Rewriting Rory

Aww really? Yes, it's one of mine too. Rory is on fire there. Hard to believe just how ill he was.

Today marks 31 years since Rory’s incredible performance at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient. To celebrate, here’s a short clip from the concert, featuring one of my all-time favourite renditions of I Could’ve Had Religion.

#rorygallagher #blues #1990s

Wishing Rory’s brother and longtime manager, Dónal Gallagher, a very happy 76th birthday today! ❤️Thank you, Dónal, for everything you've done - and continue to do - to keep Rory’s legacy alive.

#rorygallagher

On this day in 1987, Rory played the Seepark Open Air Festival in Arbon. Note his bleeding hand and blood on the scratchplate in some of these photos - evidence of just how intensely he played. Read more on this gig here: rewritingrory.co.uk/2024/08/08/o...

#rorygallagher #blues #1980s

A few photos of Rory at the Langenau Open Air Festival, taken by Wolfgang Gürster on this day in 1994. "Rory fascinates just as much as he did 20 years ago" wrote Neu-Ulmer Zeitung, hailing him as "the star of the evening."

#rorygallagher #blues #1990s

1989 Mildenhall Interview One year ago today, I shared some amazing audience footage from Rory’s headlining performance at the Mildenhall Rock & Blues Festival, which took place on this day in 1989. On this anniversary …

On this day in 1989, Rory played the Mildenhall Rock & Blues Festival. I'm delighted to share a pre-concert interview he gave to a local radio station. Rebroadcast after Rory’s passing, it also features a new interview with Gerry McAvoy.

#rorygallagher

rewritingrory.co.uk/2025/08/05/1...

Recently, I teamed up with the brilliant Steve Clarke - Bonhams' expert guitar tech - to write a piece for the academic journal RIFFS: Experimental Writing on Popular Music on Rory's Strat. You can read it here:
riffsjournal.org/lauren-alex-...

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@rorygallagher.com

A day late because of yesterdays special blog post but too important to miss: On july 17th 1988, Rory Gallagher took part in a landmark concert at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre to mark Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday.
#rorygallagher #1980s #dublinireland

1982 RTÉ Interview I may be a little biased, but on 18 July 1982, rock and roll witnessed one of its greatest moments: when Rory and Phil shared the stage at Punchestown Racecourse at Hot Press Magazine’s 5th Birthda…

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of one of my favourite moment in music history: Rory & Phil onstage together at Punchestown Racecourse, 1982. The day before, Rory dropped by RTÉ for a quick interview. Check it out at the link below:

rewritingrory.co.uk/2025/07/17/1...

#rorygallagher #blues #1980s

Two years on, and I’m still celebrating the release of the incredible All Around Man – Live in London, which came out on this day in 2023.
Let me know your thoughts on the album below
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Cork Rocks for Rory! Following the fantastic news last October that Rory’s beloved Strat would be returning home to Ireland, excitement was already mounting for how Cork might mark the 30th anniversary of his passing o…

As Cork Rocks for Rory comes to an end today, here's a special photo diary blog post reflecting on the festival. I've also included the Rory pub quiz I prepared for Sheena Crowley's Gallagher Fest. Feel free to test your knowledge & let me know how you get on!

rewritingrory.co.uk/2025/07/04/c...

Today marks the 38th anniversary of Rory’s extraordinary Defender album!

#rorygallagher #1980s #blues

On this day in 1994, Rory performed at the Mühle Hunziken in Bern. The day after, he was interviewed by the Berner Agenda.
You can read the translated interview in full on the Rewriting Rory website:
rewritingrory.co.uk/.../01/berne...
#rorygallagher #blues #1990s

Did any of you catch Rory on his 1985 tour of the US and Canada? If so, then please get in touch! I'm cooking something up for a future blog post 😁

📷 Charlie Gili

#rorygallagher #blues #1980s

My only solace now it that Rory G and Rory C are duelling in heaven. The photo is of me and Rory at the festival a few years back."

Thank you, Pat, for sharing such a powerful and personal tribute. Your story is a poignant reminder of how Rory’s music continues to inspire across generations (5)

He was so happy when he finally made the festival poster and moved indoors. My son played the festival for about ten years the last few while battling brain cancer. Sadly my Rory passed away in March and missed his first festival in many years (4)

My Rory took up the guitar at the age of 7 playing Guns n Roses, Greenday etc. Eventually he started to play Rory G and fell in love with Rory’s music as much as I did. As a teenager my son traveled to Ballyshannon with his band Catfish and played on the streets (3)

Bob was deeply moved by Pat's choice of image and the story behind it:

"I first heard Rory G in 1972 and was swept off my feet like many others. I quickly bought his full back catalogue and swore if I ever had a son his name would be Rory. My dream came through in 1996 why my Rory was born. (2)

And we have a winner!

Huge thank you to everybody who entered the competition to win a copy of Rory Gallagher: The Later Years and the Stratmasters DVD. After carefully going through all the entries, Bob Hewitt has selected Pat Comer as the winner (1)

#rorygallagher #blues #30thanniversary

Just a quick reminder — today is your last chance to enter the Rory Gallagher: The Later Years giveaway!
Send in a photo of your favourite Rory item in your collection to rewritingrory@gmail.com and share in less than 100 words why it means something to you. Best of luck!!! #rorygallagher

30 Years, 30 Messages of Love It’s hard to believe that today marks thirty years since the world lost dear Rory. To me – and to so many others – he wasn’t just one of the most electrifying musicians and dedicated pe…

Hard to believe it’s been 30 years since we lost Rory. To mark the day, I reached out to his family, friends, fellow musicians and fans to gather 30 messages of love. I hope you find comfort, inspiration & connection in their words:

rewritingrory.co.uk/2025/06/14/3...

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At Tower Records, Rory watched Paul perform and presented him with a 1962 reissue Fender Stratocaster and a Vox AC30 amplifier as his prize. He described Paul as a "hot player with a hot future."

Around 1,000 guitarists from across the UK were invited to perform without pedals in their local music shops. Their performances were filmed, and Rory was given the edited videos to watch and select his favourite. The lucky winner was Paul Rose, who has since gone on to play with Band of Friends.

Throughout June 1990, Rory had to cancel a number of preplanned festival gigs due to poor health, but he still found the time to serve as a judge for the Fender Young Guitarist Competition at Tower Records in London.
#rorygallagher #1990s #blues #fender

Wonderful photo! I shall add it to the competition entries and wish you the best of luck! 😀

Entries will close on 16 June and the winner will be chosen by Bob.

Best of luck! (4)

And for those who asked me, this competition is for Rory fans, old and new! Even if you never had a chance to see him live or only discovered him recently, your contributions are just as valid ❤️(3)

To enter, just send a photo of your favourite Rory item in your collection to rewritingrory@gmail.com and tell me in less than 100 words why it means something to you. It can be anything: a vintage concert poster, a guitar pick, a signed photo, a newspaper clipping… (2)

Just a quick reminder that I’m still giving away a free copy of Rory Gallagher: The Later Years to one of my followers. Bob Hewitt has also kindly added one of his much sought-after Stratmasters DVD to the prize fund! (1)

#rorygallagher #blues #1980s #competition

To enter, just send a photo of your favourite Rory item in your collection to rewritingrory@gmail.com and tell me in less than 100 words why it matters to you.
Bob Hewitt will be choosing the one that speaks to him most.
Entries will close on 16 June !
Best of luck!