World famous Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley has died of cancer.
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See also: Whitesnake star dying with cancer
Tribute to Mel as Glenn raises roof
The 60-year-old musician from Cannock broke the news of his illness in February and pledged to spend the last months of his life saying goodbye to friends.
His illness came a month before the star was due to take to the stage again with a new band. He died at home in Heath Hayes last night after succumbing to cancer of the oesophagus.
Earlier this year, he said: “It happens, but I’ve had a fantastic life. I have been very lucky. I have seen some great bands, and played with many great musicians. I am thankful that I can say a proper goodbye to all the friends I have made, who are now rallying round me.”
Radio Two presenter Chris Evans was among those at Galley’s 60th birthday celebration in March.
Figures in the music industry today paid tribute to the musician, who made his name with Whitesnake, Trapeze and Finders Keepers.
59 Comments
terrible shame to lose a stalwart of the music industry, he brought pleasure to many and will be sorely missed.
So very sad for Mel’s family and friends and 0f course for all his fans of which I can include myself. You were a brave man Mel. Safe Journey and God Bless.
A great & genuine guy. A very sad loss to the music world. I feel very lucky to have met him.
I loved Trapeze and still do, They broke up far too soon. I’ll play their songs tonight on iTunes to say goodbye to Mel.
A sad loss to his family and Rock, raise a glass to him and remember the Man and the music..
I did not know Mel, only of his stature and music. My thoughts are with you Marcus and the rest of your family at this very distressing time. Take care x
Although I have only met Mel once a few months ago his style of playing guitar has inspired me ever since I first saw him play with Trapeze at the London Fulham Greyhound back in the early 70s
A great loss to us all & he will be sadly missed by his family friends & followers.
“When You Get To heaven” Cheers Mel
Dumpy XX
Although I have only met Mel once his style of playing guitar has inspired me ever since I first saw him play with Trapeze at the Fulham Greyhound back in the early 70s
A great loss to us all & he will be sadly missed by his family friends & followers.
“When You Get To Heaven” Cheers Mel
Dumpy XX
Very sad to see,that Mel has finally lost his very brave battle with cancer,So sorry for his friends and family…my heartfelt condolences .
Very thankful for what he has added to the world of Music..Just watch the amazing WHITESNAKE video “Live at castle Donington 83″ it`s a wonderful memory of Mel.Thank you to David Coverdale for dedicating a song to Mel
each night during the UK tour..lovely touch.Farewell,Mel!
im so sad to hear the news of a legends passing,Mel was a great guitarist for whitesnake.
only last week at wembley David coverdale dedicated a song for mel and my eyes filled up,now hes gone.My deepest condolences to his family,we’ll never fogot Mel,a legend
A very sad day.
I saw just about every version of Trapeze over the years at Venues from Walsall Town Hall to Barbarellas and whatever the size of crowd Mel & Co always put on a great show. Happy Days indeed, my condolences to his family: RIP.
Mel was a huge influence in my guitar playing. He will be greatly missed. Thanks Mel
My brother, Eddie, and I are most sad to hear this news about not just a great guitarist, but one heck of a nice guy …as mentioned before, the last meeting with Mel was special! My thoughts and prayers go to Mel’s family, to his closest friends …”Mel was the music, Mel was the band” …and any of us who met this wonderful human being have been blessed with knowing of his talent, hearing him play and being happy to know he loved all of us …ROCK ON, MEL!!! …we will always appreciate your spirit and the happy feelings we all received from your music …GOD BE WITH YOU, MY FRIEND!
We will remember Mel with love in our hearts,
and with big thankfulness for the Great music he give to us…….
Our condolences and deepest simpathy to his wife and family…….
Dani and Pete
Losing Mel is a great loss to the music world….Trapeze will always be one of my top fave bands. I’m glad to have had the pleasure of witnessing Mel in action with Trapeze in ‘72. It’s a memory that I shall never forget. God Bless You Mel and your family……
Chuck
Very sad news,one of the first ever shows i went to was Whitesnake feb 1984 Belfast Ulster Hall(actually 2 nights,went to both)….i have really great memories of those nights Mel was one of the best.My condolences to his family and friends: RIP Mel.
The same night Mel passed away David Coverdale dedicated to him one of the beautiful songs they co-wrote, during Whitesnake’s live in Athens. With that in mind, farewell Mel. Thank you for your contribution to music. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. They were lucky to have such a brave man in their lives.
