"Dirty Fingers" is a studio album by Irish musician Gary Moore. Released initially in Japan on 16th January 1981, it gained wider international attention in the years following. The album was created during a difficult period for the musician, which reflects in the overall sound. It contains a raw hard rock sound with heavy influences of punk and metal - genres that were popular during that time.
Moore, originally from Northern Ireland, was just sixteen years old when he moved to Dublin to join the rock band Skid Row, which initiated his musical journey. He released "Dirty Fingers" a decade later presenting him as an accomplished raconteur with a silver lining for hard rock music.
Each of the ten tracks on the album showcases Moore's prodigious musical gifts. The opening track, "Hiroshima," is a hard rock tribute to the tragic bombing that happened during World War II. Other songs like "Lonely Nights" dwell into Moore's emotional capacity, embodying a deep sense of longing and isolation, whereas tracks like "Bad News" and "Rest In Peace" display the musician's harder, faster rock leanings.
In this album, Moore has been accompanied by ex-Ted Nugent vocalist Charlie Huhn, bassist Neil Murray from Whitesnake, and former Black Sabbath drummer Lee Kearsley. Despite having a mix of reputed musicians, the album received mixed reviews from critics, but it has undeniably some exceptional guitar work on it, and there are moments of the brilliance that Moore became known for. Vocalist Charlie Huhn's effort across the album has also received praise, adding another dimension to the album.
In essence, "Dirty Fingers" is a product of its time carrying strong punk and metal influences, and remains an essential album for those who would like to delve into the breadth of Moore's much-respected musical talent.
