Rory Gallagher: The Man Behind the Guitar

by Julian Vignoles

Rory Gallagher is revered as one of the greatest guitarists ever to pick up the instrument. The energy of his shows and his commitment to the audience is legendary. Drawing on extensive interviews with those who knew him, Julian Vignoles casts new light on the familial, Rory Gallagher is revered as one of the greatest guitarists ever to pick up the instrument. The energy of his shows and his commitment to the audience is legendary. Drawing on extensive interviews with those who knew him, Julian Vignoles casts new light on the familial, musical and sociocultural contexts that inspired Gallagher, and on the complex personality that drove his career. Vignoles reassesses Gallagher’s song writing, suggesting it has been somewhat overlooked because of his dexterity as a guitarist. Crucially, the book shows how many of Gallagher’s songs speak eloquently – and poignantly – about the person who penned them. Meticulously researched, this intimate portrait is the insightful biography that Rory Gallagher deserves. An engrossing read, it will be as revelatory for curious neophytes as for his legions of loyal fans.

Genres: Music, Biography

Paperback

Published April 16, 2021

Reviews

[Rob Twinem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rory Gallagher was one of the greatest Irish rock musicians of the mid 70's. A shy impressionable young man who was only truly happy when he stood centre stage and performed as only he could in front of his adoring and worshiping fans. However underneath that sensitive persona was a man uneasy in his own company, restless, unable to settle preferring to tour endlessly. In the quiet dark moments he consumed an increasingly dangerous amount of alcohol and prescription drugs (prescribed for him to combat his fear of flying) Julian Vignoles has written a sympathetic moving biography complete with many pictures of Rory the musician at ease and on stage. Everyone who spoke about Gallagher had nothing to offer but the highest praise; his professionalism, his approach and dedication is all the more poignant when we realize how disillusioned he became in later years, his drug and alcohol dependency leading sadly to his premature death. A wonderful read that for me personally held many memories and a great tribute to a quiet gentle musician.

[Allan Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about Rory that focuses on the man rather than the music. To describe Rory as enigmatic really doesn't begin to describe the complexities of his existence.

Lots of great feedback from friends and colleagues of Rory throughout his career.

It's hard to complete this book without feeling immensely sad that a man who gave such joy and pleasure to us all while he was onstage or making albums seemed to find it difficult to find much for himself when he was outside of those roles.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Worthy and Touching Tribute

This is a wonderful, touching and worthy tribute to one of the finest guitarists and singer-songwriters ever to tread the boards. It is honest, warm and respectful and full of detail and wonderful photos. An excellent tribute.

[Aoife Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book was slightly heavy on some of the technical aspects of the music, such as the guitar specifications, and quoting from Rory's songs and lyrics, this is a well-written book. Rory was very gifted. The end of the book describing his sad decline and somewhat lonely death was enough to have me bawling my eyes out. A sad end for a talented, gentle and shy man.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant insight into the music of Rory Gallagher, from his showband days to his unfortunate early demise.
Julian Vignoles has a good grasp on the facts and also pulls quotes from all kinds of sources, giving an insight to the kind of Ireland Rory Gallagher grew up in.
The author also does his best to get inside the personal, off stage life of the blues legend but as he was so notoriously private, details are still relatively sparse.
This biography soars while Rory is in his pomp, descriptions of his live shows capturing the phenomenon that he was on stage.
The book is beautifully designed and put together and the back of the book acts as an index of everything Rory ever recorded.
A fantastic tribute to a musical legend.

[Patrick Macke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two hundred pages later and it's hard to say I know anything about the man behind the guitar, maybe nobody does ... It seems clear now that Rory wanted the music to be the story and I'm good with that ... Still, in reading about Rory I can't help but think of the story of Alan Wilson (of Canned Heat) as told in the book "Blind Owl Blues" - two musical savants, socially awkward, mystically tied to the blues ... It's a lonely story save for the music

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is difficult to write a book about such an intensely private person, and this book makes a decent effort at that without ever *really* getting to "the man behind the guitar". The best bits definitely focus on his music career, from the technical adjustments he made to his first Strat, through to his lyrical themes and his style as a band leader; the weakest bits are the forays into his personal life. (One review of this book blared that it insinuated he was "gay and autistic"; no it does not.) Possibly a missed opportunity to explore more deeply his (unusual for a blues rock guitarist) Catholic faith and the mentions of his later descent into folk spirituality are also not really explored. Most of the sourcing is second hand, from interviews in magazines, others' memoirs, and excerpts from older material.

It's not a bad book but I don't feel much closer to possibly my favourite artist of all time for having read it. Now, I'm going to listen to Shin Kicker...

[Mark Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory Gallagher was a very private person even though he was a rock n roller and the first half of the book bares this out, as it is mostly comments taken from interviews and also analysing his songs, which in some cases could have been autobiographical.
The second half of the book does seem to be more about him. He seems to have been a paradox, on the one hand not out partying and drug taking ( he did drink and that sadly was his downfall) but in the studio, where his music was concerned stubborn about what his music sounds like and where it should go. Though he fronted The Taste in the early 1970's he later fronted the Rory Gallagher Band. I had the great privilege of seeing him live twice. He was a quite brilliant musician and appeared to love what he was doing.

[Mark Bishop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another musician biography that was written without conducting any interviews. All of the information was gleaned from various books and magazine articles. There were a few factual errors that I spotted.
I probably wouldn’t have finished the book, but I’m a guitar player and Rory is one of my favorites. I kept hoping to find something of interest, but mainly just found the author speculating. All of the information in this book could probably be found on Wikipedia.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're after an introduction to Rory this is a great book, otherwise it has little new to add. This may partly be Rory's fault as he was such a private person. A much longer book on him would be better.

[Anno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rory

Great breakdown of the importance culturally of the young bluesman and an insight into his music and life, well recommended.

[Giorgos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Μέχρι τώρα η καλύτερη βιογραφία για τον R. Gallagher!

[AshleyS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing jumps around too much but it's a good overall summary. Touches on bit doesn't go OTT on speculations regarding his personality and personal life.

Research: ****
Writing: ***

[Michal Puchovský · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veľmi dobre napísaný životopis talentovaného hudobníka. Písané s priam vedeckou precíznosťu a s citom

[Marcelo D’Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rory is a genius underrated ‘cause he didn’t want to dance the macabre rhythm of the record companies of his time.

A sad ending of a true artist that believed in his music and left us an unique universe of amazing sounds and lyrics.

This biography is really good. A little longer, which makes it a little repetitive, but informative and dinamic.

A must-read for any music and Gallagher fan.

Ro-ry! Gone too soon!