1948: Rory Gallagher born on 2nd March in Ballyshannon, County Donegal.
1949: Gallagher family move to Derry.
1956: Gallagher family move to Cork. Rory gets his first instrument: a plastic-ukulele.
1957: Rory, age 9, gets an acoustic guitar as a gift from his parents and teaches himself to play.
1958/59: Rory performs in Parish Centres and School Halls around Cork.
1960: Rory, age 12, wins a talent contest in Cork and spends prize money on an electric guitar
1963: Rory buys his 1961 Fender Stratocaster for £100 at Crowley..s Music Center Cork.
1963: Rory joins The Fontana Showband. The line-up is: leader Bernie Tobin on Trombone; his brother Oliver on Bass; Rory on Lead Guitar; John Lehan on Saxophone; Eamon O'Sullivan on Drums; and Declan O'Keefe on Rhythm Guitar
1964: Fontana tour Cork, Kerry and Limerick. Fontana tour Britain. Rory sees The Rolling Stones in concert in London.
1965: Fontana re-named 'The Impact' with new line-up: Michael Lehane on Organ; and Johnny Campbell on drums. The Impact perform 'Slow Down', a Larry Williams R'n'B classic, on RTE's 'Pickin' The Pops'. They rehearsed and were scheduled to perform Buddy Holly's Valley Of Tears. The Impact perform at US airbases in Madrid, Spain. The Impact go to London and split. Rory, Johnny and Oliver go to Germany as a 3-piece band to play Hamburg clubs.
1966: Rory returns to Cork. He forms a trio with Eric Kitteringham on Bass and Norman Damery on Drums. First the trio becomes 'The Taste.., later "Taste".
1967: Taste perform in Hamburg and return to tour Ireland. Taste perform at Sammy Houston's Jazz Club and later become a regular act at Maritime Hotel, a Belfast Rhythm'n'Blues club.
1968: Taste perform in UK and split. New line-up formed with Richard McCracken on Bass and John Wilson on Drums. Taste move permanently to London and sign recording contract with Polydor.
1969: Taste tour US and Canada, as support act to Blind Faith. "Taste", the first album and "On The Boards", the second, is released.
1970: Taste perform at The Isle Of Wight Rock Festival. Taste tour Europe and performing their last show in Belfast on New Years Eve.
1971: Taste split. Rory forms his own band, The Rory Gallagher Band, with Gerry McAvoy on Bass and Wilgar Campbell on Drums. Taste 'Live At The Isle Of Wight' album is released. Rory appears on 'Bring It All Back Home TV programme. 'Rory Gallagher', Rory's debut solo album is released. 'Deuce' album released. Rory tours Europe and USA. At the end of the year Rory joins an all-star session band to record with Muddy Waters on "The London Sessions".
1972: 'Live In Europe' album is released, achieves Gold sales status. Lou Martin on Piano joins The Rory Gallagher Band. Rod De'Ath on Drums replaces Wilgar Campbell. Rory tours Europe and USA. Melody Maker (UK) names Rory as their "Musician Of The Year".
1973: Rory is a guest musician on Jerry Lee Lewis' studio album 'The
Session'. 'Blueprint' album is released. Rory tours USA, Canada and Europe twice. 'Tattoo' album is released.
1974: Rory on Irish Tour with performances in Cork, Dublin and Belfast. Tony Palmer films a documentary of this Irish Tour. Rory is a guest musician on Chris Barber..s "Drat That Fratle Rat" and on Muddy Waters "London Revisited". 'Irish Tour '74' live album is released. Rory tours Europe, USA, Canada and the first time Japan.
1975: Rory records in Rotterdam with "The Rolling Stones" on their Mobile Studio, as their first choice replacement for Mick Taylor. Rory tours Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Rory tours USA and Canada. Rory is invited to perform at Montreaux Jazz Festival. 'Sinner ... And Saint', a compilation album, is released by Polydor. Rory signs recording contract with Chrysalis Records. 'Against The Grain' album is released. Rory tours USA and Europe, concluding the tour in Londons Albert Hall and Dublins Carlton Cinema.
1976: 'Calling Card' album is released. Rory tours Europe, USA and an the Eastern Bloc country Poland.
1977: Rory makes guest appearance live on stage with Albert King at Montreaux Music Festival which later featured on Albert King live album. Rory performs on first Rockpalast Eurovision, broadcast to 50 million viewers. Rory guests on Joe O'Donnell's album 'Gaodhal's Vision'. Rory tours Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zeeland. At the end of the year first trials to a new record "Torch" (later: "Photo Finish") in San Francisco, USA.
1978: Ted McKenna on drums replaces Rod De..Ath and Lou Martin leave the band. Rory is a guest guitarist on Mike Batt's album, "Tarot Suite". Rory is a guest guitarist on Lonnie Donegans album 'Putting On The Style'. Rory tours Europe, USA and Canada. "Photo Finish" album is recorded in Germany and released.
