Some years ago, when I was reading Rory Gallagher: The Life and Times by Marcus Connaughton, I came across a quote that has stayed with me ever since. It was from a man named Gordon Morris:

To sum up Rory, if you wrote down every attribute you could think of
to make up a perfect person or friend, you would probably look at that list
and be convinced that no one could quite match up. But, in fact,
you would have listed something approaching the gentle man that was Rory Gallagher.

It struck me immediately as one of the most beautiful and accurate reflections of Rory I had ever heard. In the book, Gordon and his wife Dorothy were simply described as fans, but I felt sure that there was far more to their story than that.

Then, a few years later when browsing through Rory’s guitars on the official website, I came across a 1980s Chris Eccleshall custom-built Telecaster. The plaque on the back said:

Presented to Rory    
Gordon Morris          
Eccleshall Guitars

The name leapt out at me. Who was this Gordon? From the inscription, I (wrongly) assumed that he worked at Eccleshall’s guitar workshop and that was how he and Rory’s paths first crossed. My incorrect assumption deepened when I noticed another instrument on the website: a 1992 Patrick Eggle JS Berlin Legend guitar, also gifted to Rory by Gordon.

From that point on, I knew I wanted to speak to Gordon – first for this blog and later for my book – but there was one problem: I had no idea how to find him! I searched on social media, forums, Google searches… but found nothing. Eventually, I filed it away as one of those unanswered questions, perhaps for another time, and thought about it no further.

Then, in April 2025, something quite unexpected happened.

Out of the blue, I received a notification of a new comment on the blog. When I opened it, I could hardly believe what I was seeing. It was Gordon Morris himself! He had somehow come across my work and left a lovely message. I replied almost immediately, still slightly in disbelief, and asked whether he might consider taking part in a Q&A for Rewriting Rory.

Gordon’s response told me everything I needed to know about the type of man he is and, in turn, the type of friend he was to Rory: he didn’t say yes straight away.

Instead, he very politely asked for some time to think it over. He explained how private Rory had been and how deeply he valued the trust between them. He would never want to betray that. It was a response that spoke volumes about loyalty, integrity and a protectiveness that I wholeheartedly understood and respected.

Over the past year, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to get to know Gordon better. Through our conversations, it became clear that he and his wife Dorothy were far more than fans; they were close, trusted friends of Rory right through to the very end. His perspective, shared so generously and with such love, has helped deepen my own understanding of Rory in new ways. And what’s grown between us over that time is something I genuinely value: a sense of trust, warmth and a shared appreciation for Rory’s life and legacy. I can’t quite explain it, but I somehow felt an instant connection with Gordon and I can’t help but think that Rory had a hand in our paths crossing at exactly the right moment.

So, when Gordon eventually agreed to take part in this Q&A, I knew it would be something special. He has always remained out of the spotlight, and his story is one that very few people know. But he felt, in his own time and on his own terms, that now was the right moment to share it.

It also feels like the right time to share it here. This week is always a difficult one for those who love Rory – a moment to reflect and remember. It’s hard to believe that this 14 June marks 31 years since we lost him. Over the coming days, I’ll be sharing parts of my conversation with Gordon. I hope it brings a sense of closeness to Rory and perhaps even a few smiles during what is a very bittersweet time.

Thank you, dear Gordon, for your friendship and the trust you’ve placed in me.

When did you first discover Rory Gallagher’s music, and what was it about his style that initially caught your attention?

Mine was a strange introduction to Rory’s music. I grew up in the ‘40s and ‘50s initially listening to big band music and singers such as Dean Martin. Along came rock ‘n’ roll when I got completely hooked by Eddie Cochran and the fact that he wrote songs, played guitar, sang, and even got involved in the recordings – I was heavily influenced by Eddie’s talent and, from that moment, I began to seek out similarly talented musicians. Naturally, I drifted into the Beatles and the Stones, but I was eager to learn more about the origins of music and I became interested in American artists like Son House, Blind Blake, Scrapper Blackwell, Jimmy Rogers etc etc, and Blues became my passion.

One day, I guess very late 60s, whilst browsing in one of Manchester’s huge record stores, I came upon a vinyl LP which freaked me out and kinda hypnotised me. The cover was black and red and, at first, it just appeared to me to be a random pattern until very very slowly I began to see a face appear. I can’t explain what effect that cover had on me – I had no idea what kind of music the vinyl held was nor what band it was – and I didn’t care – all I knew is I had to have this cover, this album. I didn’t even bother to read the sleeve notes to find out more. I have no idea how long I must have remained standing there gazing at that cover in a world of my own, but it was mentioned in amusement by the staff when I eventually took the LP to the pay desk. Even today, each time I pick up that LP, I am still mesmerised by the cover like some powerful drug.

