In an era where music documentaries are booming, Netflix has once again raised the bar with its newest release: *”Still Got the Blues: The Gary Moore Story.”* This deeply moving and richly layered documentary honors the life, struggles, and immense talent of the late Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore. Known for his blistering guitar solos, genre-defying versatility, and haunting blues ballads, Moore was one of the most respected yet underrated guitarists in rock and blues history. Now, more than a decade after his untimely death in 2011, this film offers an intimate look at the man behind the music and the legacy that still resonates with fans and musicians worldwide.
### From Belfast to the World Stage
The documentary opens with a montage of war-torn Belfast in the 1960s, the gritty backdrop of Gary Moore’s childhood. Born in 1952, Moore came of age during a time of political upheaval and violence in Northern Ireland. Through rare photos and interviews with childhood friends, we learn how a young Gary found refuge in music, listening to records by Elvis Presley, The Shadows, and blues legends like Albert King and B.B. King.
Moore’s early life was defined by a hunger to break free from the confines of his environment. At the age of 16, he moved to Dublin and soon joined Skid Row, where he met and collaborated with another Irish icon, Phil Lynott. This chapter of the documentary is deeply emotional, with interviews from surviving bandmates, archival footage of Skid Row performances, and recollections from Lynott’s family. It was here that Moore began to shape his identity—not just as a guitarist, but as a powerful musical voice capable of blending genres with raw emotion.
### Thin Lizzy and Rock Stardom
Moore’s intermittent involvement with Thin Lizzy is one of the focal points of the film. The documentary reveals the complex friendship between Moore and Phil Lynott—both passionate, both headstrong, and both haunted by personal demons. Netflix presents unseen backstage footage and rehearsal recordings that illustrate the musical chemistry and emotional tension between them.
When Moore officially joined Thin Lizzy in the late 1970s, it was during a time of creative transformation. His contribution to songs like “Black Rose” and live renditions of “Still in Love with You” showcased his technical brilliance and emotional depth. Yet, Moore was never one to stay in one lane for too long. His departure from Thin Lizzy marked the beginning of a solo journey that would define the next three decades of his life.
### The Blues Awakening
While Moore was already revered as a rock and hard rock guitarist, the film beautifully chronicles his shift toward the blues—a move that surprised many but ultimately became his most defining chapter. The centerpiece of this transformation is his seminal 1990 album *Still Got the Blues*, which became a global success and introduced a new generation to blues music.
The documentary includes interviews with legends like B.B. King, Albert Collins, and George Harrison, who all admired Moore’s blues playing. “He wasn’t just playing notes,” B.B. King is quoted as saying in archived footage. “He was telling stories with every bend and vibrato.”
This segment of the film is particularly powerful. We see Moore in studio sessions, intensely focused, pouring his soul into every track. Songs like “Parisienne Walkways” and “Still Got the Blues” are explored in depth, with producers and bandmates breaking down the emotion behind every phrase. It becomes clear that for Moore, the blues wasn’t a genre—it was a language through which he expressed love, pain, loss, and redemption.
### Personal Struggles and Isolation
Despite his success, the documentary does not shy away from the darker chapters of Gary Moore’s life. Friends and family open up about his battles with alcoholism, the toll of constant touring, and his growing disillusionment with the music industry. Moore was known for being intensely private, and at times, painfully self-critical.
In one haunting moment, a former manager recalls how Moore once said, “I feel like I’m screaming into the void. People hear me, but they don’t understand.” This quote resonates as the film shows him later in life, living a relatively quiet and reclusive existence in Spain, still recording music but far from the spotlight.
The documentary treats these moments with great sensitivity, never exploiting Moore’s pain but rather offering a full picture of the man—flawed, fragile, but fiercely committed to his art.
### Tributes and Legacy
As the film moves into its final act, it transitions into a celebration of Moore’s enduring legacy. Contemporary artists like Joe Bonamassa, Slash, Kirk Hammett, and John Mayer appear in interviews, each paying tribute to Moore’s influence on their playing and songwriting.
One particularly moving scene features Bonamassa walking through a studio with Moore’s iconic Peter Green Les Paul guitar, recounting the first time he heard “The Loner” and how it changed the way he approached music.
We also see clips from tribute concerts held in Moore’s honor, including the emotional “One Night in Dublin” event where former Thin Lizzy members reunited to pay homage. The sense of loss is palpable, but so is the gratitude—for the music, the memories, and the emotional honesty that Moore brought to every performance.
### Final Reflections
The final scenes of *”Still Got the Blues: The Gary Moore Story”* are poetic and introspective. With soft guitar playing in the background, the camera pans across locations significant in Moore’s life—his childhood home in Belfast, the clubs where he honed his craft, and the peaceful coastal town in Spain where he spent his last days.
The documentary closes with a voiceover from Moore himself, taken from an old interview: “I never wanted to be a star. I just wanted to play what I felt. If someone out there felt it too, that was enough.”
That line encapsulates the spirit of the documentary—an honest, heartfelt tribute to a musician who never chased the spotlight but became a legend all the same.
### Why You Should Watch
*“Still Got the Blues: The Gary Moore Story”* is not just for fans of rock or blues—it’s a must-watch for anyone who believes in the power of music to connect, heal, and transcend. Netflix has crafted a documentary that is both cinematic and soulful, a worthy testament to a man whose guitar spoke louder than words ever could.
**Mark your calendar** for this emotional deep dive into the life and music of Gary Moore—a film that ensures his story, and his sound, will never fade.
