All work, but Rory’s playing isn’t dull



RORY GALLAGHER’S huge world­wide tour starts next Tuesday, just a few days after the release of his latest album, Tattoo.  It will continue right up to the end of March, making the lad the hardest‑working and probably the sweatiest guitar hero this side of Nashville.  And although there is mention of a Christmas break, it still sounds suspiciously like work.  The good news for Irish fans is that the break will include gigs in both Dublin and Cork.

Rory will play fifteen dates in Ger­many and two in Switzerland before returning to Britain for a short rest.  Then it’s back to work with the British section which opens in Cardiff on November 18.  An indication of his massive popularity is the fact that he is doing two shows in a number of venues and also a night in the centre of all major gigs ‑ The Rain­bow in London.

The Irish section is followed by more European dates and then it’s over to Japan and back to his present workplace, America, where he will headline a nationwide tour.  Not bad, Rory, and it’s a safe bet he’ll be glad of two weeks in Lisdoonvarna after all that.

Despite the fact that he lost his number one spot in the Melody Maker’s annual poll recently - and that can hardly have been unexpected the way these polls tend to fluctuate - it’s only now that Rory is beginning to really establish himself in a big way in the States.

And he’s doing it in exactly the same way as he reached popularity in Britain - through downright hard work gigging around clubs and halls.  He is a true extension of the old blues greats, not only in the manner of his playing, but also in his willingness to play anywhere and everywhere.

Now the determined Corkman is beginning to taste the fruits of his seeming self-torture and no one will argue with the contention that he deserves every pound, dollar and yen that finds its way into his pockets.
- Fachtna O’Kelly
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Showbiz Social Scene
Julie Boyd’s Weekly Round-up

SKID SKINNER
John Wilson was born in Belfast in 1949 and remained there for almost 20 years.  He played with the Belfast version of the Bluesbeats, which had Eric ‘Slowhand’ Bell as guitarist and went on to join Van Morrison in one of the early editions of Them.  Later he played resident in Belfast’s Mecca Ballroom with the Misfits (on the revolving stage) and went on to join Derrick & the Sounds.  Bassist Ritchie McCracken left with him to form Cheese and later both teamed up with Rory Gallagher as Taste.  They split after the legendary Isle of Wight festival and Stud was born.  John then had a mild flirtation with Mr. Shiels in Brush, gigged around London as a session drummer and eventually came to Dublin to join the new Skid Row.  He co-produced their debut disc, Dublin City Girls.  Incidentally, he plays a drum-kit he built himself and you’ll be able to see it and him in the National Stadium on October 31.

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both pieces come from New Spotlight – Vol. 7 No. 18 October 25, 1973
Thanks to Brenda O'Brien for sharing & preparing these articles
reformatted by roryfan

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added 2/19/06