I only met Mel a few times and was lucky enough to see him in Trapeze at Snoopy`s (now Silk`s)in Cannock many years ago and up the Tackeroo last year playing a short set for the Custard Beast.Mel was and will always be one of the great rock musicians.My sympathies go out to all of his family and friends.You will be sadly missed.
to mels family i carnt beleave it i grow up with him all my life from age 2 god bless tom carol marcus and lucus and annett even thoug we have not met thinging off you all from margaret and joyce
RIP Mel. It is very sad to hear that MEL has passed
away.I love Trapeze Music and will allways remember as a great guitarist.
TANX MEL
My wife and I are very saddened by this news. I saw Mel play with Whitesnake several times over the years, the greatest was Donington 1983 (check it out on video). I also saw him with Trapeze in Newcastle about 15 years ago, a true legend and a great loss. We wish you well, Kay and Chris Handley
Mel, It was a great joy in my life to be able to Rock with you in Trapeze. I’ll be Rocking with you again soon my dear friend. We will jam with the Trapeze in the sky. See ya soon.
Love, Pete “WRIGHTY”
Thank you Mel for all of the wonderful music you have given us over the years. You have been a true inspiration to us all, not just as an incredibly talented musician, but also as a wonderful human being. You were one of the reasons I first picked up a guitar and you continue to be one of my biggest influences today. You will always have a special place in my heart. God Bless you Mel.
Rest In Peace - David Galliene, Guernsey
Mel Galley was truly a rocker. This is very sad news. I first heard Trapeze’s Medusa and was blown away with its heaviness. One of the best underground heavy records of all time. He had much to cherish from his musical career, and his life. R.I.P. Mel, you’ve touched many with your work.
You Touched My Life. Peace & Tranquility Mel.
What a shame…lets hope you make sweet music in heaven.
Rock on Mel…x
R.I.P Mel
I never imagined the Mel I knew in my class at school would give so much pleasure to so many people, keep Rockin in Heaven Mel, God Bless
My deepest condolences to all his family.
I never met him but have loved his music well over 30 years and did get to see him live with Trapeze. He was a totally AWESOME guitarist!! We have lost a great talented man. May the LORD rest his soul!!
As Uncle to your second son, and even long before Lucas, I remember you with kind thoughts. With love from Nicky & Iew.
R.I.P Mel.
Mel (during his Trapeze days) was a great inspiration to me in the early days. A great guitarist and a really nice person that will be sadly missed.
Love
Janne Stark/Balls - Locomotive Breath
I roomed with the man on many occasions and in long conversations in the dark in the early
mornings far from home, you get to know one another. Mel Galley was not only talented
as a guitarist, one of the best riff players in Rock, much plagiarised I might add, but a thoroughly
decent man and during his long illness one of the bravest. He will be sadly missed by all those
who were fortunate enough to know him and even more by those whome he loved and called his friends.
As a young rock fan living in the Cannock area, I quickly became aware of Trapeze, and particularly, Mel Galley. I saw Trapeze play at the Forum theatre (long demolished) in Cannock and I was hooked on their music. Inspired by Mel, I took up guitar. In a musical world full of plagiarists, Mel had a truly unique style, he played like no-one else, and he played with fire. His funk/rock style was a revelation. He was also a really great guy with a great sense of humor and an infectious smile.
THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT NIGHT’S AND FUN TIMES, ,MEL
YOU WERE THE BUSINESS IN TRAPEZE,
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU WERE THE MUSIC ! NOT JUST THE BAND.
A guitar legend who will be sadly missed.
Mel - YOU were the music!
God Bless
Sue
To everyone that has posted that me and my brother won’t be able to thank in person, please accept this THANKS for all the kind words and messages that you’re sending and leaving here, I can’t put it into words how much it means to us. Anyone wanting to send messages direct can, galley@ntlworld.com.
x
Rest In Peace Mel.RR
The music industry loses another legend who goes to be part of that All Star Supergroup in Heaven. I have some fantastic memories of Mel’s playing through his work with Trapeze, Whitesnake and the Phenomena project. Rest In Peace, Mel and make sure that your Les Paul keeps on rockin in Heaven!
Such sad newswe have lost a very talented guitarist and songwriter.Sincere condolences toallfamilyand friends.Always thinkof you now, Love Aint No Stranger…God Bless,Mel.
Love ,Sue.
Trapeze were the first band I ever saw live, Walsall Town Hall Sept 4th 1971.Fell in love with rock music forever on that night.Spoke to Mel a few years back whilst he was running the pub with Tom, about that very gig.A great bloke as well as a brilliant guitarist. A major loss to the music world.Glenn made a great tribute to you the other night at The Robin.R.I.P Mel.
