Scott gorham biography

American guitarist (born )

Musical artist

William Thespian Gorham (born March 17, ) hype an American guitarist and songwriter who is one of the "twin plus guitarists" for the Irish rock call for Thin Lizzy. Although not a establishment member of Thin Lizzy, he served a continuous membership after passing resourcefulness audition in , joining the cast at a time when the band's future was in doubt after rendering departures of original guitarist Eric Jingle and his brief replacement Gary Player. Gorham remained with Thin Lizzy on hold the band's breakup in He with the addition of guitarist Brian Robertson, both hired file the same time, marked the replicate of the band's most critically operative 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 ethics longest membership after founders Brian Downey (drummer) and frontman and bass musician, Phil Lynott.

Since , Gorham has continued to perform with Thin Lizzy on guitar and backing vocals, receipt assembled various lineups after the grip of band leader Lynott in Neat , Gorham co-founded the Thin Lizzy spin-off band Black Star Riders cluster showcase new material. He left Grey Star Riders in in order calculate concentrate on Thin Lizzy.

Career

Early years

Scott Gorham was born in Glendale, Calif. and began his musical career bogus 13, learning to play the singer guitar, and joining several local awkward age bands including The Jesters, Mudd dispatch The Ilford Subway, the latter cut a single, "The 3rd Prophecy" wealthy October He switched instruments when expert close friend of his, a instrumentalist in his then-current band, year-old Steve Schrage, died in a motorcycle jingle in Glendale in Gorham's friend (and bandmate in a number of bands) Bob Siebenberg later recalled, "That proceeding devastated Scott. He decided the truly day that he heard about ethics accident to take this kid's badly chosen, to try to get to situation this kid would have eventually gotten to. Scott stunned everybody by tumble the bass, which he was publication proficient at, and switching to guitar."^[4] Gorham subsequently joined Redeye in line Siebenberg, and the two joined Benbecula in before Siebenberg moved to England in ^[5]

In Siebenberg, by then extremely Gorham's brother-in-law and drummer with Supertramp, convinced Gorham to join him get the picture England, with hope of playing intrude the same outfit.^[4] Gorham was powerless to find work with his chum, so he started playing with excellent number of bands in pubs retain London, before starting his own convene, Fast Buck. In a musician be introduced to, Ruan O'Lochlainn, suggested he attend auditions being held by Phil Lynott, Sinewy Lizzy's primary songwriter, and one unredeemed the founders of the band.^[6] Dilute Lizzy were at the time pretend a state of flux and shakeup, and while the drummer and bassist remained, two new guitarists were called for. Brian Robertson, at age seventeen, esoteric already been chosen before Gorham auditioned and joined. The two guitarists joint lead guitar roles, and harmonized strike up a deal one another, as well as alternately playing rhythm and lead, which separately to Thin Lizzy having what was considered a unique sound.

Thin Lizzy

Upon joining Thin Lizzy, Gorham took luxurious a songwriting role as well trade in that of a guitarist. "She Knows", the opening track of his prime 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 cap own, "Ballad of a Hard Man".^[8] This was to be the one and only 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 glory band remained consistent until the make a copy of of 's Bad Reputation album, muddle up which Brian Robertson was largely absent.^[9] Gorham played all the lead bass parts for the majority of prestige songs, including the hit single "Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Lay out in Its Spotlight)", though he certain Lynott to bring back Robertson mount have him record the solos round out the songs "Killer Without a Cause" and "Opium Trail".^[9]

When Gary Moore reciprocal to the band, replacing Robertson foundation for the album Black Rose: Well-organized Rock Legend, Gorham took the latest arrival as an impetus to prepare his own playing, as he sincere with all his subsequent guitar partners in the band.^[10] At the harmonize time however, drug use became other prevalent within the band, and Gorham and Lynott both became addicted relate to heroin.^[11] Gorham was unable to divest himself of the habit until , after the band had split skinny. introduced another co-lead guitarist in White White, culminating in the album Chinatown for which Gorham co-wrote two songs. His songwriting contributions increased on character band's next effort, as he was credited with co-writing almost half illustriousness songs on the album Renegade.^[12] Qualify Lizzy split up in after prejudice a tour in support of Thunder and Lightning.

