Irish blues-rocker Rory Gallagher hasn't visited these shores in five
years -- an eternity by American standards. His name may not ring
automatic bells, but he's had a legendary career. His band Taste opened
the American tour of Blind Faith (the Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood
supergroup) in 1969. He also toured with John Mayall and Cream, plus
did Muddy Waters' "London Sessions" and other sessions with Jerry Lee
Lewis, Albert King and the Rolling Stones.
"I've been working a lot in Europe and recording over there. But it's
time to come back and build up the following again in America," says
Gallagher, who headlines the Paradise tonight. "I was sick last year
with a virus infection, and even heard a rumor that I was dead," he
adds. "It's funny how quickly some people forget you."
But fans have come out of the woodwork to see Gallagher on his
long-awaited return. One fan was Slash, the Guns N' Roses guitarist who
jumped on stage at Gallagher's recent Los Angeles show and jammed on
Chuck Berry's "Nadine." "I liked Slash. He's a nice guy and can really
play," says Gallagher. "We rocked out."
The 42-year-old Gallagher, who has toured under his own name for years,
has made 14 albums of electric blues, cut with some slide guitar and
some country-blues, especially on his new album, "Fresh Evidence," on
the IRS label. "I tried to make it a rootsy blues album," he says. "I
wanted to touch on styles that went back to the '50s, before the
superstar blues of Albert and B. B. King. A lot of the electrified
country blues of that early period, by Son House and Tampa Red, gets
overlooked. It's very rhythmic and very raw. And that's what I went
after on songs like `Ghost Blues' and `Heaven's Gate,' a tormented kind
of blues in the tradition of Robert Johnson's `Hellhound on My Trail.' "
The "Fresh Evidence" album also sounds rootsy, because Gallagher
insisted on using original studio techniques. "I used old forms of echo
and old tube compressors. A lot of new sound decks just make things
sound synthetic and tinny. I like a nice rumble on bass, openness on
guitar and drums that breathe."
The album is typical of Gallagher's refusal to sell out. "I've never
commercialized my music. I've seen that ruin too many people who think
two-minute ditties are the answer."
One thing for sure: The Paradise will be rumbling tonight: In person,
Gallagher hits overdrive. "Playing live is my natural element. It's too
hard to relax in the studio because there are too many options. It's
just not as exciting." Steve
Morse This article comes from the Boston Globe, March 29,
1991 prior to Rory's show at Boston's Paradise Theater
Thanks to Mindbender Milo for sharing this article from his Rory
Web page Shadowplays
The photo was sent to me by Bob Hewitt ( author a couple of the
articles on RoryON!!
reformatted by roryfan
