BLUES POWER
WHEN THE WORLD learned of Rory Gallagher’s death in 1995, he was mourned almost as one might a friend, even by those who only knew him through his music. At 47 years of age, he was too young to leave the stage with such finality. Witnesses to Rory’s electrifying live shows knew what a formidable performer he was — coming back for encore after full-tilt encore, shredding with his battered ’61 Strat as long as the crowd cheered and stamped their feet for more. So it was all the more saddening that there could be no more curtain calls for a man who was humble by nature but whose guitar playing was loved by millions for its ecstatic energy and unaffected eloquence.
Rory was also a prolific recording artist and left behind a back catalog as thick as a phone book. Like the wheels of his tour bus, the tape was always rolling, so there was always going to be more to discover in the vaults. Now, on what would have been the 50th year of his recording career, Rory’s family has unveiled (Chess/Ume), a compilation of previously unreleased tracks, all linked by his lifelong love for blues guitar.
