Rory Gallagher's Band:
- Rory Gallagher - Guitars, mandolin
Rory Gallagher (Real-name: William Rory Gallagher) was an Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Due to his virtuosic playing, but relative lack of fame compared to some others, he has been referred to as "the greatest guitarist you've never heard of", and strongly influenced other guitarists such as Brian May and Eric Clapton. Gallagher was voted as guitarist of the year by Melody Maker magazine in 1972, and listed as the 57th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. (Source: wikipedia)
William Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland on 02/03/1948. He was the first child of Daniel Gallagher 1919 and Monica Roche.
He did not have a fixed lineup of musicians but instead had a number of musicians who joined him on various albums and tours, including Lou Martin, Gerry McAvoy, Wilgar Campbell, Rod de'Ath, Brendan O'Neill and Mark Feltham among others. He released several albums throughout his career, starting with his self-titled debut album in 1971, and continuing with albums such as "Against the Grain" (1975), "Calling Card" (1976), "Photo-Finish" (1978), "Top Priority" (1979), "Stage Struck" (1980) and "Defender" (1987) among others. He was a popular live performer and several of his albums were recorded live
- Gerry McAvoy – Bass guitar
Gerry McAvoy (Real-name: John Gerard McAvoy ) a bassist from Northern Ireland, best known for his work as a member of Rory Gallagher's band from 1971 to 1991. McAvoy first joined Gallagher's band in 1971 and played on all of Gallagher's albums and tours during his tenure with the band. He was known for his solid and powerful bass playing, and his tight rhythm section work with drummer Rod de'Ath. McAvoy was also a key member of Gallagher's touring band, and he played on all of Gallagher's tours, including the Irish Tour '74, which was recorded and released as a live album. McAvoy was with Rory Gallagher band until his death in 1995. After that he formed his own band and continue to play Rory Gallagher's songs.
- Brendan O'Neill - Drums
Brendan O'Neill a drummer from Northern Ireland, best known for his work as a member of Rory Gallagher's band from 1991 to 1995. He joined Gallagher's band in 1991 and played on the albums "Fresh Evidence" and "Wheelchair Missionary" as well as several tours. He was known for his powerful and dynamic drumming style, which helped to drive Gallagher's live performances. He formed a tight rhythm section with bassist Gerry McAvoy, who had been a member of Gallagher's band since the 1970s. He was with Gallagher until his death in 1995.
- Mark Feltham
Mark Feltham Mark Feltham is a harmonica player from England, best known for his work as a session musician and for his collaborations with various artists. He began his career as a session musician in the late 1970s and early 1980s and has played on many albums and tours. He also released a few albums under his name.
He is best known for his work with Rory Gallagher, with whom he collaborated several times, including on the albums "Fresh Evidence" and "Wheelchair Missionary". He also played with Gallagher on his tours and his harmonica playing can be heard on several live recordings. He is considered one of the best harmonica players in the UK and his style is heavily influenced by the blues. He is also known for his collaborations with other musicians such as Van Morrison, Paul Jones and The Hoax.
- Lou Martin
Lou Martin (Real-name: Louis Michael "Lou" Martin was a keyboardist and pianist from Northern Ireland, best known for his work as a member of Rory Gallagher's band from 1977 to 1981. He first joined Gallagher's band in 1977, and played on the albums "Photo-Finish", "Top Priority" and "Stage Struck". He was known for his keyboard and piano skills, which added a new dimension to Gallagher's sound. He played a variety of instruments including organ, piano, synthesizer and mellotron. He was a key member of Gallagher's touring band and played on several tours during his tenure with the band. He also played on several live albums, videos and singles that were recorded during this period. He left the band after the "Stage Struck" tour and continued to play with other bands and artists, and has also released solo albums.
- Bob Andrews
Bob Andrews an English keyboardist and pianist, best known for his work as a member of several bands and for his session work. He began his career in the late 1960s as a member of the band Brinsley Schwarz and later joined the band Dr. Feelgood, where he played keyboards and piano. He was a member of Dr. Feelgood from 1975 to 1977.
In addition to his work with bands, he also worked as a session musician and played on many albums and tours with various artists. He is also known for his work with Rory Gallagher, he played on the album "Jinx" in 1982 and also played live with Rory Gallagher. He is considered a very talented musician and his keyboard and piano playing is known for its versatility and skill.
- John Cooke