1979: "Top Priority" album released. Rory tours Europe, USA and Canada twice.
1980: Rory tours Europe, USA, Australia and New Zeland. "Stage Struck" album is released.
1981: Brendan O'Neill replaces Ted McKenna on Drums. The new Rory Gallagher Band tours Europe, among others Greece. "Jinx" album is released.
1982: Rory tours Europe, USA and Canada.
1983: Rory plays concerts in USA and Europe. Guest musician on Albert Collins & The Icebreakers "Jammin.. With Albert".
1984: Rory is a guest musician on Box Of Frogs' album 'Box Of Frogs". Rory give individual concerts in UK, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and tours Ireland and USA. Mark Feltham join the band as an occasional session player on harp.
1985: Rory tours Eastern Bloc countries Yugoslavia and Hungaria. Further in Europe, USA and Canada.
1986: Rory is a guest musician on Box Of Frogs' album 'Strangeland.. and give individual concerts in UK, France, Germany, Spain and on the Self Aid Festival Dublin, RDS Stadium.
1987: Rory releases 'Defender' album on his own label, Capo Records and tours Europe.
1988: 'Irish Tour '74' album released on CD. Rory tours Ireland, UK and give two Festival-concerts in Germany.
1989: Rory is a guest artiste on 'The Scattering', an album by The Fureys and Davey Arthur. Rory is a guest on Davy Spillane's album 'Out Of The Air'. Rory is a guest artiste on Phil Coulter's album 'Words And Music'. Individual concerts in Ireland, Germany, Denmark, UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.
1990: "Fresh Evidence" album is released. Rory tours UK and give TV concerts in Germany.
1991: World tour Japan, Australia and USA concluding in New York. This show is the last official gig with Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O..Neill. 'Edged In Blue', a compilation album is relased.
1992: Rory guests on The Dubliners' album '30 Years A-Greying'. New band with Richard Newman on drums, David Levy on bass, Jim Leverton ..boards and Mark Feltham, harp. Individual concerts in France, UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and a Germany/Switzerland tour.
1993: Rory is a guest artist on 'The Outstanding', an album by Chris Barber and Band. Rory performs at The First Cork Jazz Festival and give some concerts around Europe.
1994: Rory is interviewed and featured on 'Rock'n The North' TV programme. Rory and his band perform in front of 50,000 fans at The First Templebar Blues Festival in Dublin. Rory begins a European Tour.
1995: Netherland tour interrupted due to illness. Rory has a liver transplant in April and dies June 14th in London, UK, King..s College Hospital.
1996: Hot Press presents the First Annual Rory Gallagher Rock Musician Award to The Edge from U2.
1997: Cork Corporation renames Paul Street Plaza as Rory Gallagher Place.
1999: Ballyshannon County Council at their November meeting agree to mark Rory's birthplace with a commemorative plaque.
2000: Plaque indicating the birthplace of Rory Gallagher is unveiled in Ballyshannon.
2002: AN Post issues a stamp featuring Rory Gallagher in it's series of 4 stamps celebrating Irish Rock Legends.
2003: 'Wheels Within Wheels' is released, an acoustic album of Rory's songs.
2005: 'Big Guns - The Very Best Of Rory Gallagher is released.
2005: Official Dedication of main theatre at The Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon. Renamed 'Rory Gallagher Theatre' with Donal Gallagher in attendance and local Councillors and Dignatories.
2006: Planning permission is granted for a bronze of Rory's Strat to be placed at Rory Gallagher Corner in Dublin's Temple Bar.
2006: 'Live in Cork' DVD released.
BULLFROG BLUES
Influences
Electric Blues / Classic Rock / Irish Folk Music
Sounds Like
The Best Blues Guitar You've Ever Heard In Your Life.
Rory Gallagher's first bands were showbands which played the popular hits of the day. In 1965 he turned The Impact into an R'n'B group which played gigs in Ireland and Spain. He formed Taste in 1966, but the line-up which became legendary was formed in 1967, featuring his guitar and vocals, the jazz-tinged drumming of John Wilson and intricate bass playing of Richard McCracken. Recordings of the earlier version of Taste are still available and it's interesting to compare Gallagher's rudimentary guitar playing to the virtuosity that became evident fairly soon after in the later Taste. This was the group who released two studio albums, Taste and On the Boards, and made two live recordings, Live at Montreux and Live at the Isle of Wight. The latter appeared a long time after the band broke up at that same Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. A legend of blues music, Gallagher played with many of the genre's biggest stars, including collaboration with Muddy Waters and Jerry Lee Lewis on their respective London Sessions in the mid 70s and Gallagher received invitations to jam with The Rolling Stones following the loss of their lead guitarist Mick Taylor, and Canned Heat after the departure of Harvey Mandel [The Snake].
