The 'Holy Grail': Rory Gallagher by Donal Gallagher!

A COMMENT FRANCESCA LET ON AMAZON

A few years ago, I happened to come across a video. Two young men, the atmosphere of the 1970s, putting a guitar in the back of a Ford. Then I heard a young man’s voice saying, “I was born in Donegal, that’s up in the northwest of Ireland. Now I live in Cork…”

The two men got into the car, and then the most beautiful music I had ever heard started playing.

I had no idea who they were. I had no idea what I was watching. I only discovered afterwards that the video was from *Irish Tour ’74*, and that the two young men were Rory and Donal Gallagher.

That was my first encounter with Rory’s music.

I cried twice that day. The first time was from the overwhelming emotion of discovering such an extraordinary artist I had never heard before. The second was when, while looking for biographical information about him, I discovered that he was no longer with us.

I listen to many different artists, but Rory is different. I use the word “fan” very selectively when it comes to him. The devotion I feel for Rory is something I have never felt for any other artist.

For that reason, I want to thank Donal from the bottom of my heart for this book, and for the enormous amount of work that went into it.

Donal talks extensively about himself and his role alongside Rory, and I found that particularly interesting. The work he did behind the scenes was fundamental. While Rory was the one on stage, Donal was there behind the scenes, supporting him and helping make everything possible. That contribution deserves to be recognised, and this book gives us a much greater appreciation of just how important it was.

However, I think it is important for potential readers — especially the more curious fans who want to know about Rory’s intimate and private life — to know what they will and won’t find in this book.

This is, in many ways, Donal’s story as much as Rory’s. Rory’s childhood and his death are described in greater detail than I have found in many other books or articles, but the private side of Rory — the deeper portrait of the man himself — is largely missing.

Here and there, there are little hints that give you a glimpse of what kind of person Rory was, and the historical period they lived through is described beautifully, with many interesting anecdotes. But I was left wanting to know more about Rory as a man.

As a reader, I sometimes had the impression that Rory may not have been an easy person in private. Perhaps there were things that Donal simply chose not to discuss. And if no one wants to talk about that — not even his brother — perhaps that is simply out of respect for Rory and his privacy.

After all, perhaps what should matter most to us is the music, and nothing more.

*Edged in Blue* transports you to a golden era of music. It makes you feel as though you are on the road with Rory, travelling from one place to another, and gives fans like me — those who never had the pleasure, the luck, or the honour of seeing Rory perform live — the chance to be there with him, backstage, on the road, and on stages all over the world.

It is, of course, a book for Rory’s fans, but I also think it will appeal to anyone who loves that extraordinary era of music and wants to experience what life on the road was really like.

Thank you, Donal, for allowing us to see Rory not only as the legendary musician, but also as the person behind the guitar — and for allowing us to understand the enormous amount of work, care and dedication that existed behind the scenes.

Rory, I love you, and I always will.

I hope there is a heaven, because I would love to meet you there one day.

Francesca

Without a doubt one of the most interesting books ever published about Rory!

A huge privilege!

Hi Carmen, Alicja and Grace!… And anyone involve at QUARTO GROUP

I received this morning ‘’Gallagher’s Guitars’’ and consider that it is a huge privilege to be one of the new proprietaries of this marvelous book any Rory’s fan should have (soon) in his library.

I already know what awaits me in the coming days: reading and promoting this superb work on the homepage of this web site.

I want to thank you all because for an old Rory’s fan, after being present a certain October 17th, 2024 at Bonhams London for the sale of ''Rory Gallagher’s collection'', it means a lot to have this special book in my hands!!!

Even a longtime fan (50 years this year!) can still learn something new about Rory thanks to this book!

This fascinating book (even for non-guitarists) cleverly presents around forty guitars while following a chronology of Rory's life and career. The author (Juliane Bitoun) has an excellent knowledge of the life of our favorite Irishman and, with the help of Donal Gallagher, always there for the big occasions, paints a portrait of a collector so passionate about guitars that he owns dozens of them.

Another piece of information, which was new to me and therefore a huge surprise, is that around thirty other guitars were not included in the Bonhams sale in London in October 2024!

Perhaps they will be featured in a future sale of ''Rory's Gallagher Collection II''?

The most comprehensive book on Rory I have ever read!!! No Rory fan could put this book down until they read it all...   If I had to choose only one, I would choose without hesitation the one by Lauren Alex O’Hagan & Rayne Morales!

Jacques Mouchet, RoryGallagher.fr editor

Published October 4th, 2024, ‘Rory Gallagher - The Later Years’ undoubtedly represents a colossal work and a wealth of information never before published!

Its only flaw, although in all fairness it’s evident in its title: is that it only deals with Rory’s last ten years, but here and there, a few deeper dives into his past emerge over the course of a few pages.

