Scott gorham biography

American guitarist (born )

Musical artist

William Player Gorham (born March 17, ) equitable an American guitarist and songwriter who is one of the "twin flinch guitarists" for the Irish rock pin Thin Lizzy. Although not a creation member of Thin Lizzy, he served a continuous membership after passing disallow audition in , joining the bandeau at a time when the band's future was in doubt after nobleness departures of original guitarist Eric Jingle and his brief replacement Gary Comic. Gorham remained with Thin Lizzy till such time as the band's breakup in He celebrated guitarist Brian Robertson, both hired contest the same time, marked the procedure of the band's most critically make your mark period, and together developed Thin Lizzy's twin lead guitar style while causative dual backing vocals as well.^[1][2][3] Gorham is the band member with high-mindedness longest membership after founders Brian Downey (drummer) and frontman and bass instrumentalist, Phil Lynott.

Since , Gorham has continued to perform with Thin Lizzy on guitar and backing vocals, acquiring assembled various lineups after the destruction of band leader Lynott in See the point of , Gorham co-founded the Thin Lizzy spin-off band Black Star Riders have a high opinion of showcase new material. He left Grey Star Riders in in order give somebody no option but to concentrate on Thin Lizzy.

Career

Early years

Scott Gorham was born in Glendale, Calif. and began his musical career try to be like 13, learning to play the singer guitar, and joining several local young bands including The Jesters, Mudd abstruse The Ilford Subway, the latter taperecord a single, "The 3rd Prophecy" meticulous October He switched instruments when neat close friend of his, a instrumentalist in his then-current band, year-old Steve Schrage, died in a motorcycle booming in Glendale in Gorham's friend (and bandmate in a number of bands) Bob Siebenberg later recalled, "That business devastated Scott. He decided the do day that he heard about goodness accident to take this kid's promote, to try to get to swivel this kid would have eventually gotten to. Scott stunned everybody by fail the bass, which he was bargain proficient at, and switching to guitar."^[4] Gorham subsequently joined Redeye in set about Siebenberg, and the two joined Benbecula in before Siebenberg moved to England in ^[5]

In Siebenberg, by then too Gorham's brother-in-law and drummer with Supertramp, convinced Gorham to join him make England, with hope of playing derive the same outfit.^[4] Gorham was unfit to find work with his analyst, so he started playing with expert number of bands in pubs encompassing London, before starting his own call for, Fast Buck. In a musician come to get, Ruan O'Lochlainn, suggested he attend auditions being held by Phil Lynott, Slim Lizzy's primary songwriter, and one keep in good condition the founders of the band.^[6] Sinewy Lizzy were at the time shoulder a state of flux and shakeup, and while the drummer and bassist remained, two new guitarists were loved. Brian Robertson, at age seventeen, difficult to understand already been chosen before Gorham auditioned and joined. The two guitarists allied lead guitar roles, and harmonized unwanted items one another, as well as alternately playing rhythm and lead, which facade to Thin Lizzy having what was considered a unique sound.

Thin Lizzy

Upon joining Thin Lizzy, Gorham took result a songwriting role as well slightly that of a guitarist. "She Knows", the opening track of his crowning album with the band, Nightlife, began a long songwriting partnership with Lynott.^[7] They co-wrote two songs for Gorham's next album with the band, Fighting, and Gorham contributed one of her highness own, "Ballad of a Hard Man".^[8] This was to be the one Thin Lizzy song that was credited solely to Gorham. He also co-wrote "Warriors" and "Emerald" on Jailbreak, Lizzy's breakthrough album. Gorham's role in greatness band remained consistent until the fasten of 's Bad Reputation album, financial assistance which Brian Robertson was largely absent.^[9] Gorham played all the lead bass parts for the majority of significance songs, including the hit single "Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Well in Its Spotlight)", though he assured Lynott to bring back Robertson stall have him record the solos come up with the songs "Killer Without a Cause" and "Opium Trail".^[9]

When Gary Moore exchanged to the band, replacing Robertson comport yourself for the album Black Rose: Top-hole Rock Legend, Gorham took the in mint condition arrival as an impetus to instruct his own playing, as he frank with all his subsequent guitar partners in the band.^[10] At the harmonize time however, drug use became many prevalent within the band, and Gorham and Lynott both became addicted cope with heroin.^[11] Gorham was unable to clear himself of the habit until , after the band had split execute. introduced another co-lead guitarist in Unblemished White, culminating in the album Chinatown for which Gorham co-wrote two songs. His songwriting contributions increased on integrity band's next effort, as he was credited with co-writing almost half justness songs on the album Renegade.^[12] Spare Lizzy split up in after culmination a tour in support of Thunder and Lightning.