After the demise of Taste, Gallagher toured under his own name, hiring bass player Gerry McAvoy to play on his first eponymous 'solo' album (a relationship that would last twenty years on the road) and Wilgar Campbell on drums.
The 1970s were Gallagher's most prolific period. He produced ten albums in that decade, including two live albums, Live in Europe and Irish Tour '74 which for many captured best his bands' raw and naturally dynamic qualities.[citation needed]. 1972 saw the debut of the album "Deuce" which is essential 3 piece R&B.
The classic line-up is widely considered to be with Rod De'Ath on drums and Lou Martin ..boards between 1973 and 1978. Other release highlights from that period include Against the Grain and the jazz tinged Calling Card album, assisted in production by Roger Glover (bassist with Deep Purple) and the hard blues-rocking Photo Finish and Top Priority albums with Ted McKenna on drums.
In the 1980s he continued recording, albeit at a slower pace, producing "Jinx", "Defender", and "Fresh Evidence". These albums progressed towards a more mature blues style. After "Fresh Evidence", he embarked on a successful tour of the United States, introducing his music to a new generation of listeners.
In 2003 Wheels Within Wheels a collection of acoustic tracks was released posthumously by Gallagher's brother Donal Gallagher. Collaborators on this album included Bert Jansch, Martin Carthy, The Dubliners and Lonnie Donegan.
He played and recorded what he said was "in me all the time, and not just something I turn on ...". Though he sold over thirty million albums world wide it was his marathon live performances that won him greatest acclaim. His passion and skill for the blues is well documented in the 1974 film Irish Tour '74 directed by Tony Palmer.
In 1972 he was voted Melody Maker's Top Musician of the Year, dethroning Eric Clapton. His album Live in Europe has been a big selling album not only in Ireland but also internationally. Generally regarded as one of the most influential guitarists ever, many of today's top musicians, including The Edge from U2, Slash of Guns N' Roses fame, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, and Brian May of Queen cite Gallagher as an inspiration in their formative musical years. It is also well documented that the Rolling Stones auditioned Gallagher among a number of other guitarists for the band in the 1970s.
While residing primarily in London during his professional career, Gallagher lived for a time in Belgium.
Gallagher's health and his ability to perform were increasingly compromised by excessive use of alcohol combined with drugs that had been prescribed to alleviate his anxiety of flying. From the late 1980s, he suffered increasingly poor health yet he continued touring. By the time of his final performance on 10 January 1995 in the Netherlands, he was visibly unwell. A liver transplant became necessary and was nearly successful, but just before being discharged from the hospital, a MRSA developed. He quickly worsened and died in London on 14 June 1995. Gallagher never married and had no children.
Rory Gallagher [The G Man]'s Friend Space (Randomized)
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Powerpopaholic says "...so full of sugar I got cavities just listening to it" Absolute Powerpop says "...as soon as you hear the chorus of "All I Need", you know you're in for a ride full of pop goodness"
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Hi everybody, just here to say our new RORY GALLAGHER HAWK BOOSTER is ready for shipping. Have a listen if you get a chance, All the best, Stevie Flynn.
We've just added four new tracks to myspace completed at the Weekend, with Phil Innes at the controls. These are the first recordings to feature Alan Ibbotson on drums, and we are all really happy with the results. It's a shame that we've not been able to get back into the studio before this but we've been able to build up new material in the meantime.
The timing was perfect as we all went down with Swine Flu after the session, with Guy just able to complete the last vocals before admitting defeat!.
"Judgement Day" is a totally retro song with a very 70's (complete with cowbell) Bad Company-Free - AC/DC vibe with a storming solo from Guy at the end.
"I Know" - Very fast with a great hook - very unlike anything we've done before, a sort of punk/blues take on things - great vocal and lyrics. The opening section is from a German radio broadcast being picked up from Guy's heavily overdriven Peavey 5150 valve amp - can anyone translate? :)
"Chains" takes us back to our blues roots, with Guy sounding rather like John Lee Hooker in the opening section, before the song hurtles into a very Led Zeppelin style meltdown, complete with some suitably wailing guitar.
"Salvation" is a slowie with added Hammond! - some nice guitar licks too! - almost prog rock at the opening section (reminds me of Andy Latimer and Camel), before building around a very moody bluesy set of chord changes into some very epic choruses. Phil added the keyboard parts - and we got a bit carried away - sounded almost like "Highway Star" for a while - But Phil very diplomatically as ever got us back on track. We argued for weeks about this song prior to the recording - as to whether or not it made the grade - I'm glad we kept it!
Online Now!
THANKS FOR ADD ... MY NEW FRIEND
GOOD MUSIC
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