Back in 2011, the BBC released the ‘A History of Mozart in a Dozen Objects’ podcast, which aimed to tell the story of Mozart’s life through a series of objects that were close to him. Over twelve episodes, Professor Cliff Eisen introduced listeners to all sorts of curious artefacts, from Mozart’s piano, watch and tea chest at one end of the spectrum to a blood-letting device, window and even an executioner’s sword at the other!
Inspired by this excellent series, Rewriting Rory thought that it would be fun to carry out a similar activity to mark what would have been Rory’s 76th birthday today. So, two months ago, we called upon our followers to write to us with three objects associated with Rory that they considered most special and why. The aim was then to tally up the submissions and come up with ‘A History of Rory in a Dozen Objects’. However, we received an overwhelming response, and it soon became clear that 12 objects would never be enough to tell the story of this remarkable man. The list quickly expanded to 15, then 20, then 25, before finally settling on 30!
So, please sit back, relax and enjoy this bumper long read, jampacked with thoughts, memories and anecdotes of the magnificent Rory Gallagher.
30. Rory’s Modest Backstage Rider
Typical of Rory’s unassuming nature, he never asked for much on his riders. In a 1987 interview with Metal Hammer, he said that “it’s nice if they can lay on a sandwich and a decent drink,” but that was all he wanted. A surviving rider from Rory’s 1974 concert at the Colston Hall in Bristol shows just one crate of Guinness, one crate of lager and one bottle of Irish whiskey, which was to be distributed among all band members, crew and fans who came backstage. It says a lot about the man and his kindness and humility.
Rory could often also be seen sipping Coca Cola at his concerts – something that one of our followers Fergal O’Rourke chose because: “[…] No matter what greasy slop was served up, Rory took great comfort in the standard beverage being available everywhere as an anchor of modern commercialism. In another way, it must have symbolised the American ideal and influences to a young Rory who would unwaveringly devote his life to the tradition of an old delta bluesman.” An honorary mention also goes to hot chocolate, which many published interviews state that Rory is drinking.
29. Harmonica Holder
Rory was a great harmonica player and, in the early days, he could often be seen onstage with a harmonica brace around his neck, which allowed him to simultaneously play harp and guitar. He puts this to good effect in the iconic version of ‘I Could’ve Had Religion’ captured on film at the Marquee Club in 1972 and on record for Live! in Europe. There are also numerous stunning acoustic examples of this musical multi-tasking, such as ‘Banker’s Blues’ from Me and My Music (1977) and ‘Ride on Red, Ride on’ from Ireland’s Eye (1983).
28. Rotterdam Hilton Hotel Check-In Paperwork
Representative of one of the many musical ‘what ifs?’ in Rory’s career, this surviving piece of paper comes from Rory’s invite to Rotterdam to jam/audition for the Rolling Stones in 1975. The sessions went well and, on the final night, Mick Jagger told Rory to go up to Keith Richards’ suite and speak to him (i.e., to find out if he was in the band). But when Rory got there, Keith was comatose in the bed. After failing to wake Keith on multiple occasions, Rory left a note saying, “You know where I am if you need me” and caught a plane back to Heathrow, ready to immediately travel to Tokyo for his Japanese tour. While joining the Stones could have been a big career break for Rory, as Bob Geldof nicely put it in the Ghost Blues documentary, “Rory could never have been able to put up with the bollocks of Mick and Keith.”
27. Cowboy Hat
Ever since he was a child, Rory had a deep fascination with the Wild West and the cowboy way of life, which was reflected in his style of dress. In 1977, he made history when he headlined Ireland’s first major open-air festival at Macroom. To mark the occasion, he appeared on stage in a cowboy hat, leading Niall Stokes of Hot Press (which Rory and Dónal played a pivotal role in founding) to dub him the “Cork Cowboy.” In Stokes’ review of the concert, he recalls how Rory gave the audience “two and a half hours of undiluted energy,” describing the performance as a “festival victory, a celebration.”
26. 1968 Coral 3S19 Electric Sitar
When working on ‘Philby’ for the Top Priority (1979) album, Rory was looking to get a “mysterious Eastern flavour,” so he rented a Coral sitar from Pete Townsend to add to the track. In order to replicate the sound when performing ‘Philby’ live, however, he wanted his own sitar. While in the US on business, Dónal managed to track down a Coral sitar for $1,500. He came back on a flight with Cliff Richard and tried to pass himself off as one of Cliff’s session guitarists to get through customs without declaring the instrument, but to no avail! Rory went on to use the sitar in various sessions throughout the 1980s, as well as on ‘Kickback City’ and ‘Ghost Blues’. The Rockpalast 1982 version of ‘Philby’ shows just what a master he was on the instrument. The song’s false ending leading into an extended solo by Rory is an absolute stroke of genius.
