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Another one to reinforce our opinion of not just Rory but both the Gallagher brothers. 'My girlfriend and I were backpacking around Europe during the summer of 1983, and although I had listened to Rory a bit, (through attempted brain-washing by my friend Derek), I was more into 'Thin Lizzy' and 'Horselips' in those days, so just had a passing interest in the man. Anyway, late one evening we were walking through Soho and passing the Marquee club when I noticed a poster saying Rory was playing that night and the next in the club. We hung around a bit asking anyone and everyone how we could get tickets,( more to rub Derek's nose in it than any huge desire to see Rory), when a girl next to us said she was waiting to get inside to meet Gerry McAvoy and "why not ask him". "Why not" indeed, so we stood around and chatted for about 15mins, until the stage door opened and (as I was reliably informed) Donal Gallagher appeared and ushered the three of us inside. he gave the bar man a nod and asked him to set us up a drink, and told us to wait beside the stage. I was looking at the line up of amps' and 'Strats' etc' when my girlfriend and Gerrys friend appeared on stage, and proceeded to give a very poor mine of a rock band, lepping about like banshee's and head banging to nothing in particular. Of course the inevitable happened and Donal re-appeared from behind the stage to see this impromptu performance, he stood opposite me laughing and shaking his head, I thought we would get bounced out, but instead he gestured for me and them "two eejits" to follow him. We went to a small room directly behind the stage and there was the great man himself with Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O'Neill. Donal introduced us (though Gerry needed no introduction to his new 'friend') and Rory told us to sit down. I have to admit I was stuck for words and tongue tied when talking to Rory (who as we know was fundamentally shy). But once Gerry heard we where from his part of Belfast the craic started and Donal gave everyone a step by step account of the girls performance. Rory opened up a bit, small talking of places we both knew in Belfast and Ireland, I asked for an autograph and he tore up a packet of Embassy reds and signed the back of it, addressing it to Derek and enjoying the joke. After about 20 mins' we left with a couple of free beers two free tickets for the next nights performance (Donal would not even think of taking the money) and a new found hero to worship. The performance the next night was mind blowing, with such a small club and, it has to be said, very knowledgable crowd. On reflection, it occurs to me that there was not even the hint of an ego present in that small room and the only thing they wanted to do was play music. A quiet lovely man who we are proud to have (ever so briefly) meet.' Well
we were playing a gig in Brest in France in about 1974 and the hall
was ruled over by huge and very agressive bouncers who wouldn't let
anybody stand up which was something that always used to wind us up
in the band, we loved the audience to be able to 'let their hair down'. These
guys however were having none of it and they started laying into the
crowd far too violently, one of them was even punching fans in the
face as they were trying to get forward, that was enough for Rod.
With a throw that a professional cricketer would be proud of he launched
one of his (very heavy) sticks at this gorrilla's head, it smacked
him right on the back of it and Rod did it without missing a beat
so that when the thug turned roung he was drumming away as if butter
wouldn't melt, it must have realy hurt though 'cos Rods drumsticks
were like tree trunks! (He made his point though)' I
don't know how long you have been asking for stories but one memory
that sticks with me is seeing Rory at Southampton Guildhall in 1971
or 72. I first saw Taste at Plumpton in 1969 and became an instant
fan! I
first saw Rory in Hannover, Germany in 1972. I had never heard his
music before but he came highly recommended so I figured I'd check
out the show. The band's flight landing had been held up due to bad
weather, but when they finally took the stage I remember Rory apologizing
for the delay, gesturing a plane's circling motion with his hands
- I thought that was pretty cool since maybe not everybody there would
understand English. And once the show got underway I was hooked! Reading
the stories of other contributors, it seems to me that our recollections
are not just limited to Rory's performances or the personal encounters.
They extend to our own experiences and the adventures we associate
with these events. I will always be grateful to Rory for providing
such great music and enduring memories. [Edited
by steve rose on 08-Jan-04 03:04] THERE
CAME A TIME ON THOSE SUMMER NIGHTS Back
in the 70's I moved to Germany to take up a new job as an engineer.
