Christy Moore
Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHR : Christy Moore
After leaving Planxty in 1975, Moore continued on his solo career (reforming his old band on occasion) which he has been doing ever since. He also formed the band Moving Hearts with Lunny and five other musicians in 1980. In 2000 he published his autobiography, One Voice.
Moore's affinity for controversial topics has cost him a lot on occasion, but it is this fearless, unapologetic, and honest approach to music that has ensured the respect and loyalty of his fan base over the years. His choice of topics has included Republican hunger strikers, apartheid, alcoholism, unemployment, and injustices towards Irish travellers and other disadvantaged minorities. He was an outspoken critic of Ronald Reagan's visit to Ireland, about whom he sang songs including "Hey Ronnie Reagan", whose chorus ran "Hey Ronnie Reagan, I'm black and I'm pagan, I'm gay and I'm left and I'm free. I'm a non-fundamentalist environmentalist, Please don't bother me".
As well as penning some of Ireland's well-known contempory ballads, Moore is well known as a collector of ballads. His interpretations of the work of other songwriters has provided a platform for many fine ballads that otherwise may have faded into obscurity. His recordings include the works of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Ewan MacColl and a wide range of traditional ballads. He has also recorded many songs from comtemporary Irish singer-songwriters such as Wally Page, Jimmy MacCarthy and the late Noel Brazil. One ballad written by Wally Page that Moore sang was "Biko Drum", which was about the famous South African Activist Steven Biko and the call to follow his non-violent ways.
In October 2004, a story in the Irish Times revealed how Moore had been stopped and detained by customs officers at the Welsh port of Holyhead. The story entitled: "SINGER HELD: Moore stopped at Holyhead" written by Daniel McConnell told of how the singer was stopped in his van with his driver, taken into an office and questioned over the lyrics of his songs. The following day in reponse to the Irish Times article, Moore released a statement saying: "My driver and I were stopped and held for two hours at Holyhead last Monday, under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002. My driver and I were held separately in two interrogation rooms. I found the whole experience threatening. I was questioned about the contents of my briefcase."
Despite initial reports to the contrary, the singer's van, which was full of musical equipment, was not searched.
"I was questioned about lyrics of songs and I was asked a lot of personal questions about members of my family and my children and about my home. At no time was I given any explanation as to why I was being held and interrogated in this manner," he added.
He said the fact that Irish people are still being treated this way on their way to the UK is very "saddening".
"I had hoped to deal with this matter out of the public domain. But seeing as it has become a news item, I feel the need to offer my side of the story. I found the whole affair quite frightening."
In 2005, his "Don't Forget Your Shovel" was referenced in a number 1 UK single "The JCB Song" by Nizlopi: "And the engine rattles my bum like berserk While we're singin, 'Don't forget your shovel if you want to go to work!'"
His solo style includes driving rhythms on guitar and bodhran as well as slower ballads.
Moore's brother Barry, whose stagename is Luka Bloom, is also a successful singer-songwriter.
Discography
Solo
- Paddy On The Road (1969)
- Prosperous (1972)
- Whatever Tickles Your Fancy (1975)
- Christy Moore (1976)
- The Iron Behind The Velvet (1978)
- Live In Dublin (1978)
- H Block (1980)
- Christy Moore and Friends (1981)
- The Time Has Come (1983)
- Ride On (1984)
- Ordinary Man (1985)
- The Spirit of Freedom (1986)
- Unfinished Revolution (1987)
- Voyage (1989)
- Smoke and Strong Whiskey (1991)
- King Puck (1993)
- Live At The Point (1994)
- Graffiti Tongue (1996)
- Traveller (1999)
- This is the Day (2001)
- Live At Vicar Street (2002)
- Burning Times (2005)
- Live in Dublin 2006 (2006)
With Planxty
- Planxty (1972)
- The Well Below The Valley (1973)
- Cold Blow And The Rainy Night (1974)
- After the Break (1979)
- The Woman I Loved So Well (1980)
- Words and Music (1983)
- Planxty Live 2004 (2004)
With Moving Hearts
- Moving Hearts (1981)
- Dark End Of The Street (1982)
Compilation Albums
- High Kings of Tara (Christy Moore, Planxty,..) (1980)
- Nice 'n Easy (1984)
- Aris (Planxty) (1984)
- Christy Moore (Compilation USA) (1988)
- The Christy Moore Collection 1991-1991 (1991)
- Christy Moore Collection Part 2 (1997)
- The Box Set 1964 2004 (2004)
Videos
- ''Christy (1995) 54 mins - Christy reflects on life and career. Very rare and difficult to get hold of video.
DVDS
- ''Christy Moore Uncovered (2001) 104 mins - features collaborations with Jimmy McCarthy, Wally Page, Shane McGowan, Sinead O'Connor and John Spillane.
- ''Planxty Live 2004 The reunion of the hugely popular and influencial group after a 20 year hiatus.
- ''Christy Moore Live In Dublin 2006 (2006) 143 mins - First time a live solo concert has been recorded and released outside CD format. Filmed over 4 nights in December 2005 and January 2006.
External links
- [Christy Moore's home page]
- [Videos and lyrics to some of Christy Moore's songs]
- [Review of a Christy Moore concert in Dublin in 2001]
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.