25. 1921 Martin Mandolin
Throughout the 1970s, no Rory acoustic set was complete without ‘Goin’ to My Hometown’, which he played on his 1921 Martin mandolin. This version from Rockpalast 79 is a particular fan favourite. Speaking of the instrument to International Musician in 1977, Rory had the following to say: “That was another lucky find. It’s an OM model — the orchestra model. Stefan Grossman had the guitar version and it’s a gorgeous-looking instrument. It’s a small folk-size mandolin but it joins at the 14th fret. It’s got a mahogany finish and I have an Ibanez pick-up underneath the strings between the soundhole and the bridge. It works best there for me. It’s got an extra pickguard on top because I was wearing it away too quickly. I was putting Gaffa tape on and it was getting a bit rough and ready looking. I just use standard mandolin strings.”
24. Tipperary Crystal
In 1992, Rory was given a civic reception with Lord Mayor of Cork Micheál Martin at Cork City Hall to celebrate his musical achievements. At the reception, he was presented with a commemorative piece of Tipperary Crystal on behalf of the city of Cork. At the ceremony, the Lord Mayor described Rory as “a world figure in his field” with a “unique” talent. He also stated that the city could be “justifiably proud” of Rory because he is “one of Cork’s greatest sons and has become part of the city’s folklore.” Such recognition came at an important time in Rory’s life when his self-esteem and confidence were low. The award was, therefore, a welcome tonic, especially coming off the back of receiving the Arbiter/Fender Hall of Fame award just two weeks before at his Guinness Hopstore masterclass.
23. Alto Saxophone
Rory wowed audiences in the days of Taste when he appeared on stage with his alto saxophone, as seen in this iconic performance of ‘It’s Happened Before, It’ll Happen Again’ on the German television programme Beat Club. At this time, he was going through a “jazz phase” and listening avidly to Ernie Coleman and Eric Dolphy. According to Dónal, Rory bought a ‘Play-in-a-Day’ book and practised in the wardrobe of the bedsit that they then shared, picking up the instrument very quickly. Rory continued to play sax occasionally on record throughout his career, most notably on ‘Can’t Believe It’s True’, ‘A Million Miles Away’ and ‘I Ain’t No Saint’ (uncredited).
22. Chuck Taylor Plimsolls/Sports Trainers
Rory’s clothing was not a conscious choice, but it helped consolidate his image within the music press and amongst fans as a working-class hero. The shoes that he tended to wear on stage throughout the 1970s – Chuck Taylor plimsolls or sports trainers – were part of this. As Marcello Moschini writes, “with that working-class fashion, Rory told his fans, ‘I’m one of you’.” Claudia Debianchi is also fond of the ‘rest shoes’ that Rory could often be seen wearing offstage in the 1970s: “maybe for best comfort, maybe to spare the stage ones.” An honourable mention also to the black boots that Rory tended to wear in the final decade of his career.
21. James Dean Poster
Rory was a big fan of the actor James Dean and would often speak to his French friend Jean-Noël Coghe about him. Throughout his adult life, he also kept a poster of James Dean, surrounded by death masks, on his bedroom wall. After Rory passed away, Dónal gave the poster to Jean-Noël as a gift. For fan Francesca di Camillo, she believes that, “Despite [Rory’s] shyness and reservedness, Dean as a symbol of rebellion and anguish could represent for him an intimate part of himself.”
Although it did not make the final cut, we must also make a brief mention of the telegram that Rory received from Bob Dylan when he was in hospital. His words, “God bless, get well soon,” brought a smile to Rory’s face and he kept it on his bedside cabinet.
20. Silver Watch
Rory seemed to take great care of his personal possessions and held onto them for many years, in some cases throughout his entire life. One example of this is his silver watch, which he can be seen wearing in countless onstage and offstage photographs throughout the 1970s and part of the 1980s. Many fans commented on its familiarity and comfort to them – a clear part of him.
19. White Carnation
In a 1976 interview, Rory was presented with a carnation by photographer Janet Macoska to make him feel more at ease. This is an anecdote and photograph that many fans think warmly of:
“A flower that, every time I see it somewhere, reminds me of that beautiful picture of Rory holding a white carnation, which was gifted to him by the interviewer in 1976. It shows so perfectly what a gentle soul the man, who could rock out like no one else on stage, was. At the same time, you see the insecure young man who looks at the flower he’s holding while he’s anxiously avoiding eye contact with the person in front of him. As someone with a similar struggle, I felt drawn to this picture from the first moment on. At the same time, it reminds me of the surreal sad yet beautiful day when I visited Rory’s grave in Ballincollig last year. I was planning on bringing carnations myself, but as I couldn’t find any at the flower shop, I was delighted to see that someone else had brought some there before me” (Amelie Scheidt)
18. Radio
“Rory said his life changed when he heard Muddy Waters. Lucky for us, Rory had the Gallagher family radio tuned to American Forces Network and the BBC. Muddy, Lead Belly, Lonnie Donegan and Big Bill Broonzy unlocked a whole wild musical world. It stirred up something restless and creative, and the sense of not just hearing but feeling the sounds coming through.” (Anne Schmidt).
Check out the beautiful picture below that Anne has drawn to accompany her choice!
Although it sadly did not make the final cut, we also had to mention Rory’s flat top acoustic – his first guitar, which he played at talent contests across Cork as a youngster. Rory added a piece of a school ruler in place of a bridge to stop his fingers from blistering so much.
