BluesRocker
Member
Exactly 30 years ago to this day that Rory Gallagher sadly passed away..A magnificent musician and brilliant guitar player..I was fortunate enough to have seen him in concert over a dozen times over the years..You always got your money's worth with Rory, he would often play for close on 2 and a half hours..There was never ever any bullsh*t with Rory, he would just run out on stage dressed in his trademark checked shirt, jeans and pumps with that battered old strat slung over his shoulder which he would plug into his old amp and away he went taking us all with him. he didn't need any of those gimmicks and effects and had no need for stacks n stacks of amplification, it was just Rory with his axe...Not just a great blues player but a real kick ass rock n roller too..Much admiration for him for sticking to his roots, standing his ground and playing the music he wanted to play..he refused to kowtow to the record labels and certain individuals within the music industry who wanted him to do things their way...Although he was never entirely comfortable in the recording studio, he still made some fantastic albums, but first and foremost he was a live player, he just wanted to play his music in front of a live audience, thats when he was at his happiest..Unfortunately i never got to speak to him but did manage to shake his hand once after a gig in Liverpool, UK..off the stage he was quite a shy guy and very humble too, but on the stage he was a roaring lion..that old saying that 'they broke the mould' certainly applies to Rory..he really was special, a real one off..he never really followed fashions and trends, had his own unique style of guitar playing, very original and he never copied anyone else..i am not gonna sit here and say that he was the greatest guitar player that ever lived coz i do not believe in all those great guitarist lists and whatever, but he will always be my favourite player, and to capture him live in concert was always something real special..i best like to remember him on stage where he had just played some real nice acoustic blues songs and then next he would just let rip with a tremendous raucous rocker on electric..i have half a bottle of Bushmills tucked away somewhere which i will dig out later on whilst listening to a lot of his music...RIP TO THE G-MAN..GOD BLESS YA RORY..