I bought the album, took it home and played it. I have never been easily impressed but the effect on my brain was surreal – nothing could have prepared me for what I heard. This music, so raw, so authentic, so true, played with a passion I had never before heard, guitar solos that remained faithful to the song, beautifully melodic, wonderfully crafted – music that I could reach out and touch, music that entered my bloodstream, music that I could feel in my bones. Lyrics that were different to the norm of the day. I still hadn’t read the sleeve notes, so I was still unaware of the band but that didn’t matter – I knew I had found something that I could cling to for the rest of my life. This was Blues, but in a form that I had never heard. There were other influences within the tunes unfamiliar to my ears, and each song was so different, so individual. I was hooked. At the time, I didn’t realise that there were Celtic and Jazz influences in Rory’s Blues music, but that became apparent as I heard more and more from this talented young man.

Eventually, I discovered that the band was called Taste and the guitarist/singer/songwriter was a young man by the name of Rory Gallagher. I just had to find out more about this band and, in particular, Rory Gallagher. I also had to keep an eye out for any tours. Back in those times, this wasn’t easy – no mobile phones, no internet, no YouTube, no social media – we music lovers had to buy mags like Melody Maker or NME and scour the pages for any info. I also used to write to the mags in an attempt to find out more, but my letters were never answered.

If a Rory concert was advertised, I used to drive immediately to the particular venue and queue to buy tickets so that my wife and I could get the best seats. It seems so prehistoric now, but at the time it was exciting to race around the country buying tickets, and I have happy memories of searching for these venues (no satnav) and chatting to other fans in the queues, rain or shine, all of us bound together in a unique friendship, each one of us eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming Rory gig.

When was the first time you saw Rory in concert? What memories do you have of that occasion?

Blimey, my brain hurts. It was over 50 years ago and, after seeing him more than 200 times, I can’t honestly recall precisely when I first saw him. However, it would have been at the Free Trade Hall in my hometown of Manchester. I had only seen pub/club bands previously and I had never been to such a major venue. Not knowing what to expect, my wife and I dressed formally, as one did in those days for a big occasion. I know it sounds crazy now but must have been around 1970, a major venue, the big city. Surely, I would have to wear a suit and tie.

We entered the building to the sights of university students and the like wearing jeans, and man, did we feel silly. I was a big lad, a Rugby Prop Forward at the time and, being formally dressed, it was apparent that everyone took me a ‘bouncer’ and bypassed me courteously, which I found hilarious.

We made our way to our seats and the first thing that struck us was the heavy scent of illegal substances hanging densely in the air, which again took us by surprise.

I have no memory of the support band whatsoever as I was so eagerly anticipating my first live glimpse of Rory, and it was obvious that the rest of the audience felt the same as frequent cries of “Rory Rory Rory” filled the hall, even whilst the support band was playing.

When the support band left the stage, it was mayhem. The place was filled with “RORY RORY RORY RORY” on and on until eventually ‘the’ band entered the stage. Rory then ran on, long long hair flowing behind him, check shirt, blue jeans and the crowd exploded. I was mesmerised – here he was, my hero, the guy on that Taste album. First thoughts? I turned to my wife and said “Wow! He is the best-looking guy I have ever seen” I couldn’t get over how gorgeous he was! I remember my wife’s dismay when I brought home the first Taste album. “What the hell have you bought now!” Well, upon seeing Rory, she immediately changed her mind and fell in love.

Rory started to play and everybody jumped up and bounced around to the beat – except me. I remained still, silent, my rationally thinking brain unable to make sense of the mysteries that emerged from Rory’s fingers on those strings. It completely bypassed my brain and entered my soul where it remains trapped until this very day.

Song after song, beautiful lyrics, soulful guitar – solos that I could remember, notes that I could whistle after the gig, each solo clinging faithfully to the particular song rather than just a flurry of meaningless notes – no pose, no ego, here was a guy to whom we could all relate, here was a friend although none of us knew him, here was a guy who clearly loved to play, and could entertain without an array of flashing lights and screens. Running from one side of the stage to the other, jumping 6 feet into the air, the guitar became part of him, fed with blood from Rory’s heart, a living breathing part of his body. I could not have been prepared for what I witnessed, and I could never ever imagine what effect that gig would have on my life. My thirst for Rory became insatiable as I travelled the UK buying tickets for any Rory gig that I saw advertised in the music mags.

When was the first time you met Rory? What were your initial impressions?

