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Rory Gallagher
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Rory Gallagher (born Liam Rory Gallagher, 2nd March, 1948– died 14th June, 1995) was an Irish blues/rock guitarist. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, he grew up in Cork City in the south of the country. He is best known for his solo albums, and for his tenure in the band Taste during the late 60s. A multi-instrumentalist who gained a reputation as a gifted and charismatic live performer, Rory Gallagher's albums have sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide.
agher's first bands were showbands which played the popular hits of the day.
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Encyclopedia
Rory Gallagher (born Liam Rory Gallagher, 2nd March, 1948– died 14th June, 1995) was an Irish blues/rock guitarist. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, he grew up in Cork City in the south of the country. He is best known for his solo albums, and for his tenure in the band Taste during the late 60s. A multi-instrumentalist who gained a reputation as a gifted and charismatic live performer, Rory Gallagher's albums have sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide.
Career
Gallagher's first bands were showbands which played the popular hits of the day. In 1965 he turned The Impact into an R'n'B group which played gigs in Ireland and Spain. Having completed a musical apprenticeship in the showbands, and influenced by the increasing popularity of beat groups during the early 1960s, Gallagher formed Taste, a blues and R'n'B trio, in 1966. The group initially consisted of Gallagher and two Cork musicians, Norman Damery and Eric Kitteringham, but the line-up which gained fame was formed in 1967, featuring Gallagher on guitar and vocals, John Wilson (drums) and Richard McCracken (bass). Performing extensively in the United Kingdom, the group gained a reputation on the London rock scene. High profile performances included a residency at the Marquee Club, supporting Cream at their Royal Albert Hall farewell concert, and supporting a major-blues supergroup, Blind Faith, on a US tour. Managed by Eddie Kennedy, the trio released the albums Taste and On The Boards, and made two live recordings, Live At Montreux and Live At The Isle Of Wight. The latter appeared long after the band's break-up, which occurred shortly after their appearance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival.
After the break-up of Taste, Gallagher toured under his own name, hiring former Deep Joy bass player Gerry McAvoy to play on 'Rory Gallagher', an eponymous debut album. Thus began a twenty year musical relationship between Gallagher and McAvoy; Wilgar Campbell performed on drums.
The 1970s were Gallagher's most prolific period. He produced ten albums in that decade, including two live albums, Live In Europe and Irish Tour '74, which, for many, best captured his bands' raw and naturally dynamic qualities.. In 1972 he released the album Deuce, which is essentially three-piece R&B. Also in that year he was voted Melody Makers Top Musician of the Year, ahead of Eric Clapton. Live In Europe has been commercially successful not only in Ireland, but also internationally.
Gallagher played and recorded what he said was "in me all the time, and not just something I turn on ...". Though he sold over thirty million albums world wide, it was his marathon live performances that won him greatest acclaim. His passion and skill for the blues is documented in the 1974 film Irish Tour '74, directed by Tony Palmer.
The line-up which included Rod De'Ath on drums and Lou Martin on keyboards, performed together between 1973 and 1978. Other release highlights from that period include Against the Grain, the jazz-tinged Calling Card album (assisted in production by Roger Glover (bassist with Deep Purple) and the hard blues-rock albums Photo Finish and Top Priority. Gerry McAvoy has stated that the Gallagher band performed several TV and radio shows across Europe, including Beat Club in Bremen and Old Grey Whistle Test. Along with Little Feat and Roger McGuinn, Gallgher performed the first Rockpalast live concert at the Grugahalle, Essen, in 1977.
A dedicated follower of blues music, Gallagher played with many of the genre's biggest stars, collaborating with Muddy Waters and Jerry Lee Lewis on their respective London Sessions in the mid 70s. Gallagher was also invited to try out with The Rolling Stones following the resignation of Mick Taylor and with Canned Heat after the departure of The Eagle. He was David Coverdale's second choice (after Jeff Beck) to replace Richie Blackmore in Deep Purple.
In the 1980s he continued recording, albeit at a slower pace, producing Jinx, Defender, and Fresh Evidence. These albums progressed towards a more mature blues style. After Fresh Evidence, he embarked on a successful tour of the United States.
Death
Gallagher's health and his ability to perform were increasingly compromised by excessive use of alcohol, combined with drugs that had been prescribed to alleviate his anxiety about flying. From the late 1980s, he suffered increasingly poor health, yet he continued touring. By the time of his final performance on 10 January 1995 in the Netherlands, he was visibly unwell. A liver transplant became necessary and was nearly successful, but just before being discharged from the hospital, an MRSA infection developed. His health quickly worsened and he died in London on 14 June 1995, leaving no wife or children.
Gallagher's final resting place is in St Oliver's Cemetery, on Model Farm Road just outside Ballincollig near Cork City, Ireland. His headstone is a replica of an award he received in 1972 for International Guitarist of The Year.
