Mel Galley, the guitarist for Whitesnake and founding member of Trapeze has passed away from cancer at his home in England.

Galley joined Whitesnake in 1982 after a shake-up of the group by original founder David Coverdale.

They enjoyed a top 10 hit with the album Saints An' Sinners, which inlcluded the single Here I Go Again.

The band headlined the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donnington in 1983.

Galley said a final farewell to his Trapeze co-star Glenn Hughes, who used to play with Deep Purple, a week ago.

Mr Hughes said: "He was my oldest, closest friend, bandmate and brother."

Moody Blues star Justin Hayward, with whom Mel played in The Blue Jays, said: "Mel's quiet, laconic humour and infectious smile brought real warmth into my life.

"His contribution as a musician and friend was immeasurable.

"Our times together are magical memories for me.

"Some people possess the quality of true timelessness, and Mel is one of the few who the years never seemed to change."

Bass player John Lodge, also of the Moody Blues and Blue Jays, said: "From our first recording sessions together, his enthusiasm and his passion shone through, and it was a true pleasure to be part of his life.

"His songwriting and his melodious rock guitar playing will be his legacy. Mel, your music lives on."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3rnNJ_MCA

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2237488/Whitesnake-guit arist-Mel-Galley-dies-of-cancer.html

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/07/03/modest-rocker-mel-galley-remembered/

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsite mID=100131

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsite mID=90383

http://www.myspace.com/melgalley

http://www.myspace.com/trapezetheband

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Galley

Mel's appearances:

1970 Medusa Trapeze Guitar, Vocals
1970 Trapeze [1970] Trapeze Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Group Member
1972 You Are the Music..We're Just the Band Trapeze Guitar, Group Member
1974 Final Swing Trapeze Guitar
1974 Hot Wire Trapeze Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Performer
1975 Trapeze [1975] Trapeze Guitar
1977 Play Me Out Glenn Hughes Guitar
1977 Songwriter Justin Hayward Guitar
1978 Hold On/Running Trapeze Guitar
1980 Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos Trapeze Guitar, Vocals, Producer
1982 Saints & Sinners Whitesnake Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
1983 Octopuss Cozy Powell Guitar
1984 Slide It In Whitesnake Guitar, Vocals
1985 Phenomena Phenomena Guitar, Vocals (bckgr)
1986 Way Back to the Bone Trapeze Guitar
1987 Phenomena 2 Dream Runner Phenomena Guitar
1994 Whitesnake's Greatest Hits Whitesnake Guitar, Vocals
1996 High Flyers: The Best of Trapeze Trapeze Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Vocals
1997 Very Best of Cozy Powell Cozy Powell Guitar
1998 Hold On Trapeze Guitar, Vocals
1998 Projext X (1985-1996): Dream Runner Phenomena 2 Guitar
1998 Universe of Geoffrey Brown Captain Sensible Guitar
1998 Way Back to the Bone - Live Trapeze Guitar
1998 Welcome to the Real World--Live 1992 Trapeze Guitar
2001 Dead Armadillos Trapeze Guitar, Vocals, Producer
2003 Live at the Boat Club 1975 Trapeze Guitar, Vocals, Liner Notes, Group Member
2003 On the Highwire Trapeze Guitar, Group Member
2003 Silver Anniversary Collection Whitesnake Guitar
2004 Domination [UK Bonus Tracks] Morifade Lyricist
2005 Best of Hard Rock, Vol. 1: Aerosmith/Guns and Roses Various Artists Vocals (bckgr)
2005 Chronicles Whitesnake Guitar, Vocals, Group Member
2005 Rock Breakout Years: 1987 Whitesnake Vocals (bckgr)
2007 Saints & Sinners [Bonus Tracks] Whitesnake Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
2007 This Time Around Glenn Hughes Guitar, Vocals