"You were very lucky to see him so much"
yes, in one way, because he was a hero player for me. But sometimes it could be a disappointment because he could appear (often) in bad mood.
Tech problems, guitars going out of tune, would really mood him out. Lot of musicians who played with said he was/could be a real bugger. But I think he was a perfectionist as they so often are and so things would get to him.
That said, at most gigs when he appeared all brisk and business, with little or no repartee something would happen and his mood would change.
I was at the Fabrik in Hamburg and I had invited a German friend who was a big fan and had a birthday. The Fabrik is an old factory, long and narrow. Upstairs at one end you are directly above the stage...very close really. Gary was tuning up again and a bit grouchy. My friend called out "you need a Guiness". Gary looked up and said "..you buying then?". In his best 'Germglish' my friend Thomas quaintly said "That would be an unbelievably honour".
It was just what moment needed. A quaint bit of humour. Gary melted, played him a song and he was a complete treat after that.
By the way the tribute concert DVD he did for Phil Lynott "Gary Moore and Friends" is well worth a look. Yes, it is mostly the Lizzy songs played with their former guitarists of the day, but there are also interviews with the man (about Phil of course). Gary does all the singing of those great songs. One of my favourite's and I can recommend it.
He also plays the slow version of 'Don't believe a Word' in a real blues style and that version is very rare before playing the original version back to back.
