- Music
- 22 Jul 20
Bronagh Gallagher on Rory Gallagher: "It was an escape from the sadness and the war outside"
Bronagh Gallagher shares her reflections on Rory Gallagher's legacy, as part of our special 25th anniversary tribute to the legendary Irish guitarist.
Bronagh Gallagher is a renowned singer, songwriter and actress from Derry – appearing in classics like The Commitments and Pulp Fiction, and recently receiving an IFTA nomination for 'Actress In A Lead Role - Film' for A Bump Along The Way.
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My cousins in Derry played in local bands – one brilliant trad/rock group called Thundering Down, and one called King Rat, who supported Rory Gallagher once. They loved Rory and would go see him in The Embassy Ballroom. So as a very small kid, I’d heard them talking about him. There was such excitement around those conversations. I loved that we had the same name.
Hearing music by Irish artists in Derry in the ‘70s and ‘80s always evoked a sense of a coming freedom. In my mind, it was an escape from the sadness and the war outside. Rory’s voice always sounded so unique and soulful. I didn’t know what an extraordinary guitarist and writer he was, but as I got older, I realised he was as heavyweight as it gets.
I love Rory for his talent but there was more to it than that. The blues is the universal voice of pain and passion. I’m only learning – but to take it from the masters of the blues and make it your own, and ROCK that hard - that was Rory. He was the very pure essence and spirit of the blues.
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The special Rory Gallagher 25th Anniversary Issue of Hot Press is available to order below – featuring reflections on Rory's legacy from President Michael D. Higgins, Imelda May, Johnny Marr, Mumford & Sons, Mick Fleetwood, Steve Van Zandt, Slash and many more.
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