Rory Gallagher, Irish rock legend, was renowned for his explosive guitar playing, which was akin to dancing dangerously close to the edge of a volcano. Despite his fiery on-stage persona, he was an introverted individual away from the limelight, finding the social necessities of the music industry challenging. The intriguing new documentary, Rory Gallagher: Calling Card (aired on RTÉ One, 6.30pm on June 3rd), explores this dichotomy in Gallagher, a man whom many consider one of the most significant Irish rock artists of the 20th century.
Prominent musicians like Brian May from the band Queen describe Gallagher as an awe-inspiring talent, with May attributing part of his career to Gallagher’s influence. Bob Geldof, too, expressed amazement at how a young man emerging from a showband could authentically play the blues, describing it as the “Leeside Delta” rather than the Mississippi Delta.
Gallagher’s fanbase spans across the entire gamut of rock music, attracting fans from Johnny Marr of The Smiths to Slash, the guitarist for Guns ‘n’ Roses. Even The Rolling Stones tried to recruit Gallagher in the mid-70s as a replacement for Mick Taylor, but Gallagher ultimately decided not to get involved with the band’s circus-like lifestyle and instead travelled to Japan for a tour.
While numerous documentaries have been made about Gallagher’s life and music, Rory Gallagher: Calling Card stands out for its comprehensive coverage. It celebrates his abilities, acknowledges his personal struggles, and details his life story, from his birth in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, his early life in Cork city’s MacCurtain Street, where he became enamoured with blues music and got his initial guitar, and his eventual relocation to London.
There, Gallagher headlined at the Marquee Club with Taste, his power trio, leaving his mark on many who attended, including future Queen lead guitarist Brian May. Casually reminiscing Gallagher’s technique, May commented on how Gallagher’s guitar “sings” when turned up and distortion kicked in. This was exactly the sound and energy that May strived for in his style.
Bob Geldof reminisces about the experience of witnessing the final performance of Taste at the Isle of Wight rock festival in 1970. Geldof recounts how Rory Gallagher, in his opinion, greatly outshone Jimmy Hendrix that day. Despite this sounding blasphemous, Geldof would have chosen Gallagher over Hendrix on that fateful day, calling his performance extraordinarily outstanding.
Unfortunately, the fate of many rock stars is steeped in tragedy and Gallagher was no exception. He lived for his music without settling down with anyone or anything else. Moya Brennan from Clannad labels Gallagher as a true man of music, noting his life revolved solely around it. He wasn’t engaged in many interactions outside of his musical realm.
Gallagher’s manager, who was also his brother Dónal, believed that Gallagher’s own music caused his inner sadness and melancholy. Writing blues music that focuses on negativity only exacerbated his mental state.
Like some of his peers in the rock and roll industry, Gallagher had his own addiction struggles. An intense fear of flying caused him reliance on prescription drugs, which coupled with his heavy alcohol consumption, severely damaged his liver. His life tragically ended at the age of 47 in June 1995, following an MRSA infection contracted during a hospital stay for a liver transplant. Niall Stokes, the editor of Hot Press, saw Gallagher’s death as a horrific twist of fate.
Despite his struggles, Gallagher’s music and his legacy continue to inspire. Broadcaster Dave Fanning recalls the Christmas cards he used to receive from Gallagher, explaining that Rory was able to communicate deeply through his music. It was in this music that both he and his fans found a common ground to get lost in, a testament to Gallagher’s sheer brilliance.