How did Rory’s warm-up gig in Rhyl come about? Was this town chosen for a particular reason?

Dónal contacted me to say that he and Rory were calling in to say hello on their way through to Dublin (via Holyhead). As we got talking, Don suggested arranging a low-key gig in my hometown as a warm up with Rory’s new bassist and drummer. I was playing mostly small pub and club venues, and couldn’t think of anything suitable at short notice. I got together with my bass player [and] pal Chris White to try and find a venue, and to sort publicity / poster campaign etc. Eventually a guy called Hughie Shaw came to the rescue. He said we could use his Marina [Hotel] venue right on the Rhyl seafront and overlooking the Irish Sea. It was perfect – just the right intimate atmosphere and sufficient capacity (about 1,000) for a short notice gig … or so I thought!

It was a £5 entry on the door, and on the evening of the show it was warm and sunny, [and] as I arrived, [I saw] a queue down the promenade as far as the eye could see! I soon realised we would have to turn people away to avoid exceeding the capacity licensing laws. I’d arranged security with my pal Tommy Munro, so he’d brought in some of his ‘biker friends’ to assist. As it transpired, we managed to squeeze everyone in who came along that evening – including the local fire safety officer!!! 

Did he ask you to support him at the gig? What was the experience like of supporting him?

Yes. Jim Taylor and myself had a band known as The Misery Brothers, with a fluid rotation of drummers and bassists, so we opened the show. Obviously, we didn’t perform any Rory numbers from our usual set list that night! The greatest thrill was introducing Rory to the crowd … ‘so you never thought this could happen in little old Rhyl … please welcome, with his band RORY GALLAGHER …’ The crowd were deafening as Rory hit the stage – what a night that was.

Were you responsible for the promotion of the event in Rhyl? Did it get much media coverage?

Both Chris White and myself worked in the media for day jobs, so yes, we handled the poster and media publicity. One rival venue had a big show on the same night. They told me to cancel the Rory gig, or they’d break my legs! Chris and I has stuck posters up all around the rival venue … didn’t go down well at all!

How was Rory feeling before the gig, given that it was with the new band? And also, how did he feel after? Did he think it had gone well?

I think Rory was a little apprehensive before the show, but ever the professional, he was his superb self and brought the house down. I think he really enjoyed it. The crowd absolutely loved him. It was the talk of the town for years afterwards.

Do you have any particular memories of the night and Rory’s performance? What did you think of the new band?

Much of it seemed a blur because I was so busy. But I stood with Dónal out front as he filmed the show on his camera , and the new band were brilliant. Of course, Mark was with Rory, so it was so similar to all the other gigs I’d attended with Rory over the years. 

Was this the last time you saw Rory or did you get a chance to meet up with him at a later date?

Sadly, it was the last time I saw him, although we did speak on the phone a couple of times. The last thing I did was write his obituary for Guitarist Magazine … I didn’t write anything else for 10 years after that. I was heartbroken.