Rory Gallagher's guitars and amps are up for auction

Rory Gallagher's guitars, including his iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster, and amps will be auctioned by Bonhams in London on October 17th. Fingers crossed they don't end up in some fat cat's collection, never to be seen by the general public again. His brother Dónal Gallagher explains why he is letting go:

After nearly thirty years since my brother Rory’s passing, I now believe it’s time for other people to cherish Rory’s ‘orphaned’ 1961 Fender Stratocaster and the rest of his incredible instrument collection.

Since 1995, I have always felt that there was a mission to be fulfilled to cement Rory’s legacy and further widen the knowledge of his music. So, following much deliberation and reviewing of all options, in what is one of the most difficult and sensitive decisions to reach, I have decided to facilitate the release of his instruments for sale, so that these emblems of his legacy can be enjoyed by others.

Rory Gallagher: stream "Moonchild" from new album "All Around Man – Live In London"

Moonchild, a track from the A new Rory Gallagher live album All Around Man – Live In London has hit the streaming services. The album will be released as a 2CD and 3LP set on July 7th. The tracks were recorded during a two-night at Town and Country Club in London on December 28 and 29, 1990, when he was promoting his Fresh Evidence album.

The 23 tracks have been mixed from the recently found multi-tracks and mastered at Abbey Road. The cover is a painting by Irish graffiti artist Vincent Zara.

Rory Gallagher: stream "Heaven's Gate" from new album "All Around Man – Live In London"

Heaven's Gate, a track from the A new Rory Gallagher live album All Around Man – Live In London has hit the streaming services. The album will be released as a 2CD and 3LP set on July 7th. The tracks were recorded during a two-night at Town and Country Club in London on December 28 and 29, 1990, when he was promoting his Fresh Evidence album.

The 23 tracks have been mixed from the recently found multi-tracks and mastered at Abbey Road. The cover is a painting by Irish graffiti artist Vincent Zara.

Rory Gallagher: new album "All Around Man – Live In London" July 7th; stream "Continental Op"

A new Rory Gallagher live album, All Around Man – Live In London, will be released as a 2CD and 3LP set on July 7th. The opening track, a high energy version of Continental Op, is available on the streaming services.

The tracks were recorded during a two-night at Town and Country Club in London on December 28 and 29, 1990, when he was promoting his Fresh Evidence album. The 23 tracks have been mixed from the recently found multi-tracks and mastered at Abbey Road. The cover is a painting by Irish graffiti artist Vincent Zara.

» rorygallagher.com

Cover Me: Nadine

Watch Rory Gallagher tackle the Iggy Pop classic Nadine. Recorded live at the Rockpalast Open Air Festival 1982 @ Loreley, St. Goarshausen, Germany - August 22, 1982.

» rorygallagher.com
» chuckberry.com

Rory Gallagher: "Live In San Diego '74" for Record Store Day

An unreleased Rory Gallagher show broadcasted on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show will be released on Record Store Day (April 23). Live In San Diego '74 is a 2LP on black vinyl. 4000 copies worldwide. Taking into account that it is recorded in 1974 - a peak year in his career as a live performer - this will sell out quickly.

Mean Old Fireman And The Cruel Engineers: Dumpster Fire

photo: Catherine Photography

Boston band blues band Mean Old Fireman And The Cruel Engineers sound pretty cheerful and funky on their second album Dumpster Fire, but upon closer inspection it becomes clear that main man, singer and slide guitarist Ned Bollé has had his share of bad days. He is a Berkelee graduate who became a paramedic driving an ambulance and a firefighter, two professions that had him dealing with quite a few harrowing experiences. He put it to good use for the originals Tour Three (about night shifts) and Got No Spoons (about saving a girl from overdosing).

He and his band are not purists, and breathe new life into classics like >Barefootin' and Rocket 88. Ever wondered what the Blues Brothers could have done with the Rory Gallagher song Too Much Alcohol? Of course they would have added a sax solo and Martin Philips rose to the challenge. Dumpster Fire celebrates the blues as a means to deal with problems of all sizes.

Cover Me: Cradle Rock

Watch Belfast based rock trio Dea Matrona tackle the Rory Gallagher classic Cradle Rock. This was captured during a live stream on July 16th. They have shit load of great classic rock covers and original material on their YouTube channel.