It was 1978. I saw tickets advertised for Rory at the NEC Birmingham and immediately drove there to buy a couple for my wife and I. Not knowing the area too well, I spotted a hotel within the NEC site and thought it would be a handy place to stay so I dropped by and booked a room for the night of the gig.

I had read in a music mag that this was to be the opening of the NEC as a major rock venue. It said that the entertainments manager had been given instructions to pick a band that would ensure a packed house, no hooliganism, a brilliant night’s entertainment and, most important, that the crowd would go home smiling and excited – eager to spread the word about the NEC. Apparently he had an open cheque to attract anyone of his choosing but, for him, there was only one choice – Rory Gallagher!

We checked into the hotel on the night of the gig, super excited to watch Rory, had a drink or two and joined the long long queue into the venue. When the concert had finished we walked the short distance back to the hotel and found a table in the hotel bar.

Time passed quickly as we sat there enjoying a drink and a chat, discussing the gig, when the door opened and I froze in awe as Rory walked in. Well I was too shocked to do anything – I never imagined seeing Rory anywhere other than on stage – I remember saying to my wife that he has got to be the best looking man on this earth – I asked my wife if she would get his autograph – why did I do that? I have no idea! By that time we were well seasoned concert goers (mainly Rory but also many others) and autographs were off my radar – I never even thought of asking anyone for an autograph – I just wasn’t interested in autographs – but at that moment, shocked as I was, I couldn’t think of anything else to do or say – I am still embarrassed at the thought.

My wife (Dorothy) walked across the room towards Rory – he saw her and stood still as she approached – I watched as Dorothy said something to Rory – Rory then took my wife’s hand and kissed it tenderly, as if in a scene from a movie. I could see that they were chatting but I didn’t know what they were saying. Later I found out that Dorothy’s first words (immediately prior to Rory kissing her hand) were “You look tired Rory, you should get some sleep.” I’m guessing that no-one else on earth except his dear mammy would have thought to say this to Rory, especially upon first meeting him.

Rory took his gaze off Dorothy, looked across at me, then beckoned me to come over. He shook my hand, asked if we were staying in the hotel, said that he was going to his room to change, but asked if we would stay in the bar as he would join us when he came down.

We duly stayed where we were but, when Rory entered the bar again, a music journalist had appeared and wanted to interview him. The two of them sat at a table whilst the interview took place and we remained at our table, not really knowing what we should do.

The interview eventually ended and Rory walked towards us. He apologised and said that he had been called into another room as food had been prepared for the band. He asked if we would wait for half an hour or so then go and join him in the other room.

Throughout this short introduction to Rory we were both struck as to how totally normal he was (apart from his wondrous looks!), just like any ordinary guy in the street, and not a bit like the man we were used to seeing on stage. We also wondered why he was even talking with us and why he would ask us to join him – it all seemed so surreal.

Not being the type of people to intrude on anyone’s privacy we remained in the bar – it just didn’t seem right to go to the other room to join Rory, even though we had been asked. After a while Donal came to our table, told us that Rory wanted to see us, and took us into the other room where Rory and the band were sitting around a large table with a press guy and Julie Gordon, Rory’s fan club secretary at the time.

Everyone was very friendly and we eventually moved back into the bar to find Dorothy and Donal sitting at a table chatting – she had left the room earlier and we wondered where she had gone! Julie and her friend(s) had gone to their room by this time, so we all joined Dorothy and Donal and continued drinking. After a while I decided that we should go to our room and leave Rory et al to chat in privacy. We had taken up enough of his time and we should leave him in peace. We said our goodbyes and then Rory asked ”Will you be coming to see me on any other leg of the Tour?” I answered that we would be seeing him at Brighton Dome and that I was going to the Dome after to buy tickets, as we were living near Brighton at that time. Rory’s remark shook me to the core – “No you won’t” he said “from now on your name is on the door – just arrive at the Box Office and tell them – and, if you have any problems, come round to the Stage Door, ask for me, and I’ll sort it”

What!!! Why!!! No!!! This was not happening – surely there’s some mistake – I’m going to wake up any moment and find it’s all a dream. Dorothy did her best to convince me that it was real but my brain couldn’t accept it.

We got up early the next day (or should I say the same day) and left the hotel, anxious not to bump into Rory and intrude further – I remembered that Rory had told me the night before that it wasn’t right to intrude on a person’s privacy.

