Vertical Horizon

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Vertical Horizon" by Vinnie Moore from his killer album Double Exposure! This track is a funky, riff-driven banger that kicks off the album with a dose of swing and swagger. In an interview with Vinyl Writer Music, Vinnie shared that he crafted this high-energy song with vocalist Ed Terry in mind, loving the harmony ideas Terry brought to the table. The song’s got a bluesy, toe-tapping vibe with a slide guitar assault that blends Southern rock and prog flair, as noted in a Metal Temple review. Vinnie’s vision for "Vertical Horizon" came alive during the 2020 lockdown when he was jamming to demos and started hearing vocals in his head, sparking the idea to make this his first solo album with singers. That lightbulb moment, as he called it in a MetalTalk chat, turned this track into a standout, with Ed Terry’s vocals adding just the right amount of grit and soul.

Another cool tidbit about "Vertical Horizon" is its role in showcasing Vinnie’s versatility. Geoff Wilbur’s Music Blog describes it as opening with “exceedingly tuneful shredding” that weaves in funky and bluesy elements, proving Vinnie’s not just a prog shredder but a guitarist who can channel classic rock vibes. The song’s instrumental counterpart on the album, titled “Astro Man,” flips the script with a wah-driven, Hendrix-inspired funk groove, showing how Vinnie reimagined these tracks without vocals. In a Guitar Player interview, Vinnie emphasized keeping the groove alive, even sneaking in a faint nod to “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” through his guitar pickups on another track, a vibe that carries into "Vertical Horizon"’s infectious rhythm. Fans on Vinnie Moore’s Official Fan Page have been buzzing about the song’s live potential, with some hoping he’ll bring it to the stage on his next solo tour.

Now, let’s rewind to how Vinnie Moore got his start, because this guy’s journey is as epic as his riffs. Born on April 14, 1964, in New Castle, Delaware, Vinnie’s love for guitar sparked at age 12 when he spotted one in a JCPenney catalog and begged for it as a Christmas gift. As he told Wikipedia, he didn’t touch it much at first, but once he started lessons with local teacher Mary Biddle, he was hooked. A year later, he leveled up with Nick Bucci, a jazz-rock player studying under Pat Martino, who taught him theory and exercises that shaped his chops. By his teens, Vinnie was obsessed, playing clubs and bars around Delaware. His big break came when Shrapnel Records’ Mike Varney discovered his demo through Guitar Player’s Spotlight column, leading to a 1985 Pepsi commercial gig (just his hands and guitar, mind you) and his debut album, Mind’s Eye, in 1986, which sold over 100,000 copies.

Vinnie’s career exploded from there, with stints alongside Alice Cooper on Hey Stoopid, opening for Rush with his solo band on their Roll the Bones tour, and joining British rock legends UFO in 2003, where he’s been shredding ever since. His early influences, from Jeff Beck’s “Blue Wind” to vocal-driven acts like Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, shine through in his genre-spanning style, as he mentioned in that Guitar Player interview. Now 60, Vinnie’s still pushing boundaries, with Double Exposure showing he’s at his peak, blending his shred roots with new vocal experiments.

Want to keep up with Vinnie Moore? Check out his official website for tour dates and news. Follow him on Facebook, where he shares updates, and the Vinnie Moore Official Fan Page, where Zoo Freaks can join over 22,000 fans geeking out over his music. His Instagram is packed with guitar shots and studio snippets, and you can catch his latest thoughts on X. For more UFO vibes, visit their official site. There’s also a dedicated Vinnie Moore Fan Group on Facebook where fans swap stories and celebrate his epic discography. So, crank up "Vertical Horizon," Zoo Freaks, and let Vinnie’s guitar take you to new heights!