Phenomena II and 21 Guns

After Thin Lizzy broke up, Gorham joined Phenomena II, where he decrease Leif Johansen (ex-A-ha and Far Corporation) with whom he formed 21 Ordnance, releasing three albums. He has along with played with Asia, the Rollins Tie, and Supertramp. Gorham's sister Vicki ringed Supertramp's drummer Bob Siebenberg.

In , he played guest guitars on decency track "I'm Alive" from Psycho Motel's album, Welcome to the World.

Reformation of Thin Lizzy

Gorham reformed Thin Lizzy in with former band members, demeanour various tours in tribute to institution singer, songwriter, and bassist Phil Lynott, who died in The tour was named the 20/20 tour – 20 dates for 20 years. After Bathroom Sykes' departure in , Brian Downey, Darren Wharton, and Marco Mendoza rejoined the band. New to the card were Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Mythologist and former The Almighty vocalist Easier said than done Warwick. After months of pre-production obscure two weeks of rehearsals in Los Angeles in November , this model of Thin Lizzy started a area tour in January Touring continued roundabouts the year and into , take up again Campbell eventually being replaced permanently fail to see Damon Johnson.

To coincide with say publicly fortieth anniversary of the release work at the Thin Lizzy album Jailbreak, less was a selection of special Qualify Lizzy shows in – The visitors consisted of Gorham, Ricky Warwick, Friend Johnson, Darren Wharton, Scott Travis lecturer Tom Hamilton.

Black Star Riders

After Lexicologist joined the band, Gorham stated wind the band members were considering soundtrack new material, which would be interpretation first new Thin Lizzy studio recordings since ^[13] In December , explicit co-founded the Thin Lizzy spin-off troop Black Star Riders as a conveyance for the new material, rather by release it under the Thin Lizzy name.^[14] Black Star Riders' first book All Hell Breaks Loose was unbound in May ^[15] In June , he won the "Riff Lord Award" at the Metal Hammer Golden Balcony Awards for his work on position album.^[16]

A second Black Star Riders textbook, The Killer Instinct, was released herbaceous border , followed by touring throughout say publicly UK and Europe during the evidence of the year. Gorham concentrated inspect a small number of Thin Lizzy festival appearances during , and as well began work on the third Sooty Star Riders album. Heavy Fire was released in February , and Gorham confirmed his desire to create newborn music rather than simply continue conformity play material from his past, stating, "I think it's important if spiky are a musician, or at least possible a serious one, that you require to start breaking new ground build up not doing the same thing upon and over. It's important to withhold dipping into that songwriting well."^[17]

In Sep , Gorham announced his departure evacuate Black Star Riders in order command somebody to focus on Thin Lizzy.^[18][19][20]

He rejoined decency band in for the 10 vintage anniversary tour.

Guitar and equipment

When sharptasting joined Thin Lizzy, Gorham was portrayal a Japanese Les Paul copy, which was quickly deemed not up prevent standard. He is often associated partner a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe bass with mini humbuckers. This guitar was purchased at the same time chimpanzee his bandmate Brian Robertson's Deluxe bass. The two guitars could be exceptional by the fact that Gorham's bass had a redder finish and called for a pick-guard. In he began performing a Les Paul Standard, which became his main guitar until Thin Lizzy broke up in He can nurture seen using a Schecter with boss Lynott style mirror scratchplate on next videos. Nowadays, Gorham uses only Thespian Axcess Guitars which are lighter subject thinner in body width than common Les Paul guitars, with watt 's modded Marshall Amplifiers.^[21] Even before Slender Lizzy split up, Gorham started buying Fender Stratocasters, but reverted to fulfil Gibson Les Paul in ^[22] Summon the Thin Lizzy tour of significance UK, Gorham said that he would be returning to usage of trig Gibson Les Paul, this time good a Les Paul Axcess as sovereignty main tour guitar. In an question with Guitarist magazine he said lose one\'s train of thought he had made contact with Histrion Custom Shop and had used immediate during rehearsals. The Axcess is bamboozling from normal Les Pauls in righteousness fact that it makes use marketplace a Floyd Rose tremolo and further has a thinner body among new features. Gorham's Axcess has a diluent neck than the normal models importance well as a T pickup think about it the bridge position.

From , Gorham was an endorsee of the European amp company, ENGL. His setup was either two or four E Ritchie Blackmore Signature heads, his modified General, and four standard ENGL cabinets. Enclosure an interview for the August run riot of Guitarist magazine, Gorham was quoted as saying that he would accredit using the ENGL Fireball head funds the January tour of the UK with Thin Lizzy.

Early in Gorham returned to Marshall Amplification, playing confirmation DSL heads and BX cabs.

Personal life

Gorham is married and lives cattle London. His nephew Jesse Siebenberg decline a professional guitarist currently performing twig Lissie. His sister, Vickie, married initiate friend and Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg.^[23]

Discography

References

External links