17. Ford Executive Zodiac V6
The London Sessions with Muddy Waters was one of the high points of Rory’s life. Every time he spoke about it in interviews, a huge smile came over his face and he often said how he wished he had a photograph “to show [his] grandchildren,” if he ever had any. Dónal drove Muddy around in his Ford Executive Zodiac V6, which the bluesman loved. Rory would never sell the car and left it parked outside his mother’s house for his entire life.
“The car Rory kept as a sort of a shrine because Muddy Waters sat in it when they drove to the London Sessions album recordings. This is what it means to be a true admirer of someone. Rory adored Muddy Waters just the way his fans adore him. For Rory’s fans, it’s more than relatable that he kept this car. Everything Rory touched somehow turned into a magical thing in people’s minds, and Rory apparently knew this strangely beautiful feeling too. As I write this, I’m sitting in a room that has become my Rory shrine. If I had a car Rory once sat in, I’d have a hard time even getting out of it ever again. I’d have it parked in my living room, fighting off every speck of dust that would have the nerve to come near it” (Ani)
On the topic of transport, some fans also mentioned planes – tied to Rory’s fear of flying and his tenacious spirit to keep travelling nonetheless (as he sings about in ‘Just Hit Town’), but, more positively, to his first trip to Spain with the showband following his Leaving Certificate examination.
16. Bob Dylan Artwork
Art was always a big interest of Rory’s and, as a teenager, he attended art classes at the Crawford School of Art, fitting in these lessons around his busy showband schedule. Unfortunately, not much of Rory’s artwork has been shared publicly, but some drawings of Bob Dylan have recently surfaced – one that he gave to Trish Kitteringham (Eric’s sister) and one that was published in Happy Birthday Mr Bob! (2021). For fans like Francesca Di Camillo, Rory’s paintings and his interest in artwork means a lot as she also likes to paint and knows “how beautiful it is.” She also likes to get a glimpse of Rory’s other interests outside of music.
15. Green Pen
Those eagle-eyed observers may have noticed that Rory was hardly ever without his trusty green pen, often seen stashed in his shirt pocket when offstage! That magic pen was responsible for so many beautiful song lyrics over the years and also signed so many autographs. The green pen is a core part of this story by Edwina O’Mahoney :
“One day my sister was waiting for the bus on the Sth Mall in Cork City when she suddenly spotted Rory coming along the footpath right towards her. She suddenly thought, ‘I’ve got to get his autograph for Ed’ (that’s me!). So, gathering all the courage she possessed, she stepped out in front of him and said, ‘Please, Rory. Can you sign your autograph for my sister at home? She’s your biggest fan!’ (so embarrassing but true!). He quickly said, ‘Yes, of course, but would you mind terribly if we could move to the side out of the way of everyone passing?’ He was so shy and didn’t want to attract attention or draw a crowd if they saw him. So, then he took a green pen out of his pocket and signed the scrap of paper she had managed to find in her bag! He was so kind and they both said thank you (imagine!!) and off he went down the Mall with that distinctive walk of his, hands in pockets, head down, and disappeared back into the crowd and away into the distance. I kept that piece of paper so carefully for years, but numerous house moves since and unfortunately it got lost. It still breaks my heart not to have it now, but at least I’ve still got those precious memories!”
While on the topic of pens and writing, it sadly didn’t make the final cut, but Rory’s frequent postcards to his mother Monica were also mentioned by fans – representative of his close relationship with her more generally (he would call her every evening no matter where he was in the world).
14. 1968 Martin D35 Acoustic
For most of Rory’s recording career, he used his D35 Martin for acoustic playing. He picked it up in London in 1969, adding a new bridge part because the intonation was “a bit peculiar.” Rory felt that it took a good five years to get the sound he wanted from the Martin as the instrument had to develop through “the heat of the player’s body, the atmosphere it’s played in.” Perhaps there is no more iconic image than Rory alone on the stage with his Martin playing ‘Out on the Western Plain’ – a song that showed off his finger picking, speed, perfect blend of Celtic folk and blues, and how to hold the audience in the palm of your hand. Many of you mentioned the Cork Opera House 1987 version as your favourite.
13. 1966 Fender Telecaster
Another iconic Rory guitar, which he was first seen playing at a gig in Copenhagen in early 1970, but became immortalised at Taste’s performance at the Isle of Wight Festival (check out Gamblin’ Blues in particular!) The white was, in fact, not the original finish – Rory had it stripped down to its natural wood and repainted. The guitar had many modifications over the years and was retired as a stage instrument after around 1980.