Living close to Frankfurt we used to go there at the weekends to the
only 'sane' place around, namely the 'Zoom' club Stiftstause. There
I met rory for the first time at a gig of his. As he visited or played
there regularly I got to know him quite well and he often beat my
mates and myself at table soccer even with a five point start (The
B.....d!) Andrew This isn't a story about the man himself as such, just a strange situation that occurred in Cork when I was visiting his memorial about 4 years ago. I decided to take a couple of pictures of the sculpture, but when I was busily composing the picture (ie looking through the viewfinder) I suddenly heard a woman screaming "Rory!!!! Rory!!!!!". I initially I thought that this was someone who was taking the great man's untimely death very badly, as the memorial etc is a mecca for fans, but it turned out to be a woman telling off her very young son for running away from her. It
was good to see that there is such a memorial to him and that there
are bands who help to keep his music alive. Lets here from anybody with 'Rory' Offsprings!! Email
Hi
Barry,
Hi
Barry... I've
Just started Web-searching all the Rory stuff. I've been reading 'Stagestruck'
& have never come across any reference to an old Rory fan club
I was a member of way back in the early eighties. It was called "Deuce"
ran by a smashing young girl called Julie A. Gordon. (Second name
may be different now if married) She operated out of Washington, Tyne
& Wear, I've got a dozen or so issues. (I'd love to have a
look at 'em Tom!) Well, Tyne Tees T.V. ran a show, Can't remember
the name but Rory was guest one night, The show was compered by Billy
Connolly, John Bonham was there to be interviewed only. Dr. Feelgood
with Wilko Johnson & the late Lee Brilleaux were also performing.
Julie got me passes for the show which I still haven't thanked her
for!! I
was standing on the sidewalk outside a club in New York (I'm afraid
to say I can't remember the name of it) I was about three hours too
early for the Rory concert that night but I was determined to take
in all the atmosphere I possibly could, I was busy taking fotos of
the posters outside the venue when a black sedan started to pull out
into the street, the car suddenly veered onto the sidewalk and out
of the front passenger seat came Rory Gallagher! There was
some vibes coming from inside the car like "Hurry up Rory, we've
got to be somewhere" but the man walked straight up to me and
said "I hope you enjoy the concert, I can't stop, I've got a
radio interview" He shook my hand and jumped right back into
the auto which moved on down the street. Man I told every guy that
would listen, and every guy that wouldn't about that. Just
want to tell you a little story of my own. In 1996 I had promoted
the first ever Rory gallagher Tribute concert on the Saturday night,
had a great time and was mightily pleased with myself. On the Sunday
morning I checked my answerphone and received a message. Now
you must remember that I'm just a lad from Reddish and Rory had been
a hero figure to me for 30 years - the
message said "Hello,
my name is Donal Gallagher" Rory's
brother ringing ME! By
the way the concert that night was dynamite!!! On the 29th July 1989 I went to see Rory at ‘Rock the Lough’ The Ballyronan rock festival on the Banks of Loch Neigh, Northern Ireland near Cookstown. 4 bands played on the day including the Rory Gallagher band. We had a beautiful day and really enjoyed the music; the concert was in the middle of the countryside. The only building next to it was the pub. I was in the pub for about 10 minutes when the man himself, Rory walked in with all of the band members. After a few more minutes they were joined by all of the musicians from the smaller bands too. Rory introduced me to all the other band members and we all drank and had a craic together ‘til closing time. I then decided to go and try and find a place to stay, as I had no place booked. So I walked up the avenue from the pub to see if I could find a local B&B which would consist of a loft full of hay! As I was walking up the avenue I could hear a car coming up behind me. It was an automatic Mitsubishi, Donal Gallagher was driving the car and Rory was in the passenger seat. When Rory saw me he opened the window of the car & he said to me “Mick, where are you off to?” I said I was looking for somewhere to put my head down and he said, “Why don’t you come back to our hotel?” which was in Cookstown. It was a new hotel built after the old one had been blown up by the IRA. It was a beautiful hotel; I still have the menu and guest book at home! I drank in the lobby of the hotel with Rory, Donal, and all the other band members from the smaller bands that had played that day. We drank Guinness until 3 in the morning until just Rory, Donal and myself were left. Rory then said to me about 3.30 “We have about 10 or 12 rooms booked for the various bands” so Rory brought me up to a room and said “This is your room, you can stay here tonight at our expense” The room had a big double bed, and a big bathroom with a Jacuzzi! Rory smiled at me and said “Have a nice sleep, see you in the morning” and walked away. When I got up in the morning there was nobody left……. they were all gone….. and I never got the chance to thank him…… This story is to thank Rory for all the memories Signed
Michael O’Gorman. Thurles. Co. Tipperary. RIP I have a Rory Story - Many moons ago, a drunken bunch had no room in the car for me, so I waited on a street in Cork while they dropped off the "really" drunk ones. As I was standing alone, a guy came towards me in a plaid shirt, long hair and shall we say possibly a bit tipsy. I had a little panic, so decided to cut him off at the pass by asking him the time. He asked me if I would be OK standing on my own, a very little girl with very big eyes. I thought to myself "Oh no, not another poet!!!" He explained that I was standing outside his Mum's house. I told him that I had a lift in a few minutes and then the car pulled up and he left - The guys were all yelling at me "What did you say to Rory?" I said "Rory Who" Miss
Myers 1975
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You
can find dozens of biographies and obituaries concerning the late
Rory Gallagher on the Internet. I am, however no biographer. Instead
I’d like to show you the depth of feeling and emotion we have
discovered for this great man on our travels.