Rory Gallagher

If ever there was a “musician’s musician” then that accolade surely belongs to Rory Gallagher. Renowned for his blistering live performances and highly respected for his dedication to his craft, he died in 1995, aged just 47, yet his reputation has continued to flourish in the years since. Indeed, some of rock’s most seminal figures, from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, Queen’s Brian May to The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, have cited him as an influence. Clapton credited Rory with “getting me back into the blues”, The Rolling Stones tried to get him to replace Mick Taylor, while May has unequivocally stated: “I owe Rory Gallagher my sound.” Having completed a musical apprenticeship in Irish showbands, Gallagher formed Taste a blues rock and R&B power trio, in 1966. The trio released the studio albums Taste and On The Boards and their prowess as a stellar live act can be heard on Taste Live At the Isle Of Wight. After going solo in 1971, Rory went on to release 11 studio and 3 live albums. His legend is still as strong today as when he passed with new releases such as 2019's BLUES reaching the UK Top 20 charts. Rory is commemorated throughout Ireland and the wider world. A bronze statue stands in his birth town, a city square – Rory Gallagher Place – in Cork. There’s a mounted guitar in and street named in Dublin and a Rue Rory Gallagher in Paris. Rory Gallagher will cast a long shadow across the global stage for many years yet to come.