Only availbale in English language - Wymer Publishing - 408 pages

TAKE A LOOK AT - REWRITING RORY - THE WEB SITE

Interesting interview of Alex O'Hagan and Rayne Morales by Mark Stevens and a link to his chat on Youtube

TESTIMONIALS

The Authors: Lauren Alex O'Hagan and Rayne Morales made an incredible work (only Rory Gallagher's lovers could do!) and decided to turn their back to the easy, lazy (and in this case stupid) 'Rise and Fall' narrative ; so many ''journalists' made in the passed.

A  book that will bring to any Rory's fan (young or old) so many and exclusives news about the ten last years of Rory's too short life, and so much details (we dreamed to learn)

They also rehabilitates his 3 great last albums, strongly and unfairly underrated: 'Jinx', 'Defender' and ''Fresh Evidences'

Source: rewritingrory.co.uk

I am 30% through reading this fantastic new book, by Lauren and Australian lady Rayne.. The detail, research and facts are phenomenal. If these 2 were searching for Lord Lucan... They would find him! I saw Rory many many times, but with this book I am learning so so much. If you are a Rory fan you need to get this great work right now, Christmas or new year present perhaps. You could still get a copy from the obvious channels Amazon and other sites even shops ? WHAT ARE SHOPS? I just have my lap top! Thanks Lauren Alex O'Hagen wonderful work with your friend Rayne Morales. A BRILIANT read-brilliant thanks for your incredible detailed work on Rory's last great years that fortunately I got to many times... Thank you Rory!

Peter W.

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As a lifelong Rory fan, I think that the book really puts the record straight (!). I was always dismayed and slightly bitter that Rory never got the recognition that his musicianship and songwriting deserved. His lyrics were quite superb and like no one else’s. I saw Rory live many times in the 70s, 8Os and was at both Town & Country shows in the 90s and was ashamed at the audience reaction when he had to leave the stage through illness in that last show. You are to be congratulated for a honest appraisal of a wonderful musician and lovely man.

Sean McDonal

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M. S. MILLER - USA, November 15th 2024 
Excellent! I've read two or three books about Rory Gallagher and without a doubt, this one is the best. The authors took the time to do the research, there is no snarkiness in this book, except in the excellent descriptions of lazy music journalists who seemed to have an issue with Rory not being the 20-something beauty he was in the 70s. The authors have complete respect for Mr. Gallagher, which he finally deserves. It is not an easy read at times and I had to put the book down for the evening and return to it in a day or two. It is raw but it is real life. I have always respected the hell out of Rory Gallagher but this book made me respect him even more, and his loving brother Donal (who tried the best he could). It's just so sad that Rory could not (or would not) get the real help that he needed. He was in pain - mostly mental but also physical - but he did not stop doing what he loved. God Bless You Rory Gallagher! You are dearly missed.

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Australian fan - New light for a true legend of Irish rock and blues.

This book was very recently published (2024) and became a 'must have' as, they rightly point out, his last ten or so years have been glossed over. Other publications I have read - some of which they make reference to - bear out their claim. The approach borders on the academic with the book broken into four main parts each including a number of 'essays'. Their aim in seeking out as many people as possible who had interaction with Rory Gallagher during this period is exhaustive (as the copious footnotes attest) and the painstaking, dare I say 'labour-of-love', research sheds new light on this period of his amazing career. Even as a long-time follower (since the Taste days back in Belfast) there was much I was unaware of, not aided by the fact that I moved to Australia some 40 years ago and reports on his career were all but absent in the music press and media in general. These co-authors deserve all the plaudits they receive for this publication and for their Facebook site 'rewriting Rory'. It concludes with a look at his profile since his untimely death and particularly during the Covid years, all of which display an artist who is still appreciated by the 'old guard' while gathering newer and younger interest. An uncompromising and, at times, uncomfortable read but one worthy and true to the Gallagher legacy.

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Rory Gallagher The Later Years is a book that delivers on its promise to debunk rumors surrounding the interesting life of blues rock master Rory Gallagher (1948-1995). Here we have a book that provides sources for the story of an artist who, although he was going through personal and health problems, had reached the peak of his abilities as a musician. The book details moments in Gallagher's life that have been dishonestly overlooked by the mainstream media. One of the main delights of the book is the behind-the-scenes details of the recording of his last three studio albums, Jinx (1982), Defender (1987) and Fresh Evidence (1990), as well as his tours around Europe and the United States, all written in a dynamic yet academic style, since the chapters are a series of essays, which gives the book its full veracity. It's also the biography that shows the most affection and empathy for the artist being portrayed in the work, since in other books Rory was unfortunately not given the respect he deserved and was often labeled as a "too complex person". It's a scientific-journalistic investigation that is first and foremost a love letter to an artist who has done so much for the history of music and who unfortunately still doesn't get his due recognition. You can read it without fear and I guarantee that after reading it, you will be enchanted by the artist and the person that Rory was.

Monday, April 14th, 2025

I received and read these two books last week (Thanks to Vada, Editorial and Publicity Assistant at GILL BOOKS)

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