The late Rory Gallagher in Germany 1972

[JohnnyRingo]

Last edited Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:09 AM - Edit history (5)

With so much dire news in the headlines this week, maybe it's good to kick back and enjoy seven minutes of refreshment.

I like this because it's one of the best video recordings of that era. Everyone gets their solo in this rendition of his signature song "Messing With The Kid", but when it's Rory's turn you'll see how that Fender Telecaster got so worn out:

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Gallagher's birthday is in a couple weeks, but sadly he didn't live to see his 48th. After complications to a liver transplant he died in 1995, so enjoy this day as if it's a gift that you'd never think of returning.

On edit:
I see that's actually a 1961 Stratocaster that he bought used for 100£ in 1963 when he was 12 years old. Apparently it's a hard tail model without the tremelo bar.

[NICO9000]

1. RIP Rory

A friend of mine was an editor at Creem magazine back in the 70s and was sent to Ireland to cover Rory on a tour. He said that Rory was the coolest rock star he ever interviewed, a really decent guy. What a shame he left us at such a young age.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. "Creem" was my hands-down favorite magazine back then.

It was in the pages of Creem that I'd first heard of Dan Akroyd, when he wrote a hilarious piece about Harleys. The magazine was like that, a mix of culture and music with an excellent sense of journalism.

I soon began a subscription the Rolling Stone after they went out of business that I maintain to this day, but it still left a void that hasn't been filled. Why is that?

As an aside, I have a good friend who lays claim that his wife had sex with Rory soon before he met her. He seems to take great pride in replacing him in her heart. I'm sure he would never have told me if it was Meatloaf. hahaha

[mrmule]

3. I was a lucky one

I got to see Rory twice at Mississippi Nights in St. Lou in the late 70's. had seats right up front. Shin kicker, Brute force and ignorance, shadow Play that guy frickin smoked that strat!!

[malthaussen]

4. Huh, I posted a video of Rory in the Lounge earlier today.

I missed him the first time around, so now that I know about him, I push him as often as I can. The boy could play some.

-- Mal

[Ed Suspicious]

5. Awesome. He was a bit before my time but he is one of my new favorites. He and Gary Moore

from over that side of the world. RIP to an awesome soul.

[sarchasm]

6. 61 Strat

Great video, thanks!

I'm not an expert but I believe Fender didn't make a "hard tail" Stratocaster. If you take a closer look at the bridge plate you'll see a flange that protrudes at the bottom with a hole in it. That's where the whammy bar screws in. A lot of players at the time considered the whammy bar a novelty and looked down on them so they just removed them altogether. Also at that time the springs weren't that great and they tended to throw the whole thing out of tune.

[bluesbassman]

7. Strats did, and still do come in hard tail configuration.

Not super common, especially in '61, but still an option. Rory's was a tremelo model, but he replaced the original flat steel plate bridge with a heavier aftermarket model (probably chromed brass) for more sustain. He did not use the trem arm though, relying on string bending at the frets.

BTW, had a great voice to IMHO.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. I didn't know until after I posted this....

...but that Fender is as famous as he is.

His Wikki has a whole section on the guitar alone. It was even stolen and recovered at one time when it spent some time laying in a field or something:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rory_Gallagher

After 30+ years of service by Gallagher himself, it seems there isn't much of the original Strat left.

I had no idea:

[maindawg]

8. well I went down to 31st street

to pick up a jug of alcohol. Rory was a natural occurrance that made the world a better place for you and I to live in.
Rory was regular guy who just happened to have a beautiful soul a brilliant mind and a heart of gold.

[JohnnyRingo]

10. I don't think I ever heard him play his steel slide.

I read about it in his Wikki page, but that's the first time I'd seen that guitar. Most of the "hits" I recall from the day were on the Strat.

I see the Gallagher videos are now blocked from embed here. They can still be accessed at YouTube via the link, but not from DU.

Is that common? I've never seen that happen before.

[jonthebru]

11. At this point of the week,

this is much better than politics...
What the helk would we do without the electric guitar?

[advrider]

12. My Rory Gallagher Experience:

I think it was 1970. I went to an outdoor concert called "The Peach Tree Celebration", in NC. The Concert ended very with Alice Cooper. While we were leaving the MC announced a late musician had just arrived and wanted to play. It was Rory Gallagher. The crowd was herding out so I couldn't go back. So I had to settle for just listening to him outside the venue.

[Cirque du So-What]

13. The first time I saw Rory Gallagher

was on Old Grey Whistle Test back in the early '70s. Good times.

[Rabid_Rabbit]

14. Absolutely enjoy anything Rory Gallagher

Too young to experience him 'live' I have been working my way through his recordings aover the last few years. Not many songs give me a chill like Crest of the Wave or Million Miles Away

[formercia]

15. Great Video quality for the period

They get a lot of bang for the buck with that equipment too. What. no electronic Organ?

[JohnnyRingo]

16. I thought that remarkable as well.

I wondered if it was digitally remastered. Most video of the time was on Super 8.