I (Lauren) had the chance to see the Telecaster in person at the recent 1971 Reading Festival exhibition and it was a truly humbling experience. I wrote this immediately after coming home:
“To my surprise, I was the only person there and got to spend a whole 90 minutes alone with Rory’s Tele. I had my phone loaded with Rory songs and interviews and just knelt next to the case listening as I looked, thought and even talked, which was a quasi-spiritual experience. I’ve always seen Rory’s guitar as a physical representation of him so it was truly overwhelming to be before it. So many subtle details brought tears to my eyes – the wear on the fretboard, the sticky tape holding together his strap, the glass pill bottle he used as a slide, his beloved Rangemaster and Vox, his name on the boxes. I could picture his joyous face up there on stage with the Tele in his hands, which made me smile, but equally, as I now saw it standing there orphaned, I cried…”
12. Bolo Ties
Another classic aspect of Rory’s Western image was the bolo tie. Even as early as the days of Taste, he can be seen wearing them, but they became a major part of his attire throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. For Sylvia Haavisto, the bolo tie is most characteristic of the way that Rory “embraced the spirit of the West with his fiercely independent, hardworking and adventurous spirit.” Ellen Petrova particularly likes Rory’s blue ones: “It matched perfectly with his western chic style and his eyes.”
11. 1972 Melody Maker Best Guitarist Award
In 1972, Rory was voted Melody Maker’s Best Guitarist, beating the likes of Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page to (rightfully) take the crown. In his typically humble way, Rory played down the award, later telling Dave Fanning, “I was delighted to see that I was voted high in the polls […] but you can’t get carried away with them. You’re a pop artist if you capitalise on every little thing that happens, but I think if you overcapitalise on things or you become too political, it’s no fun anymore.” The striking award, made of five gold sunbeams, was later used as the design for Rory’s headstone. For Liam McDonald, the award is important because Rory “looked so happy” whenever he was presented with prizes. Pete Wood considers it to be a “significant achievement,” particularly as Rory beat “King of the time guitarist Eric Clapton, called God by some!” Pete also mentions Rory’s 1980 award for appearing at the Reading Festival the most times and attracting the biggest crowd. He was there on the day and remembers the Mayor of Reading coming out to present Rory with the award.
10. White Levi’s Jacket
One of the reasons why Rory is so endearing to so many is his kind and gentle nature, and the story of how he got his white Levi jacket is just “pure Rory”, as Mandy Steel Collins wrote. You can read the story in full here, but, in short, Rory saw journalist Steve Rosen wearing one, had never seen one before and couldn’t stop staring at it. At the end of the interview, Steve took it off and gave it to Rory, remembering he “turned a deep shade of red and started stuttering and kept repeating, ‘No, I can’t. Thank you. I can’t. I can’t.’ According to Steve, Rory was stunned and held the jacket as if he was “cradling the Holy Grail,” grinning “a grin that lit up the entire room.”
For Ailise Moonchild, this jacket – and Rory’s jean jackets – in general mean a lot to her:
“The first vision I had of Rory Gallagher was on a video from a French television performance. There in all his glory he stood all decked in jeans from head to toe with his trusty Strat on hand belting out Messing with the Kid. Getting to know about Rory and looking upon several hundreds if not thousands of photos on the ‘net, several images are found of him wearing his beloved jean jackets. One story I have found is an article about a journalist who gifted the white Levi’s jacket off his back as Rory seemed (according to the journalist) fascinated by the white jean jacket he had on as he had never seen one! I myself have only owned one jean jacket in my lifetime before Rory which I got at a Ross Department store and did not cost me no more than a tenner and it was NOTHING like a real authentic Levis jeans jacket. Those suckers are heavy but comforting in a strange way and now I am a proud owner of several! I often wonder how Rory wore these Levis jean jackets on stage among the stage lights!”
Sadly, no photos of Rory in the white Levi’s jacket exist, so enjoy these of him in his other jean jackets instead!
9. Neckerchiefs
Yet another part of Rory’s Western image was his neckerchiefs – something he could often be seen wearing from 1977 onwards. Even as a child though, inspired by Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, he wore them. Rory’s schoolfriend Billy Barry recalls him participating in local talent shows, dressed in a lumberjack shirt, blue jeans, neckerchief and cowboy hat. For fan Kicki Söderström, Rory’s neckerchiefs seemed to “somehow give him comfort.” Claudia Debianchi likes how he used to wear them originally hiding the knots and matching different shirt patterns, wearing them tight on his neck in the 1970s and rather loose in the 1980s and 1990s.
8. Copper and Glass Slides
On top of many of his other talents, Rory was a phenomonal slide player. Early in his career, he tended to use a brass slide, which he believed added bite and aggression to his tone, and produced a sharp sounding slide. He later switched to a glass Coricidin medicine bottle to produce a softer and less harsh tone. However, he kept with the brass for acoustic playing, particularly on his National. Unlike many other slide players, Rory often used his pinkie – a finger that he was used to playing with thanks to the mandolin. Many of you commented on all these aspects in your submissions.