Live dates:

• 08/27 Reading, UK @ Reading Festival 2021
• 08/28 Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival 2021
• 08/31 London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
• 12/10 Derry, UK @ Sandino's Club
• 12/12 Dundalk, Ireland @ The Spirit Store
• 12/18 Luimneach, Ireland @ Dolans Warehouse

» deamatrona.co.uk

Rory Gallagher: "Cleveland Calling Pt. 2 " LP for Record Store Day

Another part of the previously unreleased Rory Gallagher radio appearance will be released for Record Store Day on July 17.

We're pleased to announce the release of ‘Cleveland Calling PT. 2’ LP as part of Record Store Day 2021 on July 17th . This unreleased radio session recovered from the depths of the Rory Gallagher archive features Rory and his band playing 7 songs live in an empty Cleveland Agora venue for WNCR Radio. This recording took place a month after the 'Cleveland Calling' acoustic recording by the same station.

SIDE A:
1. Messin' With The Kid 2. Used To Be 3. Should've Learnt My Lesson

SIDE B:
1. Laundromat 2. Pistol Slapper Blues 3. Banker's Blues 4. In Your Town

Fans have already pointed out that one of the tracks of said performance - I Could've Had Religion - was included on the Blues compilation, but is missing from this set and its predecessor Cleveland Calling that came out last year for Record Store Day.

B&W cover. 3000 copies.

» rorygallagher.com

Rory Gallagher: "Cleveland Calling" LP for Record Store Day

An unreleased Rory Gallagher radio appearance will be released for Record Store Day (June 20) October 24. The recordings was recently found on a small 7” reel.

We're pleased to announce the ‘Cleveland Calling’ LP. This intimate 8 song acoustic session and interview, recorded at WNCR in Cleveland in 1972, is released for the first time specially for Record Store Day.

SIDE A:
1. Pistol Slapper Blues 2. Don't Know Where I'm Going 3. Gypsy Woman 4. Out Of My Mind

SIDE B:
1. The Cuckoo 2. Bankers Blues 3. Should've Learned My Lesson 4. Blow Wind Blow

B&W cover. 3000 copies.

» rorygallagher.com

Rory Gallagher: stream "Souped-Up Ford" from "Check Shirt Wizard - Live"

Stream Souped-Up Ford, a track from the new Rory Gallageher live album Check Shirt Wizard - Live. The fast-paced blues rocker was recorded at the Brighton Dome on January 21st, 1977. The album will be released on March 6th as a 2CD and 3LP set.

» rorygallagher.com

Rory Gallagher: new album "Check Shirt Wizard - Live In ‘77" March 6th

A new Rory Gallageher live album, Check Shirt Wizard - Live, will be released as a 2CD and 3LP set on March 6th. The tracks were recorded during his UK tour, promoting his 'Calling Card album, plus a wealth of material from his back catalog. The Irish blues guitarist thrived on stage. His best-selling albums were all recorded on the road:

This 20-song, previously unreleased, set is culled from four shows (London, Brighton, Sheffield and Newcastle) during an early 1977 tour across the UK in support of Rory’s then latest album 'Calling Card'. Featuring fantastic live versions of tracks from that album as well as songs from the 1975 'Against The Grain' album and other live favourites.

Alex Lifeson on Rory Gallagher

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson reminisces about touring with Rory Gallagher in 1974 en 1982, lifting one of his tricks, the 1961 Strat and more.

» rorygallagher.com

Rory Gallagher: "The French Connection" LP for Record Store Day

An unreleased Rory Gallagher show for French radio will be released on Record Store Day. Taking into account that it is recorded in 1974 - a peak year in his career as a live performer - this will sell out quickly.

We’re proud to announce the exclusive vinyl release of Rory Gallagher - ‘The French Connection’ LP. This is an unreleased live concert recorded in Paris 1974 for RTL French Radio and it will be released exclusively as part of Record Store Day UK (21st April 2018)

Rory Gallagher: 40th Anniversary re-issues

Rory Gallagher during the Deuce recording sessions

The first six Rory Gallagher albums are been re-issued. Daniel Gallagher, Rory’s nephew, is the producer. They have used the original original 1/4" tapes.