My initial impressions upon first meeting Rory in 1978 … well I was truly honoured to first meet Rory on ‘neutral’ ground, when he had finished ‘work’ and when he was totally relaxed. This next statement may seem strange but I have to admit that my very first impression was of his beauty and, even though we had seen him many times on stage, both my wife and I were not prepared for Rory’s looks up close and personal and, most importantly, when he was so relaxed. After being in his company for several hours I was knocked out by how calm, cool, natural, humble, gentle Rory was – not a bit like the wild man we had just watched on stage. He was just like ‘the guy next door’ – a friend whom seemingly we had known for years – no trace of ego – a normal, average guy. He talked of various subjects and avoided music completely except to ask us if we felt that the audience had enjoyed the concert that evening – he was very worried that the hall may have been a little too big and that he may not have been reaching the people at the back. (We were to find out later that this was a constant worry for Rory and, in fact, Dorothy used to go walkabouts around every venue so that she could chat with Rory afterwards and reassure him that the people at the back of the hall were enjoying the gig just as much as we were – first and foremost Rory cared for his fans)

Also at that first meeting we could both detect a glint in his eye and a hint that he was mischievous, a part of Rory’s personality that was to unfold as the years passed by.

I know you went on to see Rory over 200 times. What standout memories do you have of those concerts?

In fact I managed to count up to 237 one day and I’m certain there were more – and I’m equally certain that there are fans out there who have seen Rory many more times than I have.  I mention the number of concerts only because attempting to isolate standout moments becomes increasingly difficult as the number of gigs increase. However I shall get my brain in gear and do my best:-

I suppose my first standout memory has got to be when Rory invited my wife and I to the Capitol Radio Studio in London for his guest solo/acoustic appearance on the Richard Digance Show.  The audience consisted of hardcore fans of Richard Digance and it was pretty obvious that they had little, if any, knowledge of Rory and his music.  Rory had the enormous task of performing solo, standing at floor level, just a metre or so in front of the first row of a small ‘alien’ audience in Capitol Radio’s foyer. In this strange environment Rory naturally must have felt very nervous but, as soon as his fingers hit the strings any outward signs disappeared.  Very quickly there were gasps of awe from Richard Digance and parts of the audience, as they began to appreciate Rory’s musical fluidity.  As the evening progressed the audience were increasingly warming to Rory, as each song gained more applause and, by the end of the show, Rory had the audience eating out of his hand.  These people had entered the building not knowing who Rory was, but they would never forget Rory Gallagher as they left the building.

My next standout memory would probably be the three ‘Guitarist Nights’ with Rory, David Lindley, Richard Thompson, and Juan Martin at London Dominion Theatre, Guildford Civic Hall, and Cambridge Guildhall.  Four completely different guitarists, each one playing a mind-blowing solo set before joining together on stage for a final unforgettable performance.  In these ‘group’ performances it was very interesting to watch Rory as he gently and humbly took his rightful place as the leader of the ‘band’ as the other three guitarists appeared quite relieved to let Rory lead while they followed. 

Obviously Cork City Hall must be included in my standout memories.  I mean, anyone who saw Rory in concert anywhere knows how he played with unreal levels of intensity and passion.  Well, in Cork, I was never sure what happened but this was Rory on fire – playing in his hometown, playing to his home crowd and, impossible though it seems, raising his already incredible energy levels to 11.   Every single person in the audience a 100% diehard Rory fan, shouting, screaming, heads banging, hair flailing, feet bouncing off the floor, wild with excitement, each one sweating buckets – Rory feeding off their energy, continuing to raise his own performance to superhuman levels.  It was almost like another planet and totally totally unforgettable.

I guess there were moments here and there which stick in my mind such as the time I saw Rory sing ‘All Around Man’ solo but, on this occasion, with his harmonica rather than acoustic  ….  and the time at Bristol when, partway through the concert, Rory suddenly remembered that it was Jimi Hendrix’ birthday and, to the surprise of his band, fired into Purple Haze (completely unrehearsed).

Many more memories but I can’t leave this without mentioning seeing Rory at The Marquee.  WOW!!!!  This was Rory playing to a relatively small crowd, so intimate that he could almost reach out and touch every single one of them … and the atmosphere so hot  and sweaty that your clothes were saturated just standing still.  Rory on a stage under a low ceiling, under hot lights – the sweat running off him like a tap.  How he played with such intensity I will never know but the joint was shaking to its foundations as we all clung on to his every word, every note, to every beat, to his every scream and squeal as, once more, he amazed everyone with his fire, with his passion, with his control of the guitar, playing like no other, playing like only Rory can.  

Are there any particular moments or conversations with Rory that have stayed with you?

At the time of meeting Rory I had a wide circle of friends, including some 150 or so members of my Rugby Club, so conversations covering a wide range of subjects had always flowed thick and fast.

