love us, especially in the Southern States of the USA - HELLO TEXAS!
Playing on the same bill as The Eagles and The Rolling Stones, with Montrose opening, in front of 100,000 fans in Dallas in 1975 and headlining the 1983 Monsters of Rock Festival while in Whitesnake are two shows that I will treasure. There have been so many highlights that it’s impossible to name them all.
The albums Trapeze recorded have, in my opinion, stood the test of time very well indeed. Each one has its own special moments and writing and playing with each line-up was enjoyable, rewarding and fun. Glenn still occasionally throws in a Trapeze song during his shows and they sound as fresh as if written yesterday. That tells me how good they are. The fact that he has always had one of the most amazing voices you have ever heard helps too! God Bless You Glenn.
Due to my arm injury my time in Whitesnake sadly only resulted in one album. Playing with those guys was a buzz and both line-ups I was involved in contained tremendous musicians. I’m sure John Sykes and I could have written some great songs together. It was so nice to meet him again recently over 20 years later and to see him still playing the same Gibson as back then.
Over the last 12 months, since the launch of my page and the Trapeze page, I have regained my love for playing and taken real pleasure from reading the comments and messages you have all left. I have heard from people I had lost touch with years ago. It has been fantastic and I thank you all. I honestly didn’t realise the amount of people out there who still remember or have discovered my music. I just wish I could have had the chance to play the shows I had planned for this year.
Thank you all so much for your love and support over the years.
You Are The Music – I was just in a band!
Love Mel
Love the guy’s attitude.
Prayers
Prayers up. What a great attitude.
God bless him and his family.
Yep..total class act all the way to the end.
The guy has some major stones
That, and I love the flamed top les paul he’s holding.
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