In the 1970s Rory Gallagher was the guitar hero par excellence, producing ten albums including the brilliant Live in Europe and Irish Tour '74 which captured him at his best, live, in his element, the man who could, and in my mind probably did, take Eric Clapton's crown (in 1972 he was voted Melody Maker's Top Musician of the Year literally dethroning Eric Clapton)
While his live albums are the most famous, his debut, released in 1971, is one of the great classic first albums of rock; it's incredibly accomplished and confident, free from guitar heroics, relying instead on laid back blues.
Here's some references for Rory from the cream of rock
"A beautiful man and an amazing guitar player. He was a very sensitive man and a great musician." „
—The Edge (U2)
"In the 70s he built himself a reputation as a live performer of tremendous vitality." ”
“ "He was even headhunted to join The Rolling Stones." „
—Niall Stokes (Editor, Hot Press)
"One of the things that was crucial for me I got from Rory Gallagher, which was the idea of, like, being a guitar player for life and living it." „
Johnny Marr (The Smiths/ The The/ Electronic/ Johnny Marr and the Healers/Modest Mouse)
"Rory's death really upset me. I heard about it just before we went on stage, and it put a damper on the evening. I can't say I knew him that well, but I remember meeting him in our offices once, and we spent an hour talking. He was such a nice guy and a great player." „
—Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
"So these couple of kids come up, who's me and my mate, and say 'How do you get your sound Mr. Gallagher?' and he sits and tells us. So I owe Rory Gallagher my sound." „
—Brian May (Queen)
"Rory's death is a tragic loss of a great musician and a very good friend." „
—Van Morrison
"The man who got me back into the blues."
—Eric Clapton
Image: Buddha
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