However many conversations with Rory were on a completely different level.  He could talk about movies with the in-depth ability of a professional movie critic; he was exceptionally well-read and could talk in great detail about books and authors that I had never heard of; his knowledge of Blues music was beyond reproach;  he was deeply interested in politics and world affairs;  he was interested in sport, particularly football.  It seemed to me that Rory was able to discuss, at length, pretty much any subject that might crop up in any  conversation.

Rory broadened my knowledge, and I learned so much from him just by chatting with him, so attempting to keep my answer concise is quite difficult.

Since music has always been the backbone of my life, I guess that moments or conversations that have stayed with me would be the ones centred around music.  Looking back I realise that I was quite blinkered and narrow minded about my musical tastes before meeting Rory but, over the years, he was able to introduce me to a melting pot of musical genres which I had hitherto dismissed.  For instance I recall the time when Rory excitedly asked me if I had got Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ album – I must admit that my blinkered self had categorised this as ‘pop’ and, therefore, it didn’t interest me – but Rory told me to get a copy as quickly as I possibly could as it was brilliant – he was right of course and I became huge Bruce fan.  Even my awareness of Blues music was limited compared to Rory’s vast knowledge, and he taught me that “there is a kaleidoscope of Blues colours out there” and that “Blues music is nowhere near as limiting as many people think” – again Rory was right of course and my album collection of Blues music quickly increased to incorporate sub genres of Blues music and unsung Blues artists.

As my record collection expanded, all due to Rory, the pleasure that I got from music increased beyond description.  Even now, each time I play an album, I think of Rory’s conversations, smile, and say “thanks Rory”

What was the most significant thing you learnt from Rory?

May I begin by telling a little tale about a particular conversation that I had with Rory’s lovely mammy at her house some time after dear Rory’s passing.  Monica was a joy to be around – she was always so delightful, so loving, so sweet, gentle, kind, calm, and controlled, so very much like Rory.  I told her that I could easily see where her son learnt his gentle, calm, kind, loving ways.  Monica was taken aback and looked at me quite surprised as she said  “But Gordon, it was Rory who taught me to be like this.”

Well, I can only echo Monica’s words and say that the most significant thing I learnt from Rory was to be more like him – or at least try to be.  I must admit that being brought up on the back streets of Manchester in the 40s wasn’t the best atmosphere for teaching calmness;  then again playing Rugby in the front row for many years wasn’t exactly the most gentle place to spend time.  So when I finally met Rory I was a mess of uncontrolled aggressive testosterone, and stepping into Rory’s company was akin to entering a wonderful alien planet of peaceful and harmonious existence.

As I got to know Rory more and more I found that I could totally relate to what Monica told me, as Rory gradually taught me to become calm, relaxed, peaceful, and even gentle, which completely changed my outlook on life for the better.  What I learnt from Rory has carried me through to a calm and peaceful old age.

Rory used the spoken word in much the same way as he used his music.  Rory’s guitar solos were always melodic, and he used just the right amount of notes to tell his story.  Rather than play a thousand meaningless notes, Rory made every note count –  Rory never used superfluous notes – he had the ability to make you cry with just ONE note.  He spoke very much the same way – no waffling, no superfluous words.  Rory could make his point in just a few words, his soft Irish tones playing delightful music in your ears.

So, just in the same way that I remember various guitar solos by Rory, his conversations also stay with me and I still learn from them to this day.  There are many things that I learnt from Rory during these conversations, but the most significant was to be gentle, calm, and relaxed  – and for this I am eternally grateful to this gentle man.

I believe you custom built and gifted Rory several guitars over the years. Can you say a bit more about this and how he reacted?

I guess the first thing I need to explain about this question is my thinking behind these guitars.  I assume that many people may not entirely comprehend my reasons but I have to reach back to my roots in a terraced house on the tough back streets of Manchester in the 40s, where I was brought up to accept the hard things in life, and to be a ‘Giver’ not a ‘Taker’.

With this mentality, after being a devoted Rory fan since the beginning, I felt that this man had given me so much, indeed enriched my life a millionfold, I needed to show my appreciation in some way but I didn’t know how – nothing seemed good enough.  After meeting Rory, and becoming his friend, I discovered his association with Chris Eccleshall.  Obviously everyone knows about Rory’s love of guitars, so I merely put ‘Chris’ and ‘Guitar’ together, hoping that the result would be something which Rory might like.

I rang Chris and chatted with him about my thoughts of a Christmas gift for Rory.  He was delighted with the idea and, as Chris knew  Rory’s tastes, preferences, ideas etc on all things concerning guitars, we discussed how to set about building a custom guitar for Rory.  The outcome was a beautiful Telecaster themed guitar (which I never actually saw) – when finished I asked Chris to pass it on to Rory as they were in regular contact.  I wasn’t even aware that Chris had engraved my name onto the guitar  (I wouldn’t have agreed to this had I known).