“Rory is one of the only musicians I’m aware of who played slide using the smallest finger. The ring and middle fingers are used much more commonly, and though Rory did and could play slide with any of his fingers (bar the thumb, for obvious reasons), it’s rare to see anyone else using their pinky. Something as simple as this easily demonstrates how he was open to anything that could further his craft and his passion. Though the use of the little finger is needed for finger-picking and mandolin playing, both of which Rory was no stranger to, the ‘pinky slide’ as I call it stands out to me as something uniquely Rory Gallagher” (Kelly Munro)
“I’ve watched Rory playing slide guitar a million times but every time he casually slips the empty Coricidin bottle out of the back pocket of his jeans and even more casually switches to a little bit of bottleneck hellfire in the middle of a song, my face lights up like a Christmas tree. He has such a fascinating, natural playing style as if he was born with a slide on his finger. Not to forget the kick-ass tone he got with a metal slide on his pinky, often after kindly asking for the audience’s approval to shift over to a little bit of acoustic for a minute or two. It doesn’t seem to make any difference to him which finger, guitar or tuning, he does it just like breathing and it’s hard to believe that he once had to learn this. Learning to play slide guitar a tiny bit like he did, is the one thing in my life I’ll do or die trying. And at my funeral I only want to hear the sound of Rory’s slide hitting the strings to sum up my life” (Ani)
“Guitar slide (glass/steel), is one of the most unquestionable part of Rory’s sound whether on his National in As the Crow Flies or blazing on his Telecaster in Who’s That Coming. Such performances contrast the quiet and soulful qualities in his performance against high energy electric blues” (Fergal O’Rourke)
“If my opinion that Rory was the world’s best guitarist may not be accepted by everyone, at least no one in good faith and with some musical culture could dispute he was the best slide guitarist ever. And I loved his bottleneck playing most when he used the Coricidin bottle, like Duane Allman as he stated in interviews , particularly on the Telecaster” (Joël Winkin)
Although they didn’t make the final cut, we also had to give a shoutout to Rory’s guitar straps, particularly the one that bears his name on and the floral patterned designs. Also just losing out on the Top 30 was Rory’s capo, which also gave its name to his record company and linked in with his love for noir (capo being a mafia boss), while also alluding to his brother and manager Dónal (“Don” being a “capo”).
7. Uncle Jimmy’s Leather Jacket
Back in December 2022, we wrote about the close relationship between Rory and his dear Uncle Jimmy and the acoustic gig he did in 1993 in his honour. Jimmy was the first person that Rory ever saw in a leather jacket and had a huge influence on his musical tastes. It was Jimmy’s leather jacket that Rory wore throughout the latter part of his career. As Jimmy’s son, Jim Roche jokes, “The story often told is that my father went to Canada to work in a car factory to raise money for college. He brought back the leather jacket and a song, ‘Moving On’ by Hank Snow. Rory borrowed both! ‘Moving On’ ended up on the first Taste album and the jacket ended up touring the world!”
“It was so much a part of Rory in his later years” (Ann O’Kelly)
“The leather jacket must be something he loves dearly because he loved his uncle dearly and that he chooses to wear something that was close to his uncle says a lot (Kicki Söderström)
A special mention must also go to the leather waistcoat that Rory wore for a short time in the late 1970s/early 80s. Rory gave the waistcoat away to lucky fan and friend, Patrick Kennedy.
6. Vox AC30 Amplifier and Rangemaster Treble Booster
The classic Gallagher sound from the Taste era to the mid-1970s – something that impressed Brian May of Queen so much that he asked for Rory’s advice on how to get the same sound. Rory found that the treble booster with the treble boost from the Vox gave a “built-in gain”, while the normal input gave him a “nice rough edge without getting into a very fuzzy sound.” Many agree, with Mandy Steel Collins calling it “literally the Rory amp from Day 1” and others like Father James Mather simply quoting Brian May’s “How do you get your sound, Mr Gallagher?” Vincent Wolting is the proud owner of one of Rory’s Vox AC30 amps and loves the fact that the masking tape with his settings is still on the control panel.
5. Levi Safari Bush Jeans
If there were ever a pair of jeans to be associated with Rory, then it would have to be his Levi Safari Bush jeans with their deep pockets that he wore throughout most of the 1970s. Time and time again, you told us how much you loved them, sending in collages of the classic ‘pocket jeans’. As Monique Frie said, “My first choice is Rory’s levis bush jeans. I love denim so much and it suits Rory so beautifully. The cool pockets and with his checked shirt in it just looks great. It fits his sweet personality so well. In short, these jeans make Rory complete and irresistible.”
4. 1932 National Triolian Resonator
I’ve got a confession to make – I love Rory’s National more than his beloved Strat. For me, it defines him as the consummate bluesman and master of the acoustic guitar. Rory bought his National from a travelling salesman for only £100 while on tour in the US in 1973. He had the old wooden bridge changed to an ivory and the resonator beaten out because it had caved in. “It almost plays you […] it brings power to your hands,” he told International Musician in 1977, “You move from that neck to the Strat and it’s like running your hand across a jelly.” Rory played the National throughout his career and when I like to think of him, my defining image is him alone on the stage playing a spectacular version of ‘Empire State Express’ at Rocklife 1990. Many of you also agree that this instrument has a particular special place in the Rory Gallagher story.
