Rory Gallagher's fabled career in photos
A look back at the legendary guitarist
Last updated 2nd Mar 2022
The late great Rory Gallagher is widely - and rightfully - considered one of the finest blues rock guitarists of the 20th century. From bursting onto the scene in the late 60s with Taste, to going solo and impressing the likes of Muddy Waters and Jimmy Page, Rory's tragically short career touched millions of fans around the world.
With an unrelenting devotion to his craft and an unrivalled prowess in the live arena (he toured nearly non-stop from 1968-1995), Rory Gallagher has been an inspiration to some of the biggest guitarists on the planet, from Guns N' Roses' Slash to ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, and U2's The Edge.
26 years on from his untimely passing, Planet Rock commemorates Rory Gallagher by taking a trip down memory lane and remembering some of the biggest moments of his career.
You can hear lots of Rory Gallagher's finest work on our Planet Rock Premium station Blues Power. Start your 30 day free trial to listen. Find out more here.
Rory Gallagher's legendary career in photos:
Career beginnings
Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal in 1948 and raised in Cork, Rory Gallagher started playing the guitar at the tender age of nine. After wowing at local shows and winning a cash prize in a talent contest, the young Rory bought his first electric guitar aged 12. The rest, they say, is history.
Then, in 1963 aged 15, Rory bought his iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster for £100 on credit from Crowley's Music Store in Cork. He continued to play this fabled guitar throughout his career and it soon became entrenched in rock and roll folklore, the silky smooth sound of Rory's playing at stark odds with its battered and worn exterior.
1966: Taste is formed
After finely honing his musical technique playing in several Irish showbands, 18-year-old Rory Gallagher formed his own band The Taste - later shortened to just Taste - after being inspired by early 60's beat groups. Originally joined by bassist Eric Kitteringham and drummer Norman Damery, Taste started playing local shows in Cork and got a residency at Belfast's Club Rado in The Maritime Hotel.
Here they played with bands visiting Belfast, with the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Albert Lee and Cream all passing through. So impressed was Eric Clapton with Gallagher's playing, he offered him his Marshall stack (at the time the very latest in technology) to play through. But in a sign of his single-minded dedication to his music, Rory declined, as he couldn't get the sound he wanted from "God's" speakers.
1968: Taste get signed by Polydor
Taste's line-up changed in 1968 when original members, Norman Damery and Eric Kitteringham were replaced by drummer John Wilson and bassist Richard McCracken, both from Belfast. Gallagher, who was 20 at the time, continued to be the band's guitarist and vocalist and the band swiftly moved to London where they were signed by Polydor.
In November 1968, Taste were the opening act alongside Yes for the mighty Cream (at Eric Clapton's insistence) during their farewell tour at London's Royal Albert Hall. Shortly after, Taste embarked on a tour of the US with Blind Faith, bringing their sounds to a wider audience.
1970: Rory Gallagher leaves Taste
After years of touring and building their fanbase, Taste released two studio albums - 'Taste' (1969) and 'On The Boards' (1970), which reached number 18 on the UK Album chart. However, with rising tensions within the band Taste disbanded acrimoniously in 1970, playing their final show together in Belfast on New Year's Eve. Bassist Richie McCracken and drummer John Wilson went on to form the band Stud the following year and Rory Gallagher began to pursue his solo career.
So upset was Gallagher with the dissolution of his band, that he refused to play Taste numbers live afterwards, with the lyrics to 'Bought and Sold' showing his feelings: "All the good's sure gone bitter".
1971: 'Rory Gallagher' is released
Following on the break-up of Taste, Rory Gallagher starting touring under his own name as a solo act. In 1971 he released his self-titled debut album 'Rory Gallagher' which featured anthems including 'Laundromat' and 'Sinner Boy'. The record was created with the help of Belfast musicians drummer Wilgar Campbell and bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy who were both former members of the band Deep Joy. Later that year, Rory Gallagher was voted Melody Maker's International Top Guitarist of the Year, beating Eric Clapton.
