Quick - name three great bands/musicians that hail from Ireland....
Let me guess who you came up with:
U2 (even my mother knows this one)
Van Morrison?
The Boomtown Rats?
What about - RORY GALLAGHER?
Rory was an incredible R&B guitar player who at one time "dethroned Eric Clapton" as musician of the year (awarded by UK's Melody Maker Magazine). Several successful guitar players (The Edge, Slash, Johnny Marr, Glenn Tipton and Brian May) give Rory credit for being one of their main influences.
I recently met a very enthusiastic fan of Rory's which prompted this post. If I lived in NYC I would for sure attend the tribute they are having for him next weekend!
Sadly his life ended after a liver-transplant with complications. His brother, Donal, keeps the memories alive. If you've never heard his music...maybe you should give it a listen:)
17 comments:
Another great band from Ireland was Stiff Little Fingers.
Rory is definitely more interesting than Crapton.
Live In Europe is a must-have. Rory sounds like his fingers are going to explode. It's great. He died very young and it's a shame. He had a solid body of work.
As for Irish bands, The Pogues! Love those guys.
Nice to read a little about Rory Gallagher but when I think about Irish musicians the first name that comes into my head is Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy.
The Answer are a good young Irish band who listen a lot to at the moment too.
As for Rory Gallagher though you can't go wrong by checking out the "Big Guns" best of, the BBC 2-disc compilation or as "the mad hatter" said "Live In Europe".
I discovered Rory Gallagher when I saw a doco about Irish musicians. I can't remember what it was called but it had Rory, The Pogues, Stiff Little Fingers, U2, Sinead O'Connor, Van Morisson and others including the wonderful Phil Lynnot.
I was so impressed by Rory. A true musician and so full of life. It makes me wonder what great music he still had in him that we'll never hear. Very sad.
I love that photo of him by the way Barbara. It really captures that wild abandon that he had on stage. I'm copying that one.
anonymous,
Have you heard Wheels Within Wheels? Rory's brother Donal compiled a slew of Rory's acoustic performaces, outtakes, demos, etc. and made an album of it -- which was Rory's intention, but he never lived to see it. It's top notch stuff. Even as he plays those acoustic numbers, his fingers still seem like they're going to explode.
No, I haven't heard it. I love acoustic music so I'll definitely look that up. Thanks mad hatter.
(By the way, that anonymous above is me. I forgot to write my name). :/
It is great to see Rory here. He was fantastic playing that battered Stratocaster straight into an amp. Today's young guitarists could learn a thing from him. He is missed.
I have all his stuff. Love him...very underated.
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