Rest in Peace – Mel Galley (March 8, 1948 – July 2, 2008)
Mel Galley, former guitarist of TRAPEZE and WHITESNAKE, has lost his battle with cancer of the oesophagus.
In February, Galley announced that he was dying of cancer. Bravely, instead of wallowing in self-pity he made the most of the time he had left. “I have been very lucky,” he wrote on his MySpace page. “I have seen some great bands, played with many great musicians and enjoyed some tremendous experiences. I am thankful that I can say a proper goodbye to all the friends I have made, who are now rallying round me.’
Even as his condition worsened, Galley continued to post encouraging, amusing updates. When he was no longer able to go to the pub, ‘now the pub [comes] to me,” he joked. “Friends visit me each day, I have drugs in me 24/7, and I have a plentiful supply of gin and tonic by my bedside. I even have my own ice machine! In fact, it’s just like my WHITESNAKE days.”
During WHITESNAKE‘s recently completed European tour, David Coverdale dedicated “Love Ain’t No Stranger”, a song he co-wrote with Mel for the “Slide It In” album, to Galley on a nightly basis.
“Melville, your legacy is in safe hands with me,” sums up Glenn Hughes, Galley‘s TRAPEZE bandmate and childhood friend, adding: “I’ll see you in the Garden one day, and truly recognise you as my brother…”
Courtesy of Blabbermouth.net
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My all time favorite guitarist. A fan since 1971. Rest in peace and hope to see you play again in the great beyond.
Well my friend if all is well you should be in rock heaven by now and i know you got loads of mates up there (say hi to cozy), I bin playin trapeze on my ipod for weeks now and you truly were a great guitarist as I told you many times in the talbot and heath hayes cons I’ll see you again one day my friend until the next time stay safe, keep rockin and always that smile xx
Rest in peace my friend.Have a safe journey x
Rest In Peace Mel
We all can take a lesson from your strength.
You accepted the cards that were dealt and made the absolute most of your final days with us.
Bless you for that!