A short time later I was surprised – and shocked – when the postman dropped a letter from Rory  –  himself seemingly equally shocked at receiving the guitar.  He told me how much he liked the guitar, and he thanked me from the heart. 

Soon afterwards, my wife and I went to a Rory gig in London where we saw Rory backstage.  He approached us with a beautiful girl and introduced us to her as “my friends who just bought me a beautiful guitar” – Rory accompanied this introduction with a quick air guitar riff, which made us all laugh.  That was the fun side of Rory of which we were to find much more over the years – something, sadly, that the media never seemed to touch on.

After this, Christmas gifts were quite ordinary – Rory loved movies, music, and books  so I scoured bookshops  (no Internet back then)  for books about these subjects that I hoped he would like.

Many years later I saw a review of a guitar which made my jaw drop.  It was a Patrick Eggle Legend finished in natural wood, and it looked drop dead gorgeous.  By that time I knew Rory well enough to realise that he appreciated ALL guitars of any make, shape, or size, and I knew that he loved natural wood,  I wanted to do something special based on the Patrick Eggle so I visited my local guitar dealership ‘Promenade Music’ in Morecambe where the staff are extremely knowledgeable.   I inquired about a Patrick Eggle Legend and mentioned that it was for Rory –  the guy (Gary) was very excited by this and immediately picked up the phone, started to speak, and then handed the phone over to me.  It was someone from Patrick Eggle who was totally thrilled at the notion of building a guitar for Rory Gallagher.

He told me that he would personally scour the factory for the very finest timbers, and that the guitar would be finished to the most exacting standard as befits a person of Rory’s status.  Later we spoke more about the guitar and the ‘RG’ inlay at the 12th fret, which made the guitar unique.  He told me that he had a guitar case that was specially built for a guitar exhibition and that he would use this unique case for Rory’s ‘Patrick Eggle’  –  it was absolutely clear to see that he held Rory in the highest esteem.

Again Rory sent a lovely letter telling me how much he liked the natural wood, and how the electronics were very advanced.  Rory told me that he would cherish the guitar, and that he looked forward to playing it on stage and in the studio. He continued to say that he  “could only repay me by trying to play good music on it” 

This last statement just shows how truly humble Rory was.

Sadly despite Rory’s visions for the guitar, and other plans that he enthused about in his letter, he never got the chance to see these through to fruition.

Can you remember where you were when you heard the sad news of Rory’s passing? Were you able to attend his funeral or requiem mass?

I could never forget where I was when I heard of Rory’s passing.  It was justanother ordinary day at home until the phone rang.  I picked up, said ‘hello’, and then a terribly distressed voice simply said “Gordon, our buddy’s dead.” 

Those words sucked the breath from my lungs as I searched my scrambled brain for clarity – after all this couldn’t really be happening.  It felt like someone had turned out the sun.  But the words were spoken by a deeply upset Phil McDonnell, and I knew in that moment that our dear friend Rory had lost his battle for life.

I have no recollection of anything else that was said after those four tragic words, nor of a single thing I did or said until I was contacted again a few days later with details of the funeral.  I was able to book a flight to Cork, and I managed to get a room at Jury’s Inn for a couple of nights. (now the Leonardo Hotel).

The evening before the funeral, not knowing what to do, I decided to take a walk to a few non-tourist bars that I knew.  I sampled a Guinness in the first bar then called next door to the second one where I could scarcely believe what met my eyes.  Standing there, drinks in hand, were Gerry McAvoy and Phil McDonnell – of all the bars in all the world  –  they called me over and told me that Brendan was on the bar’s public phone (no mobiles back then) trying to contact me at my hotel.   I went across and tapped him on the shoulder, and I wish I could have captured the look of surprise on Brendan’s face when he turned around, wondering how I had suddenly appeared just as he was ringing my room.  It certainly was a surreal moment for us both.

Eventually we made our way to Rory’s beautiful home on the outskirts of the city where, again, unfortunately I have little recollection of events apart from chatting with Rory’s beloved mammy who is truly one of the loveliest people who ever set foot on this planet. 

The following morning, the day of the funeral, I left my hotel room to take the lift and, as the doors opened, I found myself face to face with Pete Collins whom I knew from his days as Rory’s Road Manager in the late 70s/early 80s  –  another surreal moment as we gazed at each other in some disbelief.  Apparently Pete had come up to tell me that the others were waiting in the foyer ready to book a taxi for the funeral.

After the funeral service we were taken to St Oliver’s Cemetery where Rory’s band took their rightful place as pallbearers, carrying the coffin from the Cemetery gates to the grave.  When my dear friend Tom O’Driscoll noticed me, he made sure that I too found a place in carrying Rory’s coffin.

