I always like to put something of myself into my work and in this case it was obvious from the start I would have Rory wearing his trademark checked flannel shirt - which coincidently I have favoued myself for many years.
A close up of the face. I have used layers of glazed colour here to build up skin tone and contrast.
Mixing colour on my trusty wooden palette..
Detailing in the later stages of the painting. Here I am applying a glaze of thin colour to the bottom lip area.
Rorys trademark side burns and the flowing locks of umbers and siennas.
Messing with the Kid: Surprisingly I found out that not only did Rory grow up in the area in Ireland from where my family (O'Malley) originated from, but also that he painted earlier on in his life . On top of that we also both took up harmonica and alto saxophone. I play every now and again, the above photo sees me blowing harmonica at a recent Blues night in a local club (Whyalla, South Australia).
Rory's Career..
Gallagher's first bands were showbands which played the popular hits of the day. In 1965 he turned The Impact into an R&B group which played gigs in Ireland and Spain. Having completed a musical apprenticeship in the showbands, and influenced by the increasing popularity of beat groups during the early 1960s, Gallagher formed Taste, a blues and R&B trio, in 1966. The group initially consisted of Gallagher and two Cork musicians, Norman Damery and Eric Kitteringham, but the line-up which gained fame was formed in 1967, featuring Gallagher on guitar and vocals, John Wilson (drums) and Richard McCracken (bass).
Performing extensively in the United Kingdom, the group gained a reputation on the London rock scene. High profile performances included a residency at the Marquee Club, supporting Cream at their Royal Albert Hall farewell concert, and supporting a major-blues supergroup, Blind Faith, on a US tour. Managed by Eddie Kennedy, the trio released the albums Taste and On The Boards, and made two live recordings, Live At Montreux and Live At The Isle Of Wight. The latter appeared long after the band's break-up, which occurred shortly after their appearance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival.
Rory goes solo..
After the break-up of Taste, Gallagher toured under his own name, hiring former Deep Joy bass player Gerry McAvoy to play on 'Rory Gallagher', an eponymous debut album. Thus began a twenty year musical relationship between Gallagher and McAvoy; Wilgar Campbell performed on drums.
The 1970s were Gallagher's most prolific period. He produced ten albums in that decade, including two live albums, Live In Europe and Irish Tour '74, which, for many, best captured his bands' raw and naturally dynamic qualities.
In 1972 he released the album Deuce, which is essentially three-piece R&B. Also in that year he was voted Melody Maker's Top Musician of the Year, ahead of Eric Clapton. Live In Europe has been commercially successful not only in Ireland, but also internationally.
Gallagher played and recorded what he said was "in me all the time, and not just something I turn on ...". Though he sold over thirty million albums world wide, it was his marathon live performances that won him greatest acclaim. His passion and skill for the blues is documented in the 1974 film Irish Tour '74, directed by Tony Palmer.
The line-up which included Rod De'Ath on drums and Lou Martin on keyboards, performed together between 1973 and 1978. Other release highlights from that period include Against the Grain, the jazz-tinged Calling Card album (assisted in production by Roger Glover (bassist with Deep Purple) and the hard blues-rock albums Photo Finish and Top Priority. Gerry McAvoy has stated that the Gallagher band performed several TV and radio shows across Europe, including Beat Club in Bremen and Old Grey Whistle Test. Along with Little Feat and Roger McGuinn, Gallagher performed the first Rockpalast live concert at the Grugahalle, Essen, Germany in 1977.
A dedicated follower of blues music, Gallagher played with many of the genre's biggest stars, collaborating with Muddy Waters and Jerry Lee Lewis on their respective London Sessions in the mid 70s. Gallagher was also invited to audition with The Rolling Stones following the departure of Mick Taylor and with Canned Heat after the departure of The Eagle. He was David Coverdale's second choice (after Jeff Beck) to replace Richie Blackmore in Deep Purple.
In the 1980s he continued recording, albeit at a slower pace, producing Jinx, Defender, and Fresh Evidence. These albums progressed towards a more mature blues style. After Fresh Evidence, he embarked on a successful tour of the United States.
Rory's Passing..
Gallagher's health and his ability to perform were increasingly compromised by excessive use of alcohol, combined with drugs that had been prescribed to alleviate his anxiety about flying. From the late 1980s, he suffered increasingly poor health, yet he continued touring. By the time of his final performance on 10 January 1995 in the Netherlands, he was visibly unwell. A liver transplant became necessary and was nearly successful, but just before being discharged from the hospital, an MRSA infection developed. His health quickly worsened and he died in London on 14 June 1995. He was unmarried and had no children.
Gallagher's final resting place is in St Oliver's Cemetery, on Model Farm Road just outside Ballincollig near Cork City, Ireland. His headstone is a replica of an award he received in 1972 for International Guitarist of The Year. |
