If there was a Mount Rushmore of guitarists, then Rory Gallagher would unquestionably be among the figures etched into stone. §his music has the enduring power and integrity of the ages. One of the greatest players of all time, his live performances were nothing short of magical, and his guitar-slinging was always magnificent, inspiring the likes of Guns ’N’ Roses’ Slash, The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, Iron Maiden’s Janick Gers and of course U2’s The Edge.
Rory’s impact on music, particularly the blues and rock scene, is immeasurable. Indeed, if ever there was a person who truly embodied the term “guitar hero”, it was he. But he was also a great songwriter, whose work has often been underestimated. On the 20th Anniversary of his death, we asked a number of leading Irish music lights about the great man and his legacy; Gallagher biographer Marcus Connaughton, singer/songwriter Gráinne Duffy, Clannad and Mike and the Mechanics guitarist Anthony Drennan, and 2fm’s Dave Fanning.
Marcus Connaughton:
“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Rory perform. It was at National Boxing Stadium in Dublin, in 1968. He was with Taste and anybody that was in the audience that night was blown away, not just by his playing, but presence onstage, was just remarkable. Rory was and is the foundation stone which an awful of guitarists themselves right to this very day. If any lad picks up a guitar and is in a band, no matter the genre – whether it’s metal or traditional music – they hold him as one of their heroes.
"The great thing about Rory was that when he met young fans, he had the time to stop and talk to them and encourage them. He said to me once that he thought of himself as a troubadour or a vaudevillian and he really gave completely of himself when he went out onstage. Anybody who doesn’t understand or ‘get’ Rory Gallagher should sit down and watch Irish Tour ‘74. It’s a really eloquent movie by Tony Palmer of a wonderful guitar player in his prime. By the end of it you’ll surely be converted.”
Gráinne Duffy:
“Rory’s been a huge influence on my career. You can’t be Irish and play guitar – and not have been hugely influenced by him. He was one of the first people I listened to whenever I started playing. Especially his self-titled solo record, which is just amazing. The album Live In Europe also taught me how to perform and how to put your energy and soul into your music. Sadly, I never got to see him play in person as I’m too young, which is a real shame.
We tour internationally all the time and we always meet people who love his music. He’s adored across the world. I think Rory’s extraordinary passion for what he did was what got people most excited. There’s a real sincerity in his songs and an honesty too, which people relate to. I think music lovers will always go back and discover his work over the years ahead because he put his heart and soul into his songs and they will never age.”
Anto Drennan:
“I met Rory Gallagher twice. The first time was when I was recording with Davy Spillane and Rory had been invited to play a couple of songs. I was very excited and a bit nervous at the prospect of meeting him. We were in the middle of recording a tune that he wasn’t going to play on when he came in. The first thing I noticed was that he looked more nervous than we were. He liked what he heard and wanted to jump in immediately and play something on it. He picked out his Coral sitar guitar and plugged into my little amp and it was magic. He was great fun, absolutely fearless on bottleneck and I couldn’t actually believe I was playing the blues with my idol.
“The second time I met him was when I was performing with Clannad in the Albert Hall – and it was a wonderful gig. After an encore we came up the steps into a crowded room and in the middle of the throng a hand grabbed my arm and a voice said ‘What about the blues in E, Anto? I was waiting for you to call me up'. It was Rory, he was in good form and I realised that he was joking (I think). He loved the gig and was very complimentary, but I’ve often thought about how amazing it would have been to have called him up for a blues in E.
"Rory would have taken the roof right off of the Albert Hall!”
Dave Fanning:
“This is going to sound really corny, but he was one of the gentlest men I’ve ever met. You almost felt embarrassed interviewing him because it was like an intrusion into his life. He came alive onstage. He was authentic, he was The Man and he really wasn’t up for any of the rock ‘n’ roll shenanigans that most people get up to – and neither was he anything other than a guy who simply wanted to play.
“It really annoys me when people say he’s a ‘blues guy’, because he was a rock guy and wrote fantastic rock songs. To be honest though, in many ways, he was too nice a guy and the end of his life was sad. He was a touring musician, he never had a wife or kids. He paid the price for being on the road and I think that should be mentioned.
"But... he was also fucking great and I love him. Here’s to Rory Gallagher.”