“This guitar, what can be said? Vintage and Americana, manufactured in the deep south maybe? Previously owned by another bluesman, maybe by one of his favorite blues musicians? I digress. This instrument must have meant so much to Rory. If you notice on most of his publicity photos used for promos or in magazines, he posed with his National. I have seen several photos where he holds it so proud. Sometimes I feel that maybe we got it wrong, it is this guitar, the National that was his true love and essence, an instrument that he choose over all other instruments as it tied him to his most beloved music that he held dear….the blues and it is with that I feel is special to me.” (Ailise Moonchild)
“Aside from the Strat, I dare to say that the National is the most important object to Rory because he gifted us playing many remarkable acoustic sets with the National, and not to mention that resonators are extremely difficult to play with and just a blues master to manage that with so much expertise. Moreover, the National has accomplished him over the years as just as Strat did. That’s why in my list National has taken the first position.” (Ellen Petrova)
“It’s clear that he’s proud of [the National] and it accompanies him from the early years” (Steve Smith)
3. Detective/Noir Fiction
When not playing music, Rory’s biggest pastime was reading. He was an avid reader of detective/noir fiction, his favourite authors being Patricia Highsmith, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, and The Very Talented Mr Ripley being his favourite book. But he also read all sorts of other genres – art, politics, history, religion… Rory often stuffed his guitar cases with books and there are countless stories of Dónal and other poor roadies hurting their backs and even ending up in hospital when they lifted the cases without realising what was stashed inside! Defender can be seen as Rory’s love letter to noir, while the posthumous Kickback City also spoke to this fascination, with an Ian Rankin novella written in the style of the authors that Rory so dearly loved. So many of you also felt the same way:
“Though this is a literary genre and not a singular item, Rory is the first person who comes to mind when I think of spy novels, detective fiction, so-called ‘hardboiled’ antiheroes, and the like. I always have a book or two on hand and am always giving and receiving recommendations of books to friends and acquaintances, and often when I find something with an intriguing criminal or investigative plot I wonder what Rory would have thought of it. If it’s a book that was published during his lifetime, I even wonder if it’s something he had read and enjoyed and what he’d have to say about it.” (Kelly Munro)
“Rory’s books! There was a story about the luggage turnstyle being broken at an airport and an employee went and pulled all [the bags] off. Well, some of them were really heavy and I just started laughing. Dónal also tells the story of picking up a guitar case and it was so heavy and he wasn’t expecting that. When he looked inside, it was filled with books. Dear sweet Rory, reading in his room, alone, when everyone else was out partying. How could you not love this man?” (Lori Murphy)
“I know Rory loved this kind of novels and maybe he would like to be a spy himself. I will put as object a John le Carré’s novel.” (Francesca Di Camillo)
“Not only was Rory an avid reader (of crime novels, for instance) but he more than once referred in his lyrics to “reading someone”, like “you read me like I was an open book,” of course the track title Do you read me? , or “…a page from a book that can’t be read at all” in the magnificent Crest of a Wave. By the way , who could dispute Rory was a true poet.” (Joël Winkin)
“Devoted to Dashiell Hammett and similar hard boiled crime noir fiction, Rory works these tales into his sharpest lyrical insights on Philby and Secret Agent. I think this thread runs deeper with Rory as a deeply private person, an international traveller with an important mission and a briefcase of tunes” (Fergal O’Rourke)
“One of Rory’s many lovable personal traits: being a bookworm. Personally, I love the fact that the famous picture of his Strat in front of his books always makes me smile as I coincidentally own most of these books too, even before discovering Rory. But what I love the most about the fact that Rory loved books is the story of him carrying books on tour in guitar cases or having Dónal carry them (he deserves a best brother award!)” (Amelie Scheidt)
“Rory Gallagher was an avid reader, on a wide variety of topics. He was very well read and shared his thoughts on politics with his close friends and was known to buy others books for gifts (Alex Lifeson wonderful story). Source of inspiration for many songs, if I had to pick one, book Philby and his song about the famous spy story” (Sylvia Haavisto)
2. Check Shirts
Perhaps there is no other item of clothing more associated with Rory than check shirts. While Rory later in his career described them as a “stigmata” to him and often expressed frustration at the press drawing attention to them, they were an inextricable part of his identity and something that today many fans take great comfort in and wear themselves. In the inaugural Rory Gallagher Memorial Lecture at the Cork School of Music in November 1995, Marcus Connaughton claimed that Rory had become a “fashion icon,” without wanting to be or realising that he was.
“Undoubtedly there is more than one checked shirt that Rory wore during his gigs. Looking at other musicians from the 70s, extravagant stage clothing wasn’t unusual which shows once more the person Rory was, wearing the clothes he felt most comfortable in on stage. Unintentionally, flannels became one of his trademarks. I surely don’t just speak for myself but for many people from the fandom that wearing checked shirts has become a way of expressing their love for Rory, as well as something to boost their own confidence and having a feeling of safety being connected to the guitarist” (Amelie Scheidt)
“The ‘work shirts’ aka plaid shirts, aka flannel shirts’. I am very visual so for me it isn’t unusual if you ask me what material things related to Rory I find special, I am going to go to what Rory wore! Rory in many ways was ahead of his time musically and in his own fashion sense or how he choose to portray himself to the world as a musician, as a man… Those work shirts were going to later come into play during the 90s grunge era, look up Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, and even Slash during those years. To me Rory, Gallagher will always be a musician for the people and these shirts to me are a bit of a connection and reminder to an extraordinary man” (Ailise Moonchild)
“[Something] that changed Ireland but especially Cork City were late 60s Rory walking around town wearing check shirts, lumberjack shirts. Rory used go to McCarthy shop on Coal Quay Cork for those shirts. Suddenly, we all started buying those shirts” (Dave Kearney)
Honorable mentions must also go to some other iconic Rory shirts, such as the one on the cover of Calling Card (aka the ‘Calling Card shirt’), the Western shirt he wore at the 1985 Montreux Jazz Festival and the navy blue patterned shirt that he wore at the 1994 edition of the festival. The Lonsdale t-shirt worn at Rocklife 1990 is also a firm favourite of many, as is the red t-shirt worn at the jam with Frankie Miller at Rockpalast 1979.