Sony Music in association with Capo Records and Legacy are proud to re-issue the first six original Rory Gallagher albums in chronological release date order – “Rory Gallagher” (1971), “Deuce” (1971), “Live In Europe!” (1972), “Blueprint” (1973), “Tattoo” (1973) and “Irish Tour ’74” (1974). These seminal re-issued albums celebrate 40 years since the start of Rory’s solo career.

The Irish blues guitar maestro died of complications of a live transplant in 1995. Four of the six albums contain bonus tracks. Each album includes exclusive sleeve notes written by his brother (and former tour manager) Donal Gallagher, photographer Mick Rock, and British journalist Roy Hollingworth. The albums will be available on CD, digital download and vinyl.

» rorygallagher.com

Rory Gallagher: new album "Notes From San Francisco"

An recently unearthed Rory Gallagher studio album bundled with an live disc finally sees the light of day. Gallagher recorded the studio tracks for Notes From San Francisco in November 1977 in San Francisco, but wasn't happy with the results and the recordings were shelved.

In November 1977, after completing a 6 month world tour, Rory Gallagher and his band flew straight from their last show in Japan to San Francisco to begin working on a new album, with famed American producer Elliot Mazer (Neil Young - 'Harvest', Janis Joplin - 'Cheap Thrills', The Band - 'The Last Waltz'). Mazer recalls that the sessions grew "tense", as Gallagher wasn't happy with the mixing process, describing them as "too complicated", and by the end of January 1978 he shelved the whole record and broke up his band of the past 5 years.

Notes From San Francisco is a 2CD. Disc 1 contains the studio tracks and three bonus tracks. Disc 2 a live album taken from four nights at The Old Waldorf, San Francisco December 1979, with Gerry McAvoy on bass and Ted McKenna on drums. The album is released by Sony Music in Europe on June 6th & by Eagle Rock om May 17th in North America..

CD1: Rue The Day Persuasion B Girl Mississippi Sheiks Wheels Within Wheels Overnight Bag Cruise On Out Brute Force & Ignorance Fuel To The Fire bonus tracks: Wheels Within Wheels (Alt version) Cut A Dash Out On The Tiles

CD 2: Follow Me Shinkicker Off The Handle Bought And Sold I’m Leavin’ Tattoo’d Lady Do You Read Me Country Mile Shadow Play Bullfrog Blues Sea Cruise

» rorygallagher.com

Randy Bachman: interview in "Modern Guitars Magazine"

Modern Guitars Magazine has a pretty good interview with Randy Bachman. On Rory Gallagher:

I remember doing a gig with Rory Gallagher. He showed up in a golf shirt and nice slacks. Before he went out to play, he grabbed his ripped jeans, his faded flannel shirt and put on old shoes, so he would look like a rock 'n' roll street guy. Gave him more cred.

» modernguitars.com

Cork Airport? Rory Gallagher Airport!

Well, they named the airport in Liverpool after John Lennon, so ...

Ireland has traditionally lauded her favourite sons and daughters, especially those involved in the performing arts.
Rory Gallagher (1947 – 1995) was Ireland’s first true international rock and roll star and was revered not only for his supreme musicianship and talent as an entertainer but also for his integrity as an artist and overwhelming humility as a person. He could bring together people from across religious and political divides in joyous celebration of peace through music and that music is as vibrant and exciting today as it ever was. His career spanned 30 years from the showbands; through Taste, one of the biggest bands in the world in the late 60s and then a successful solo career until his untimely death in 1995. He is still greatly mourned by his millions of fans worldwide.
A national memorial to Rory in Ireland is long overdue. Rory lived for many years in Cork. He bought his trademark Fender Stratocaster guitar in the town in 1963 and played it almost every day until he died. He was known and loved by the local population and it’s a love that is still very evident today. He is still regularly honoured as a favourite son with tributes in the city but there is now a case for a more permanent monument. We feel that there would be no better way to keep his name and spirit alive across the world than by petitioning the relevant authorities to rename the existing Cork International Airport to Cork Rory Gallagher Airport. The airport continues to undergo a huge programme of redevelopment and expansion so a popular name change at this time could only enhance the success of the new facilities.
Airports bring people together. Rory’s talent and humility still does.

Sincerely,

(thanks: Triple-B)