1971-1973: Four new albums
Following on from his debut album, the insanely prolific Gallagher went on to release four more albums between 1971 and 1973 including 'Deuce' (1971), 'Live in Europe' (1972), 'Blueprint' (1973) and 'Tattoo' (1973). 'Live In Europe' was his first major commercial success and his first solo Top 10 album. It was also Gallagher's highest charting album ever on the Billboard 200 chart in 1972, reaching number 101. During this period, Gallagher also became a regular visitor on German TV show Beat-Club.
1974: The Irish Tour
Many artists would refrain from playing Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the 1970s, but not Rory Gallagher. Indeed, on the day of Taste's final gig on New Year's Eve 1970, 11 car bombs had gone off across Belfast, with widespread predictions that the 12th car bomb would go off at midnight, which thankfully never came to fruition. The Cork-raised musician insisted on playing at least one Irish tour a year and this dedication won him countless fans. A Belfast newspaper stated: "Rory Gallagher never forgot Northern Ireland, he returned throughout the '70s when few other artists of his calibre dared come near the place."
Recorded at Belfast Ulster Hall, Dublin Carlton Cinema and Cork City Hall, Rory's live performances were immortalised with the 'Irish tour '74' live album. It's regarded by some as one of his best records because it captured the energy of his live shows. The album includes live versions of his biggest songs such as 'Tattoo'd Lady', 'Messin' with the Kid' and 'Hands Off. This tour also lead to the documentary film 'Irish Tour '74' directed by Tony Palmer.
1975-1978: More albums and headlining Macroom Mountain Dew
Between 1975 and 1978, Rory Gallagher and his band produced three more albums, 'Against the Grain' (1975), 'Calling Card' (1976) and 'Photo Finish' (1978). With keyboardist Lou Martin and drummer Rod de'Ath leaving the band in 1978, Gallagher's band became a power trio once more, which included himself, Gerry McAvoy and drummer Terry McKenna.
On 26th June 1977, Rory Gallagher headlined one of his largest shows in front of 20,000 fans at Macroom Mountain Dew festival, which was Ireland's first open air rock festival. Shortly afterwards, the band embarked on a six-month world tour.
1979-1982: 'Top Priority', 'Stage Struck' and 'Jinx'
'Top Priority' was released in 1979 and peaked at Number 56 in the UK. The record featured 'Just Hit Town', 'Bad Penny' and 'Philby', which is supposedly inspired by the Cold-War double agent Kim Philby. He followed this album up with the 1980 live album, 'Stage Struck', which the band recorded whilst on tour.
However, after the album was released, the line-up changed again with McKenna being replaced by Brendan O'Neill and the hiring of keyboardist Bob Andrews. The new Rory Gallagher line-up released 'Jinx' just a few years later in 1982, which included rock songs 'Big Guns', Bourbon' and 'Easy Come, Easy Go'.
1987-1990: Rory Gallagher returns to the studio
After a five-year hiatus from the recording studio, Rory Gallagher released his 10th studio album 'Defender'. The record was also his first with new label Capo and featured the songs 'Continental Op' and 'Road to Hell'. This was followed by Gallagher's last studio album, 'Fresh Evidence', including songs 'Heaven's Gate' and 'Kids Gloves' which are inspired by Gallagher's love of film noir.
1995: Rory Gallagher's death
Rory Gallagher tragically passed away on the 14th June 1995 with the cause of death given as an infection following a liver transplant at King's College Hospital in London. He was just 47 years old.
His final years had seen him prescribed a number of drugs to combat both pain and a fear of flying, which, when combined with alcohol, led to liver failure. But even in ill health Rory continued touring, with his final live performance taking place on 10th January 1995.
Rory Gallagher's legacy
In the years since Rory Gallagher has passed, his legacy has continued to live on. He has been honoured with two statues in Ireland: The first was unveiled in the newly renamed Rory Gallagher Place in Cork in 1997, and was created by local artist Geraldine Creedon. The unique bronze sculpture takes the form of a guitar on one side, while the other features overlapping Rory Gallagher song lyrics.
A life-sized bronze statue of Rory Gallagher (pictured) was unveiled in the town centre of his birthplace, Ballyshannon, in 2010. Standing proudly at 7ft tall, beneath the statue are the opening lyrics from Rory Gallagher's 1979 song 'Follow Me', which read: "I want to plant a star on the sky / One you can find at the end of the night."