1. 1961 Fender Stratocaster
There really could be no other winner, could there? Rory’s beloved guitar from whom he was inseparable since the age of 15 and which he would play throughout his life. Rory purchased this iconic guitar in 1963 from Crowley’s Music Store in Cork (on credit for £100); it was allegedly the first ever Stratocaster to reach Ireland. For the full story of how Rory got his Strat, read this excellent interview with Dónal. While the Strat was modified extensively over the years, it remained in constant use by Rory and was his go-to guitar. In a 1993 interview, he said that he would be lost without it and described it as: “my life, my best friend, a walking memory bank, part of my psychic make-up.” Rory’s Strat was constantly described in the music press as his “wife”, “mistress”, “best friend”, “companion” and “faithful dog”, he and her being “one single entity.” Dónal recalls looking at the guitar when Rory passed away and thinking, “You poor orphan. Who’s ever gonna play you like he did?” Over to you, guys and girls:
“His lifelong companion/wife. How could we not picture Rory without the Strat?” (Ann O’Kelly)
“That old beat-up Strat…how could you not think of Rory when you see that? His little girl. He took her to limits that other musicians can only dream about. His best friend, his confidante, what made him the best guitarist of all time. Thank you Mona for giving in to him and letting him keep that guitar. You were instrumental in making him the legend he has become” (Lori Murphy)
“No.1 for me is Rory’s Strat. They were ONE. I’m surprised he wasn’t buried with it” (Father James Mather)
“The first time I saw Rory play his Strat felt like a giant truck hit me. It was Shadow Play at Montreux ’79 and this was not some random guy playing some random guitar. This was an epiphany. This man was born to play this guitar and you can hear his deep love for the precious thing in every note. Something supernatural is going on between Rory and his guitar that makes it the most beautiful guitar in the world to me. Dissecting every move his fingers make on the fretboard and getting a grasp of what he’s doing there that makes his playing such a beautiful spectacle, has become a straight-up obsession for me, and it’s fair to say that it has somehow taken over my life. Studying this Strat and its master is my religion and every single day this guitar becomes even more beautiful to me than the day before.” (Ani)
“Yes, the Strat wins my puzzle… no need to explain. His guitar was his life, his other half, his everything. His sweat is in it… that says it all.” (Monique Frie)
“Is there not a more iconic instrument????” (Dave Mangin)
“The first one in Ireland, and bought on payments, stolen once, a constant companion on his journey in life. Rory is always photographed with his guitars and his Strat in particular, and most often with a big smile” (Sylvia Haavisto)
“I think we’ve all had something at an early age that we really wanted. Something special that held a passing interest. Rory was different: he knew what he wanted but more importantly, he knew what he needed. It would be essential and not a passing whim. It was to be the not-so-silent partner to the ideas and sounds taking creative shape. I can only imagine that Strat, in Crowley’s, challenging him as if to say ‘if you work hard, we will see the world’. Rory and his beautiful, well loved partner proved completely up to the challenge” (Anne Schmidt)
Here is another beautiful drawing that Anne shared for the birthday post:
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Some of the submissions we received were of a more personal nature, based on specific memories or meetings with Rory. Although they didn’t make the Top 30 list, we wanted to share a collage of them below with details underneath.
