REWRITING RORY

Rewriting Rory

Shining a positive light on the later years of Rory Gallagher’s career

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Today marks 32 years since Rory’s incredible performance at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient. To celebrate, here’s a short clip from the concert, featuring one of my all-time favourite renditions of I Could’ve Had Religion. The show drew a crowd of 4,500, setting a new attendance record at the time for the Kervaric Sports Palace. Wishing Rory’s brother and longtime manager, Dónal Gallagher, a very happy birthday today! On this day in 1987, Rory played the Seepark Open Air Festival in Arbon. A few years ago, as part of Rewriting Rory’s On the Road series, I compiled some fan testimonials from this concert, along with a few other 1987 summer festivals that Rory took part in. You can read more here: Hope you're having a good week. The latest Rewriting Rory post has just dropped - a special edition of 'One Song, Many Lives' that really should be renamed 'Many Songs, Many Lives' as I look at a selection of songs that Rory revived later in his career (Link in Story). A few photos of Rory at the Langenau Open Air Festival, taken by Wolfgang Gürster on this day in 1994. On this day in 1989, Rory headlined the Mildenhall Rock & Blues Festival, joined on the bill by Uriah Heep, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack, Engine, The Buster James Band, The Hamsters, April 16th, The Naff band, Fahrenheit, Forced Entry, No Nonsense and Euphoria. A fantastic shot of Rory in full flight at the Geelhouse Rock Festival, taken on this day in 1993. His performance was so electrifying that organiser Dis Van Ecyk immediately invited him back for the following year. On this day in 1989, Rory headlined the Ballyronan Rock Festival – better known as Rock the Lough – delivering an unforgettable performance on the shores of Lough Neagh. Rory appeared alongside Mama’s Boys (joined by keyboard legend Don Airey), Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, DARE (fronted by ex-Thin Lizzy keyboardist Darren Wharton) and Vivian Campbell, who made a special guest appearance with his early band, Sweet Savage. On this day in 1982, one of my favourite moments in music history took place: Rory and Phil at Punchestown Racecourse. I thought I'd put together a little article about the event. Hope you enjoy it😊 On this day in 1984, Mark Feltham made his first appearance with the Rory Gallagher Band at the Pistoia Blues Festival in Italy – an event that marked the beginning of a profound musical and personal partnership. Over the next decade, Mark would become an essential part of Rory’s sound, lending his harmonica mastery to both live performances and studio recordings, and forging a close friendship with Rory that endured until the end. Not strictly Rory related but you might be interested in this piece I just had published for The Conversation about my forthcoming research project 'Music as Cultural Refugee'. I'll pop a link in my story, as usual 😍 Today is the anniversary of my all-time favourite Rory performance: Montreux 1994.

Rewriting Rory
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