Mel Galley
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.
Also recorded as Melville John Galley
Mel Galley
Andrew King · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Born
- 1948. · Cannock.
- Died
- 2008. · Heath Hayes and Wimblebury.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom.
- Occupation
- guitarist and composer.
- Fields
- hard rock.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
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.
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Note VALÉORINE
Mel Galley (1948–2008) was a composer and guitarist, of British nationality. The composer was born in Cannock and died in Heath Hayes and Wimblebury. Mel Galley was a member of Phenomena.
The work spans hard rock. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q555917 · wikipedia · Mel Galley
In this article
Biography
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."I have been very lucky. I have seen some great bands, and played with many great musicians. And I have enjoyed some tremendous experiences. I am thankful that I can say a proper goodbye to all the friends I have made, who are now rallying round me". Galley died on 1 July the same year at the age of 60.
With Finders Keepers
With Finders Keepers
"Sadie, The Cleaning Lady" (single) (1968)
With Trapeze
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
With Glenn Hughes
Play Me Out (1977)
With Whitesnake
With Whitesnake
Saints & Sinners (backing vocals only) (1982) Slide It In (1984) Live in 1984: Back to the Bone (2014)
With Phenomena
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
With Cozy Powell
Octopuss (1983)
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Cannock.
Birth place
Heath Hayes and Wimblebury.
Death place
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
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References
Citations
References
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reference work
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Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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