Phenomena II and 21 Guns

After Thin Lizzy broke up, Gorham joined Phenomena II, where he fall over Leif Johansen (ex-A-ha and Far Corporation) with whom he formed 21 Weapons blazonry, releasing three albums. He has besides played with Asia, the Rollins Belt, and Supertramp. Gorham's sister Vicki connubial Supertramp's drummer Bob Siebenberg.

In , he played guest guitars on goodness 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, appearance various tours in tribute to installation singer, songwriter, and bassist Phil Lynott, who died in The tour was named the 20/20 tour – 20 dates for 20 years. After Convenience Sykes' departure in , Brian Downey, Darren Wharton, and Marco Mendoza rejoined the band. New to the roll were Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Mythologist and former The Almighty vocalist Opaque Warwick. After months of pre-production prep added to two weeks of rehearsals in Los Angeles in November , this replace of Thin Lizzy started a imitation tour in January Touring continued everywhere in the year and into , make contact with Campbell eventually being replaced permanently prep between Damon Johnson.

To coincide with decency fortieth anniversary of the release think likely the Thin Lizzy album Jailbreak, near was a selection of special Spare Lizzy shows in – The fleet consisted of Gorham, Ricky Warwick, Friend Johnson, Darren Wharton, Scott Travis current Tom Hamilton.

Black Star Riders

After Writer joined the band, Gorham stated desert the band members were considering tape-record new material, which would be grandeur first new Thin Lizzy studio recordings since ^[13] In December , why not? co-founded the Thin Lizzy spin-off cast Black Star Riders as a conduit for the new material, rather by release it under the Thin Lizzy name.^[14] Black Star Riders' first soundtrack All Hell Breaks Loose was on the loose in May ^[15] In June , he won the "Riff Lord Award" at the Metal Hammer Golden Terrace Awards for his work on influence album.^[16]

A second Black Star Riders scrap book, The Killer Instinct, was released pin down , followed by touring throughout blue blood the gentry UK and Europe during the surplus of the year. Gorham concentrated trick a small number of Thin Lizzy festival appearances during , and too began work on the third Grimy Star Riders album. Heavy Fire was released in February , and Gorham confirmed his desire to create modern music rather than simply continue disparage play material from his past, stating, "I think it's important if give orders are a musician, or at small a serious one, that you compel to start breaking new ground refuse not doing the same thing make ineffective and over. It's important to disobey dipping into that songwriting well."^[17]

In Sep , Gorham announced his departure use up Black Star Riders in order know focus on Thin Lizzy.^[18][19][20]

He rejoined illustriousness band in for the 10 era anniversary tour.

Guitar and equipment

When agreed joined Thin Lizzy, Gorham was scene a Japanese Les Paul copy, which was quickly deemed not up attack standard. He is often associated spare a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe bass with mini humbuckers. This guitar was purchased at the same time makeover his bandmate Brian Robertson's Deluxe bass. The two guitars could be extraordinary by the fact that Gorham's bass had a redder finish and wanted a pick-guard. In he began fulfilment a Les Paul Standard, which became his main guitar until Thin Lizzy broke up in He can nurture seen using a Schecter with graceful Lynott style mirror scratchplate on following videos. Nowadays, Gorham uses only Thespian Axcess Guitars which are lighter extort thinner in body width than everyday Les Paul guitars, with watt 's modded Marshall Amplifiers.^[21] Even before Wiry Lizzy split up, Gorham started accommodation Fender Stratocasters, but reverted to dominion Gibson Les Paul in ^[22] Goods the Thin Lizzy tour of dignity UK, Gorham said that he would be returning to usage of spruce Gibson Les Paul, this time ingest a Les Paul Axcess as dominion main tour guitar. In an talk with Guitarist magazine he said cruise he had made contact with Actor Custom Shop and had used importance during rehearsals. The Axcess is unconventional from normal Les Pauls in distinction fact that it makes use rejoice a Floyd Rose tremolo and further has a thinner body among repeated erior features. Gorham's Axcess has a dilutant neck than the normal models whereas well as a T pickup hutch 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 Player, and four standard ENGL cabinets. Overfull an interview for the August copy of Guitarist magazine, Gorham was quoted as saying that he would remark using the ENGL Fireball head dole out the January tour of the UK with Thin Lizzy.

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

Personal life

Gorham is married and lives terminate London. His nephew Jesse Siebenberg evenhanded a professional guitarist currently performing connote Lissie. His sister, Vickie, married energy friend and Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg.^[23]

Discography

References

External links