Legacy
In 2003, Wheels Within Wheels, a collection of acoustic tracks, was released posthumously by Gallagher's brother Donal Gallagher. Collaborators on this album included Bert Jansch, Martin Carthy, The Dubliners and Lonnie Donegan.
Many modern day musicians, including The Edge from U2, Slash of Velvet Revolver, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard , and Brian May of Queen, cite Gallagher as an inspiration in their formative musical years.
A commemorative annual festival takes place every year at Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland. Musical talents such as Pat Mcmanus, Sinnerboy and Shinkicker thrill the audience with renditions of Rory Gallagher's compositions and tunes.
Guitars and equipment
Gallagher's Stratocaster
Gallagher was always associated with his well-worn sunburst 1961 Stratocaster (Serial Number 64351), which his brother Donal has officially retired. It was reputedly the first in Ireland, and was ordered from Fender by Jim Connolly, a showband member performing with The Irish Showband. Connolly ordered a cherry red Stratocaster through a music shop in Cork. When Fender shipped a sunburst Stratocaster instead, it went on sale as a second-hand instrument, which Gallagher bought for just shy of £100 at Crowley's Music Store on Cork's McCurtain Street. The guitar was extensively modified by Gallagher. The tuning pegs, for a start, are odd (5 Sperzel pegs and one Gotoh), and all of these have been found to be replacements. Secondly, it is thought that the nut has been replaced and interchanged a number of times. Thirdly, the scratchplate was changed during Gallagher's time with Taste. Another change was made regarding the pickups, of which none are original. The final modification was that of the wiring: Gallagher disconnected the bottom tone pot and rewired it so he had just a master tone control along with the master volume control. He also installed a 5-way selector switch in place of the vintage 3-way one. The most notable effect that years of touring have had is the almost complete removal of the guitar's original sunburst finish, partly through being left out in the rain in a ditch for days after being stolen. Other quirks include a 'hump' in the scratch plate which moves the neck pickup closer to the neck on the bass side and a replacement of all of the pickups, though this replacement was due to damage rather than a perception of a tonal inadequacy. Reproductions of the guitar have recently been sold by Fender, albeit with smaller frets and lower action than the original.
Other instruments
Gallagher owned a number of other instruments, including:
Coral Sitar
Purchased for $20.00 in Florida by Donal Gallagher. Used on the song "Philby" in 1979.
Danelectro Silvertone
This guitar was bought for $15 from a pawnshop. It was often used in Gallagher's live set to play "Cradle Rock" and "A Million Miles Away".
Fender Esquire
This guitar dating to 1959 was heavily modified. It started off as a stock Esquire in cream and ended up as a black Telecaster. At one point in between, Gallagher put a Strat pickup in the middle position and added a 5-way selector.
Gibson Les Paul Junior
Seen in the above picture.
Fender Telecaster (1967)
This was very similar to the Esquire after the Esquire had undergone all of its modifications. It can be seen in action on Gallagher's Live at Rockpalast DVD in the song "Bullfrog Blues".
Gretsch Corvette (1963)
Bought in a pawn shop in L.A. for $50 by Donal Gallagher. It soon became one of Rory's favourite guitars.
Acoustic Guitars
Gallagher's preferred acoustic guitar was a Martin D-35. In his later years, he used an Electro-Acoustic Takamine (a prototype model given to him by Takamine while he was touring Japan) that was much easier to amplify in a live context.
Martin Mandolin
This was used most famously in Gallagher's joint effort with Lonnie Donegan, "Goin' To My Hometown".
National Resonator (1932)
Gallagher used this to play blues standards and acoustic sets and often used a heavy steel slide with it.
Other Instruments
Gallagher also played the saxophone, showcased on the song "On The Boards" by Taste, and harmonica, which can be heard on the songs "I'm Not Surprised" and "I Could've Had Religion".
Amplifiers and effects
Gallagher used various makes and models of amplifiers during his career. In general, however, he preferred smaller 'combo' amplifiers to the larger, more powerful 'stacks' popular with rock and hard rock guitarists. To make up for the relative lack of power on stage, he would often link several different combo amps together.
When Gallagher was with Taste, he used a single Vox AC30 with a Dallas Rangemaster treble booster plugged into the 'normal' input. Examples of this sound can be heard on the Taste albums, as well as the album Live in Europe. Brian May, of the band Queen, has admitted in interviews that as a young man, he was inspired to use a similar amplifier and treble booster setup after meeting Gallagher and asking him how he got his sound. Gallagher has also been known to have used Ibanez Tube Screamers and various Boss effects.
In the early to mid 1970s, Gallagher began to use Fender amplifiers, most notably a Bassman and a Twin, both of a 50s vintage. An example of this sound can be heard on the Irish Tour '74 album. He also had a Fender Concert amplifier.
In the mid to late 1970s, when Gallagher was moving towards a hard rock sound, he experimented with Ampeg VT40 and VT22 amps. He also began using Marshall combos. During this period and beyond, Gallagher used different combinations of amps on stage to achieve more power and to blend the tonal characteristics of different amps including Orange amplification.