My wife and I later had the honour of being invited to London’s Brompton Oratory for Rory’s Requiem Mass, and afterwards at the Irish Club.

Looking back, what are your lasting impressions of Rory? How did he impact you personally and/or professionally?

In my particular case the answer to the first part of the question is easy … my lasting impression of Rory (and indeed that of my wife) is that Rory was the most delightful person anyone could ever wish to meet.  Over the years my wife and I have spent many enjoyable hours in Rory’s company, and I can genuinely say that he has always been courteous, pleasant, polite, and (I don’t use this word very often) punctilious.  Moreover I always found Rory to be respectable, virtuous,  knowledgeable, funny, and very mischievous .  I miss him dearly every single day.

For the second part of the question I must refer back to the time when I told his darling mammy how I could easily see where Rory got his sweet, gentle ways and how she looked at me with surprise and said “But Gordon, it was Rory who taught me to be this way”  I can only echo dear Monica’s thoughts as I too was influenced by Rory’s mannerisms and I have become a much gentler person as a result. 

Rory’s professional approach also influenced me greatly, as I recall a chat I had with him in the late 70s when I asked how he managed to perform at such an intense levels night after night.  He was touring non-stop but never seemed to suffer from a cold, flu, hangover etc like we mere mortals.  Rory’s answer changed the whole approach to my professional career …  he told me that whatever tool you use in your job, be it a hammer, a spade, or a pen, you have a duty to use that tool to the very best of your ability each and every day  …  he continued  “I am no different to anybody else.  The tool of my trade just happens to be a guitar and it is my duty to use it to the very best of my ability every single day”  His words still bring gears to my eyes  –  this was RORY GALLAGHER telling me that HE was no different to anybody else  –  how humble can a man get.

Do you keep in touch with the Gallagher family?

I used to visit Monica at her home several times a year and we kept in touch by long long weekly phone calls and by cards/letters.  Monica was the most delightful lady, so very easy to chat with that time flew by and. if we were phoning, an hour or two would disappear as if it were a few minutes.  At her home she was the best friend anyone could dream of  –  I recall that, after my wife and I made our first couple of visits, Monica remarked “well you know by now where everything is, so if you want a cup of tea or a slice of cake, just help yourself as if it were your own home”

 I/we would always take Monica out for dinner at a local hotel and she would bring along either Kathleen or Noreen, and the evenings were filled with laughter as if they were lifelong friends.  Monica was a terrible flirt and, if there was a laugh to be had, she would flirt outrageously with the taxi man, the barman, or the waiter just to make everyone laugh.  One one occasion, in the taxi, she was flirting with the taxi man (as she called them) and he asked if this was a special occasion … I wrapped my arm around Monica and told him that I was taking my girlfriend for a birthday meal.  The taxi man asked which birthday it was so I said ” would you believe that this beautiful lady is 65 (I forget the correct age at that time)?”  The taxi man replied that she looked so much younger, at which point Monica said “and you would never guess that my boyfriend here is 60 (or whatever)”  –  the taxi man peered through the rear view mirror and said “well sir, you don’t look a day younger!”  Monica roared with laughter at this and was quick to tell Kathleen whom we met at the hotel  …  a good start to a laugh-out-loud evening with the two wonderful sisters-in-law.

I can never forget the day that Monica passed … it was the day of our Wedding Anniversary (14th August) and we had gone out in the evening for a celebratory meal.  When we eventually arrived home the phone rang and I answered …. “Gordon sit down”  –  I couldn’t understand why I was being told to sit so I replied  “No I’m ok standing”  –  again this time more seriously  “Gordon sit down!!”   I was then told about Monica’s death which completely and utterly floored me, as there had been no indications whatsoever in our recent phone calls.  

Afterwards I continued to keep in touch with Rory’s Aunty Kathleen until her sad death.  In one letter from Kathleen she told she now had Monica’s fur coat which was left to her upon Monica’s passing.  She went on to say that when she wore it “it was like Monica’s arms were wrapped around her” which must have been such a comforting thought.  I recall one particular phone conversation when Kathleen was quite ill …  this lovely lady told me that she had no fears about death because she would “have such a wonderful reception when she went through the gates of St Oliver’s” as she would be greeted by her husband Jimmy, her son Des, by Monica and Rory  …  what a beautiful vision.

How do you think Rory’s approach to the guitar influenced the musicians who followed him?

