Rory Gallagher

Rory Gallagher was a raw, electrifying force in blues-rock guitar, often hailed as one of the genre's most soulful and unpretentious virtuosos. Emerging from Ireland's vibrant 60s scene, his playing blended fiery Delta blues with Celtic urgency - think blistering solos on a battered 1961 Stratocaster that felt like confessions rather than showboating. Critics like those at Rolling Stone praised his "visceral intensity," making him a live legend who influenced everyone from Slash to Joe Bonamassa, though his aversion to the spotlight kept him a cult hero rather than a stadium god. At his best, Gallagher didn't just play; he exorcised demons, delivering emotion that transcended technical wizardry.

Interesting Facts:

• Born in 1948 in Ballyshannon, Ireland, he formed his first band, The Fontana Showband, at 16, but ditched the clean-cut pop for gritty blues after hearing Muddy Waters, quitting a steady gig to busk in the streets.
• As frontman of the power trio Taste (1968–1972), he opened for The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park in 1969 - drawing bigger cheers than the headliners - and later went solo, churning out 14 albums, with Irish Tour '74 capturing his relentless touring spirit amid Northern Ireland's Troubles.
• His iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster, nicknamed "the battered Strat," was so worn from sweat and stage dives that it once snapped a string mid-solo; he refused to retire it, calling it his "voice."
• A lifelong teetotaller plagued by health issues (including liver failure from painkiller prescriptions), he died at 47 in 1995 after a transplant. Today, his statue stands in Ballyshannon, and he's credited with inspiring U2's The Edge and Metallica's Kirk Hammett.
• A voracious reader of history books (he devoured Churchill biographies on tour), Gallagher once turned down a knighthood-like honour to stay true to his working-class roots, and he was an early adopter of eco-friendly amps in the '70s.