Very sad. I will make an evening with my friends and Mel.
R.I.P.
I saw Mel with Whitesnke from Saints and Sinners tour to the Slide it in Tours with Whitesnake.
A sad los, Great musician and writer. May not have been a great lead player come guitar hero in that mold, though a true inspiration in music writing, rythm guiatr playing and riff playing, and from paper reports of his latter years, a person that can inpire someone to reflect and be strong
RIP MEL
Paulxx
A musical genius who will continue to touch my life for a long long time.
Thank-you for everything my friend.
We are the Music,You will always be the band.
You were simply awesome.The best funk ever.
Simply TOUCHED MY LIFE.
RIP Mel
Remembering you Mel as a fantastic guitarist and songwriter - how lucky we were to hear your music. Thank you for helping me through my teenage years and inspiring me as a musician… “who knows where the cold wind blows?”
I saw Mel in various later incarnations of Trapeze and in Whitesnake. Whilst Glenn was always the showman, it was Mel who was the cool one.
You touched my life too. RIP
alas dear friend time has caught up with us.you finaly got to the rainbow. just like to say thank you for going for a walk.I’ll take my young son with me when he’s older and tell him all about it.Sunday morning 6am of course.wishing you clear skies, calm waters and a pair of brashers.goodbye you truly gentle man
thanks for years of great music keeping us young keeping us rocking with great quality music
rest in peace
ac
R.I.P Mr Galley, a PHENOMENAl artist. A great loss for our scene. A BIG thanks for all your music.
God bless you and your family.
God bless you Mel,here on earth music took one hell of a knock this day, but what a band you’ll have up there, keep on rocking. Tom and Sue x
I discovered Trapeze in the mid-1970’s, and have some fantastic memories of meeting Mel and the rest of the band on many occasions, sharing a few pints along the way. Then, by chance, my partner met Mel and his wife in a hotel in Buxton earlier this year, which is when I found out he was ill. Sadly I never got the chance to meet him again, but I am once again listening to Medusa and You are the music… bringing back all those good memories. RIP Mel, I’ll be raising a G&T or two in your memory.
I am very sad to hear about the death of Mel Galley. He was and still is a very talented guitarist, singer and songwriter. I like to thank him for the wonderful music that he made with Whitesnake, Trapeze and Phenomena. I will miss him a lot and my thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends and also to Glenn Hughes.
Rest in Peace Mel
Ayesha
The great heroes of my teen age are leavin’ us. You was one of them. Thank you for all the good legacy you’ve left for us! R.I.P. Mel
A sad loss.Played Medusa album time and time again through my headphones in the early seventies.Saw the band at Henrys Blueshouse in Birmingham - a great night.A great guy will be sorely missed.
one of the pleasures of being a press photographer was seeing mel galley play.
also later to meet and become a friend
i shall miss him, a big light as gone out
so sorry mel. what a guy
RIP Mel. Your music will live forever. My condolences to your friends and family.
Peace from the West Coast of the USA,
Jamie
I had the pleasure to see Trapeze twice during the 1970s and each time it changed my life for the better. Mel was simply amazing. He was cool and had a unique stage presence. I loved how moved when he played his guitar. I am so sadden to hear of his death. I will never forget him or the incredible Trapeze band that deserved more recognition then they received.
Thank you Mel, I will never forget you! I think that you made Whitesnake quitars sound like Whitesnake! Thank you, you gave us so much!!
I never had the luxury of meeting Mel, but as a die-hard music fan, and someone who is slowly and gradually learning the guitar, I’ll say this -
Mel is a huge influence, and he will be missed.
It’s Mel that made Trapeze rock, and Mel that gave Whitesnake their finest hours together (listen to Gambler, written by Galley and Coverdale, and tell me it’s not the coolest Whitesnake song you’ve ever heard.)
Rest in peace, Mel. My condolences go out to the friends and family of this late musical genius.
A tragic loss!
Was a Trapeze fan from way back.
I heard many great stories about Mel via one of his close friends John Thomas (Budgie fame). I live in Australia so it was not easy seeing gigs in the UK but I finally got to see Mel live firstly when he jammed with Badlands at the Astoria in early 1992 then with Trapeze in Walsall (Junction 10) in May 1992. This was an amazing gig, great guitar from Mel and Glenn was in fine voice. Medusa was so loud and heavy… awesome!
A much underated musician I still feel his best stuff was with Trapeze although I did enjoy spome of the Whitesnake material.
RIP MEL!
Simon