Recognition
Quotes
Tributes
- On 25 October 1997 a tribute sculpture to Gallagher was unveiled in the newly renamed Rory Gallagher Place (formerly St. Paul's St. Square) in Cork. The sculptor was a childhood friend of Rory, Geraldine Creedon. The two had grown up together in the McCurtain Street area of the city.
- A pub in Cork City at 32 McCurtain Street was named "Gallaghers" in his memory.
- Comic book artist Timothy Truman is also a fan, and GrimJack #4: Legacy has a cover and story line utilizing Gallagher's image.
- There is a Rory Gallagher Exhibition located in Ballyshannon, Ireland, which contains a detailed history of his life and many items of memorabilia.
- There are a number of Rory Gallagher tribute bands, many of whom perform at the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon.
- A theatre in Ballyshannon has been renamed as the Rory Gallagher Theatre.
- There is a Rory Gallagher Corner at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, Dublin.
- A life-size bronze statue in the shape of his Stratocaster has been installed at Rory Gallagher Corner in Dublin's Temple Bar. Some of those who attended the unveiling include The Edge of U2 and the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
- In 2004 the Rory Gallagher Music Library was opened in Cork.
- A street in Ris-Orangis, a town in the Paris suburbs, was renamed Rue Rory Gallagher.
- The French town of Bedoin in Vaucluse at the base of Mont Ventoux has a street named after Rory Gallagher in the old town, "Impasse Rory Gallagher"
- Irish musician Pierce Turner released a tribute song "The Ballad of Rory Gallagher" on his album
The boy to be with.Irish musician John Spillane released a tribute song "A Song For Rory Gallagher" on his album Hey Dreamer.Irish musician Pat McManus (ex-Mamas Boys) released a tribute song "Return of the G Man" on his album "In My Own Time"English rock band The Wave Pictures recorded a song about Gallagher entitled "Live in Europe" on their 2004 album The Airplanes at Brescia.
Discography
Studio Albums
Rory Gallagher - 1971 (BPI: 100,000)Deuce - 1971 (BPI: 100,000)Blueprint - 1973 (BPI: 100,000)Tattoo - 1973 (BPI: 100,000)Against the Grain - 1975 (BPI: 100,000)Calling Card - 1976 (BPI: 60,000)Photo-Finish - 1978 (BPI: 60,000)Top Priority - 1979 (BPI: 60,000)Jinx - 1982 (BPI: 60,000)Defender - 1987 (BPI: 60,000)Fresh Evidence - 1990 (BPI: 60,000)The G-Man Bootleg Series Vol.1 - 1992Let's Go To Work - 2001Meeting With The G-Man - 2003 (Bootleg-Release)
Live Albums
Live In Europe - 1972 (BPI: 100,000)Irish Tour - 1974 (BPI: 100,000; Worldwide sales: +2,000,000)Stage Struck - 1980 (BPI: 60,000)BBC Sessions - 1999
Compilations
The Story So Far - 1974Sinner... and Saint - 1975 (previously from Rory Gallagher and Deuce)Take It Easy Baby - 1976The First And The Best - 1978A Blue Day For The Blues - 1995Last of the Independents - 1995Etched In Blue - 1998 (BPI: 60,000)Wheels Within Wheels - 2003Big Guns: The Very Best Of Rory Gallagher - 2005Live At Montreux - 2006The Essential - 2008
DVDs
Irish Tour 1974 - 2000At Rockpalast - 2004The Complete Rockpalast Collection - 2005Songs & Stories: New York Remembers Rory Gallagher - 2005Live at Cork Opera House - 2006Live In Montreux - 2006Live at Rockpalast (5 Concerts 1976 - 1990) - 2007Featured on "Old Grey Whistle Test - The Best Of..." with the track "Hands off" - 1973
Guest appearances
Cream Farewell Concert - Cream - 1968 - Opening ActThe London Muddy Waters Sessions - Muddy Waters - 1972The Session - Jerry Lee Lewis - 1973Drat That Fratle Rat - Chris Barber - 1974London Revisited - Muddy Waters - 1974Gaodhal's Vision - Joe O'Donnell (electric fiddle player) - 1977Live - Albert King - 1977Tarot Suite - Mike Batt - 1978Puttin' On The Style - Lonnie Donegan - 1978Jammin` With Albert - Albert Collins & The Icebreakers - 1983Box of Frogs - Box of Frogs - 1984Strange Land - Box of Frogs - 1986The Scattering - The Fureys and Davey Arthur - 1989Out of the Air - Davy Spillane Band - 1989Shadow Hunter - Davy Spillane - 1990Words and Music - Phil Coulter - 198930 Years A-Greying - The Dubliners - 1992The Outstanding - Chris Barber and Band - 1993Kindred Spirits - Eamonn McCormack - 2007
See also
External links
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