MOORE, GARY victims of the future 25VB-1047

Irish Guitar Hero: Gary Moore’s ‘Victims Of The Future’ (25VB-1047)

Today’s entry features a pristine promotional copy of a classic from the legendary Irish guitarist. We are examining the 1985 Japanese Promo Sample reissue of Victims Of The Future by Gary Moore, released on the 10 Records label with the catalog number 25VB-1047.

A Heavy Rock Masterclass

While originally released in early 1984, this specific pressing hit the shelves on September 28, 1985, likely released to coincide with a Japanese tour. The album finds Moore bridging the gap between his heavy metal instincts and his blues roots. It features the blistering cover of The Yardbirds’ “Shapes Of Things” and the cold war anthem title track. However, it is perhaps best known for the original version of “Empty Rooms,” a ballad that showcases Moore’s emotive playing. The backing band is a powerhouse, featuring drummers Ian Paice (Deep Purple) and Bobby Chouinard, alongside bassist Bob Daisley and keyboardist Neil Carter.

Rare Promo Details

This copy is a highly collectible Promo Sample, distinguished by a numbered “Sample” sticker on the back cover. The labels explicitly state the release date “9/28” and bear the Japanese characters for “Mihon (Not For Sale).”

Packaging and Obi

The packaging is typical of high-quality Japanese releases from Toshiba EMI. It includes a Black and Red Obi strip that lists the track titles in Japanese and promotes a Gary Moore Japan tour scheduled for October. The back of the Obi features a photo discography of his Japanese releases. Inside, there is a gatefold insert with liner notes by Kim Yamakado (dated February 1984) and English lyrics. The runout matrices (DIX-2) confirm the source of the master.