Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher dies of liver problems

Irish rock and blues guitarist Rory Gallagher died yesterday in London at the age of 47 after being unable to survive a liver transplant he underwent last April. Gallagher, considered one of the most prominent white bluesmen, was one of the pioneers of Irish rock. Throughout his career, he collaborated with other great figures, such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.

Bono, the singer of U2, said a few days ago that Rory Gallagher was””one of the ten greatest guitarists of all time. And, above all, one of the ten most likeable men of all time.” His personality, as well as the dominance and intensity of his performances, made him a key figure in rock history. During the 1970s he became one of the first internationally known Irish rock singers. Throughout his career he sold close to 40 million records worldwide. In the eighties, Gallagher’s activity declined, but his influence as a composer and as a guitar virtuoso has always been recognised by Irish groups like Thin Lizzy and U2.

Gallagher had undergone a liver transplant last April, after being urgently admitted to a London Hospital. The operation went well, but subsequent complications led to a general deterioration of his health. Gallagher toured Europe in the second half of 1994, with other performances scheduled for later this year. According to his agent, he was working on a new album when the illness struck.