The Guitarists : Rory
Gallagher
Rory Reissued
Broadcast history
Part 1
Sunday
23 December 2012, 21:00
Donal
Gallagher talks about his brother Rory
Sunday
11 March 2012, 23:00
Sunday
19 February 2012
Also available as a podcast
Part 2
Sunday 27 October 2013, 18:00
Donal Gallagher talks to David Randall about the latest
release Kickback City and the later albums
Sunday 10 November 2013, 18:00
(repeat)
Sunday 29 December 2013, 17:00
(repeat)
RORY
GALLAGHER
Rory
Gallagher first came to wider attention with the blues rock
power trio Taste who released two critically acclaimed studio
albums and who appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.
After that
band ran its course, Gallagher recovened with bassist Gerry
McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell and recorded the first of his
solo albums for Polydor in 1971. The early seventies was a
period of great creativity and in spite of relentless touring he
recorded four studio albums in four years. In 1975 he
signed to Chrysalis but like many others he rode the wrath of
punk in the late seventies although still continuing to produce
excellent work.
By the
late eighties and after a five-year recording hiatus (1982-1987), Gallagher had failed to build on his seventies
success and was fighting ill health. Things got worse and
on 14 June 1995 he died in London from complications after a liver
transplant.
Rory
Gallagher remains highly influential as a guitarist (cited by
Johnny Marr, Slash and many others) who blazed a trail for
blues/rock in the seventies and is regarded as one of Ireland's
most significant musicians. His life is celebrated
annually with a festival in May/June and he was commemorated with
the unveiling of a statue in his birthplace of Ballyshannon in
2010.
Rory's
brother Donal was his right-hand man for most of his career,
acting as tour manager and confidant. Since his death he
has been custodian of his brother's memory and has overseen
several important reissues and projects.
January
2012 saw the release of the six Polydor albums originally issued
from 1971-1974. They include Donal's liner notes, bonus
tracks, and a return to the original four-track masters. Future
reissue projects and a film about Rory Gallagher will continue
to keep his brother busy.
See also
Gerry McAvoy
Album review (Polydor
reissues, 2012)
Album review (Chrysalis reissues, 2012)
Album review (Kickback City,
2013)
Official
website
Playlists
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