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Mel Galley

1948 – 2008

British guitarist

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About Mel Galley

Lived 1948 – 2008 (aged 60). Mel Galley was a British guitarist and composer.

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 on 8 March 1948. 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.

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

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

Discography With Finders Keepers "Sadie, The Cleaning Lady" (single) (1968)

With Trapeze Trapeze (1970) Medusa (1970) You Are the Music...We're Just the Band (1972) The Final Swing (1974) Hot Wire (1974) Live At The Boat Club (1975) Trapeze (1975) Hold On a.k.a. Running (1978) Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos (1981) Welcome to the Real World (1998) High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze (1996) Way Back to the Bone (1986) On the Highwire (2002)

With Glenn Hughes Play Me Out (1977)

With Whitesnake

Saints & Sinners (backing vocals only) (1982) Slide It In (1984) Live in 1984: Back to the Bone (2014)

With Phenomena Phenomena (Bronze 1985) Phenomena II "Dream Runner" (RCA 1987) Phenomena III "Inner Vision" (1993) Psychofantasy (Escape 2006) Blind Faith (Escape 2010)

With Cozy Powell Octopuss (1983)

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
Melville John Galley

People in Mel Galley's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mel Galley's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mel Galley?

British guitarist (1948–2008)

When was Mel Galley born?

Mel Galley was born on 8 March 1948 in Cannock.

When did Mel Galley die?

Mel Galley died on 1 July 2008 in Heath Hayes and Wimblebury.

What was Mel Galley's occupation?

Mel Galley was a guitarist and composer.

What nationality was Mel Galley?

Mel Galley was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mel Galley

· Wikidata: Q555917

· DBpedia: Mel Galley

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mel Galley. https://biography.guide/mel-galley/

MLA: "Mel Galley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mel-galley/.

Chicago: "Mel Galley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mel-galley/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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