Melville John Galley (8 March 1948 – 1 July 2008) was an English guitarist, best known for his work with Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena.

Biography

Galley was born in Cannock, Staffordshire. While a member of Whitesnake, he badly injured his arm in an accident at a fairground in Germany and had to leave the band, as he was unable to play the guitar because of nerve damage as a result of incompetent surgery. Later he became known for playing with "The Claw", a specially developed spring and wire device fitted to his hand which enabled him to play the guitar again. Together with his brother Tom Galley and Wilfried Rimensberger, he was a founding member of Phenomena where his songwriting and guitar playing skills had a major impact on its success.

Mel Galley

On 7 February 2008 Galley revealed that he was suffering from oesophageal cancer, and had only a short time to live.

Mel Galley

Galley died on 1 July the same year at the age of 60.

Mel Galley

Discography

With Finders Keepers

"Sadie, The Cleaning Lady" (single)

With Trapeze

Trapeze

Medusa

You Are the Music...We're Just the Band

The Final Swing

Hot Wire

Live At The Boat Club

Trapeze

Hold On a.k.a. Running

Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos

Welcome to the Real World

High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze

Way Back to the Bone

On the Highwire

With Glenn Hughes

Play Me Out

With Whitesnake

Saints & Sinners (backing vocals only) Slide It In Live In 1984: Back To The Bone (2014)

With Phenomena

Phenomena (Bronze 1985) Phenomena II "Dream Runner" (RCA 1987) Phenomena III "Inner Vision" Psychofantasy (Escape 2006) Blind Faith (Escape 2010)

With Cozy Powell

Octopuss

References

External links

Guardian obituary

Glenn Hughes' Trapeze page

English rock guitarists

Whitesnake members

Trapeze (band) members

Finders Keepers (band) members

1948 births

2008 deaths

People from Cannock

Deaths from esophageal cancer

20th-century British guitarists