From top left (clockwise):
– Silver disc presented to Lou Martin for Irish Tour ’74 (owned by Vincent Wolting)
– A copy of Photo Finish (the album that turned Dave Mangin “from a casual fan of Rory into a full-on Rory fan”)
– Photo of Rory’s Ipswich 1979 show taken by Father James Mather
– Letter from Dónal to Monique Frie
– Photo of Barbara Gray and her fiancé backstage with Rory in 1977
– Pick that Linda Delaney Reinhart got from Rory the last time she saw him live
– Painting of Rory owned by Barbara Gray
– Poster from the last time Linda Delaney Reinhart saw Rory in concert
– Rory ’77 UK tour t-shirt owned by Barbara Gray
– Pick that Linda Delaney Reinhart left at the Rory sculpture in Cork
– Guthrie Theater where Dave Mangin saw Rory in 1991 – a truly memorable evening for him
Denyse Anger’s three objects were inspired by her meeting with Rory in 1985:
“My three objects originate from the day I met Rory. It was May 14, 1985 and we were waiting in line for his show that night at The Stone in San Francisco. I hoped to be able to go backstage afterward and give Rory a manuscript of my poems I’d brought for the occasion. As we waited, a car with Nevada plates pulled to the curb and Rory was inside with Gerry McAvoy, and others, but I actually don’t remember who else was there! What I recall is Rory wearing yellow-tinted aviator sunglasses. Rory opened the door, I gave him the poems and asked to come back and visit after the show. He said, ‘We’ll see how it goes!’ Later, waiting in line to see him, Gerry McAvoy offered a lovely smile as he sat talking with a woman. Rory, of course, was a warm host, towel wrapped around his neck, talking to the handful of people gathered around. I didn’t realize until I turned to go that a growing line of people were also waiting to speak to him. A slightly older woman to my left asked him about t-shirts. I had the feeling that they knew each other. He was enthusiastic, said he preferred the color red. Rory gestured at the food and drinks, mentioning Gatorade! Someone else asked if he ever considered a residency in Las Vegas to which he replied, Las Vegas would be tough. So those are my three picks: the sunglasses, the red t-shirts, and Gatorade, all imprinted during those amazing minutes in Rory’s presence. Were they really yellow aviator sunglasses? That’s what I “saw” in that moment and remember.
Picking up on Denyse’s choice of sunglasses, they were also selected by Anne Schmidt as one of her Rory objects, but they didn’t have enough points to make the Top 30, sadly. She said: ”Ray Ban, Foster-Grant – whatever brand they might have been – just name it. Timeless and effortlessly cool. Just like the wearer. And not just anyone can nail the look and look so casual doing it!”
There were also two guitars that didn’t have enough votes to make the final list, but deserve a special mention here:
“The red Guyatone LGX II Marroly, which was especially built for Rory Gallagher by Guyatone and presented to him during his last tour in Japan in 1991. Rory decided to play the prototype guitar immediately on stage at club Citta (Kawasaki)” – Vincent Wolting now owns this beautiful guitar!
“1965 Airline Res-O-Glass – “This “JB Hutto” model is such a striking design! I’d never come across it before seeing Rory with one and it quickly became an item I associate with him. In some photographs it looks like an inflatable guitar, in others, as if it’s an animated item in a live-action frame. The vibrant colour, the rounded yet somehow still sharp angles… Personally, this comes in as a close third behind the Stratocaster and National Resonator in terms of distinctive Rory Gallagher guitars” (Kelly Munro)
Although not objects, we couldn’t neglect the fact that so many people mentioned Rory’s hair and sideburns in their submissions. As we know, Rory was considered to have “the longest hair in Cork” at one point, which made him really stand out from the crowd. This led to problems in the showband era and he could even face trouble on the streets, his brother Dónal often stepping in to fend off any would-be attackers. As for Rory’s sideburns, well, let’s face it, he had some of the most iconic sideburns you will ever see – from those muttonchops in Taste Mark 1, the L-shaped beauties from the Irish Tour era, the Photo Finish longer L-shaped ones or the later straight ones. Enjoy the little playful collage below of Rory’s hair and sideburns over the years!
Again, it’s not an object, but Rory’s softly spoken voice was mentioned by so many that we just had to mention it here, as well as his unique way of talking and the various ‘Roryisms’ he would often throw into sentences! Here’s a selection of some of his classic ones below:
- “It had to be 15 limos and a Cecil B. DeMille stage.”
- “The latest Fleetwood Mac album is real Cinzano music”
- “I’ve got my own ideas and I don’t want to Walt Disney-fy them”
- “Rock music is too Freudian nowadays”
- “He’s giving out gold chains like Holy Communion”
- “He definitely wasn’t a member of the Legion of Mary”
- “I like going back home, but I don’t have a Marian Year complex about it”
- “Top of the Pops is just a little too Max Factor for me”
- “It’s very hard to hit the States smack on without going over with a Rice Krispies type programme”
- “Some bands have the most ridiculous riders… far too Sodom and Gomorrah”
And of course, no story of Rory’s life could be complete without mentioning the one man who was at his side throughout it all: his dear brother Dónal. Although certainly not an object(!), Dónal was an integral part of the Rory Gallagher story from day one – brother, best friend, manager, roadie, chauffeur, confidant, protector, defender, partner in crime, even telepathist! We can think of few others who would happily stand in the shadows and so selflessly dedicate their whole life to their sibling. Dónal understood and knew Rory like no other, recognising his sensitive nature and doing all he could to look after him.
Speaking of Dónal in a 1992 interview, Rory described him as a “superb character, a gift from God,” admitting that he would not have “stuck with it so long” if it wasn’t for his brother. Indeed, Dónal still works tirelessly today to keep Rory’s music alive. When asked in a 2011 interview with Paris-Move why he had chosen to dedicate his life to his brother, Dónal said that he always felt that there was a certain injustice with Rory and that he never got the credit he deserved. “If I didn’t, who would?” he added.
So, on Rory’s birthday, we wanted to end by giving this little shoutout to Dónal as it is in no small part thanks to him and his indeterminable efforts that Rory’s name remains on the lips of us all today and will do forever more.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RORY! ❤️
REWRITING RORY 
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