I could never underestimate the influence that Rory has had on professional musicians, on fans, and on the general public.  I mean it is well documented about the likes of Brian May, Slash etc etc.  Look a little deeper and you will find many more superb musicians who will openly praise Rory, but sadly don’t get the well-deserved press footage, such as my personal favourite Eamonn McCormack.  Listen to Eamonn’s CDs and you will hear the influence that Rory has had in shaping this enviable guitarist/singer/songwriter’s career.  

Whenever I have spoken with musicians (both amateur and professional) about Rory, it is clear that Rory’s personality shines through just as positively as his music.  So very many of them have been influenced by Rory’s mannerisms, by his gentle ways, by his charm, and always by his unbending dedication to the Blues and its origins.

On a personal level I still pick up a guitar every single day and spend one or two very blissful hours playing whatever comes into my head – and there is always one or more of Rory’s songs, when I wish I could improvise one tenth as good as Rory.  But it is Rory who has influenced me to stick at it and carry on playing when I could have so easily given up.  I am confident that thousands more bedroom guitarists have been similarly influenced.

I am always taken by surprise by people whom I have encountered, whether on the Rugby field or merely dog walking, and the topic of conversation turns to music.  In these circumstances I naturally mention Rory and, of course, many people are not familiar with the name.  On the other hand I am often amazed when an elderly lady’s eyes light up at the very mention of Rory’s name, when she will tell me of all the gigs she has attended in her younger years – or that her son/daughter is a massive fan.  Upon  meeting a fellow guitar player, the mention of Rory’s name is usually greeted by a sharp intake of breath and a throwing back of the head … followed by a lengthy chat about how the guy spent his formative years studying Rory and hanging on to his every note.  This happened to me most recently when I bought a painting from an artist who raised the subject of music … he asked who my favourite guitarist was and, when he heard the mention of Rory, he transformed from a serious art dealer into a ‘first five rows’ Rory fan, even inviting me to a barbeque at his home (which I declined).  I guess there are millions of people out there who are singing Rory’s songs in their heads without anybody knowing.

I was a great Tony Joe White fan, and Rory (also a fan) once told me how underestimated Tony Joe White was … well Rory, my good dear friend, I do believe that you too have been sadly underestimated .. except for your fans who love you. I just hope that, like me, many musicians (and indeed fans) have been deeply influenced by Rory’s personality, by his dedication, by his love, and by his wisdom

Is there anything you wish you could have asked or said to Rory that you didn’t get the chance to?

Your question – is there anything you wish you could have said or asked that you didn’t get the chance to? It’s an excellent question and, at first glance, I would say that my chats with Rory over the years must have covered pretty much everything. Thinking more deeply, and with hindsight, there are a few things that I still think about regularly and wish we’d had the chance to talk about.

The first thing still troubles me to this day.  It was in the MIdland Hotel, Manchester, after a gig and we were all sitting around a table in the hotel bar.  Rory turned to me and said “I must buy you a Claddagh Ring” … well I didn’t think that Rory owed me anything at all, and certainly not a gold ring, so I begged him not to bother.  At the time (no computers, no mobile phones etc) I didn’t realise the significance of such a ring and. afterwards, it began to preoccupy my thoughts.  This continued to concern me and years later, during one of my visits to see Monica, she actually raised the issue and told me that I had upset Rory by refusing to let him buy me a Claddagh Ring.  I tried to justify my thoughts at the time by saying that Rory had given so much through his music and his friendship that I didn’t want him to go to the trouble of buying me anything at all.  Monica then explained that a Claddagh Ring wasn’t merely an item of jewellery but that it represents ‘Love, Loyalty, and Friendship’ and that Rory was puzzled and upset by my refusal.   When I heard this I was deeply ashamed and couldn’t apologise enough.  Now, of course, I would give anything to be able to clearly explain the whole thing to dear Rory.  All I can now do is to lash myself daily and carry the pain every day for the rest of my life.

One topic which we never got around to discussing was Rory’s songwriting.  I have been interested in song lyrics from my very early teens and I always followed artists who wrote songs rather than the ones who just sang them  –  moreover they needed to play an instrument, preferably guitar, and hence my eventual transition into Rory.  There was so much to chat about that we never got round to Rory’s music and his songwriting  –  even today I can catch a lyric of extraordinary beauty in one of his songs and, with hindsight, I wish I could have asked Rory about some of his great songs, his thought processes, his ideas, his inspirations, perhaps the meaning behind the words etc..  

The last thing that we discussed, but never got the chance to see it come to fruition, was something that Rory talked about individually to both my wife and myself on separate occasions.  Back then Rory told us that sometime ‘in the future’ he could see us sitting on the lawn of his home in Cork, playing acoustic guitars together  –  clearly a man who had visions for the future and for a long and happy life.