- Music
- 14 Jun 16
Rory Gallagher passed away on this day 21 years ago. Here we take a look through our archives to remember his life and work as well as his most iconic tracks.
Whether you argue his home to be Donegal or to be Cork there is one thing that can not be argued. That is that Rory Gallagher was one of the great guitarists ever to pick up the instrument and certainly one of the best musicians this little island has ever produced. Born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal in 1948, his family moved to Cork while he was still an infant. He began playing acoustic guitar at age 9 and by the time he was 12, he had purchased that instantly recognisable Fender Stratocaster. Here we take a look back through the archives to remember the artist from the cover of our first ever issue.
First up we have an interview by our editor Niall Stokes from June 1978 with Gallagher ahead of his appearance at the Macroom festival in Cork. This was Ireland's first ever open air festival in Cork and Gallagher was one of the headliners.
"When Rory Gallagher hits the stage at this year's Macroom festival gig, it'll be his last appearance in Ireland, a year that has seen him forgo some of the spotlight he's enjoyed over the previous ten years in Britain and Ireland in particular"
Read in full here.
In this short interview Rory's brother Donal tells the story of the day he first bought his legendary Strat. This piece was originally published in 2013 in light of the closure of Crowley's Music Centre in Cork. Crowley's was an institution in its own right in the city and it reopened in 2014. Donal vividly recalls his brother's excitement at getting his hands on the instrument.
Read in full here.
Here Dermot Stokes took a look at the wide range of influences Gallagher had and the artist's that inspired him. Taken from the 1995 Hot Press Rory Gallagher Tribute Issue.
Read in full here.
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Another one from the 1995 tribute issue. Our editor Niall Stokes took a very personal reflection on the legendary guitarist and his friend shortly after his death.
Read in full here.
As well as this look back through the archive here's our 10 most highly recommended Rory Gallagher tracks.
1. 'Bad Penny', Top Priority, 1979
2. 'Million Miles Away', Tattoo, 1973
3. 'Bullfrog Blues', Live In Europe, 1972
4. 'Moonchild', Calling Card, 1976
5. 'Tattoo'd Lady', Tattoo, 1973
6. 'Loanshark Blues', Defender, 1987
7. 'Heaven's Gate', Fresh Evidence, 1990
8. 'Shadow Play', Photo-Finish, 1978
9. 'Going To My Hometown', Live In Europe, 1972
10. 'I Fall Apart', Rory Gallagher, 1971