Rory Gallagher

Ghost Blues follows the life and career of Rory Gallagher from his upbringing in Cork, his early days with a showband, the brief success of Taste and then his legendary solo career leading up to his health problems in later life and tragic death at the age of just 47. There are archive interviews, both audio and visual, with Rory and contributions from many of his friends and admirers including his brother Donal, Bob Geldof, The Edge, Cameron Crowe, Slash, Johnny Marr, James Dean Bradfield, Ronnie Drew, Bill Wyman, Martin Carthy, band members Ted McKenna and Gerry McAvoy and many more.

Legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher played the renowned Montreux Festival on five occasions spanning his breakthrough years in the mid seventies right up to the year before his tragic early death at the age of 47 in 1995

The film tells the story of Eire's seminal rock band Taste, formed in Cork, Ireland in 1966 by Rory Gallagher, Taste had a brief but influential career, releasing two studio albums in 1969 and 1970 and disbanding shortly after their legendary appearance at the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival, which is the centrepiece of this film.

A set of great blues rock songs

These are the great ones that have shaped rock music. Twelve very different guitarists, each of whom have special skills and a unique playing technique are displaying the best of their ability here. This breathtaking collection comprises the entire spectrum of styles and paying techniques, offered by the most important rock guitarists. Starting with blues rock by Jack Bruse and Paul Kossof, the heavy metal sound of Tony Iommi or Mick Box up to the fabulous technical skills of Ritchie Blackmore and Jan Akkermans it is shown what matters with a true guitarist.

Rory Gallagher was the original Irish guitar hero, whose artistry with a battered ’61 Stratocaster became the stuff of legend. Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters admired him, the Rolling Stones tried to hire him – and his fans worshipped him. Clad in faded denim and a checked shirt, he sold 30 million records and became a charismatic icon of Irish music, inspiring musicians such as Brian May, The Edge, Slash and Johnny Marr. But away from the stage, Rory was an intensely private man. His closest confidante was his brother Dónal who accompanied Rory on his rise from their childhood Everly Brothers stage performances and the Showband scene across the North and South of the Irish border through to the deafening heart of the ‘70s rock scene in London – and far beyond. Now, Dónal, along with insights from Rory’s friends and admirers, takes us on a musical journey through the life and career of this shy guitar hero to better understand what made him so great.

Northern Irish Blues Guitarist Rory Gallagher on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973, Live At The Shepherd's Bush Empire & Live At The Hammersmith Odeon in 1977

Director Bill Keating built a programme around following Rory through a day of his short 1972 Irish tour. At the center of the programme is a recording of the concert Rory played in the Savoy Cinema in Limerick on May 11th 1972.

A whistle-stop tour of rock from over the water, taking in some of the finest Irish rock offerings from the early 70s to the present day, as captured on a variety of BBC shows from The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops to Later... with Jools Holland.

Irish Tour '74 is a film which captures the artist, his music, the period and the place with perfection. Filmed in January 1974 at Belfast Ulster Hall, Dublin Carlton Cinema and Cork City Hall.

Rory Gallagher - voc, g Gerry McAvoy - b Ted McKenna - dr

Rory Rallagher is well known in Germany among fans of good rock music. His biggest strengths are 'live-shows'. He immediately brings energy into every venue. His trademarks are a worn looking Stratocaster, an old small amp and straight forward rock'n'roll, heavily blues influenced. No other musician will ever be as closely tied to the history of 'Rockpalast' as Gallagher. He started the first Rocknacht in the Grugahalle in Essen in 1977.

Rory Gallagher was the original Irish guitar hero, whose artistry with a battered ’61 Stratocaster became the stuff of legend. Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters admired him, the Rolling Stones tried to hire him - and his fans worshipped him. Clad in faded denim and a checked shirt, he sold 30 million records and became a charismatic icon of Irish music, but away from the stage, Rory was an intensely private man. His closest confidante was his brother Dónal, who accompanied Rory on his rise from their childhood Everly Brothers stage performances and the showband scene across the north and south of the Irish border, through to the deafening heart of the ‘70s rock scene in London - and far beyond. From playing bomb-shattered Belfast at the height of the Troubles to touring across America with everyone from Blind Faith to KISS, Dónal was at Rory's side to witness his greatest triumphs and, after all too brief a span of years, his decline into illness and a tragically early death.

Story of Irish popular music from 1950 to the present day told by the artists, songwriters, producers and executives who made it all happen. It tells of the dramatic evolution from a grey, conservative culture to a vibrant, colourful music scene which has an enormous popularity and influence completely out of proportion to the size of the country.

Live TV performance from Irish singer-songwriter Rory Gallagher. Recorded in 1975, the tracks performed include 'Messin' With the Kid', 'Tattoo'd Lady', 'Garbage Man' and 'Walk On Hot Coals'.

Northern Irish Blues Guitarist Rory Gallagher, performing on the BBC. This collection includes BBC Rock Goes To College - Live At Middlesex Polytechnic, in December 1979 and Rory at Midnight on BBC NI on 5 January 1984.

Rory Gallagher - Guitar, Vocals Gerry McAvoy - Bass Brendan O'Neill - Drums Ray Beavis - Saxophon Harold Casey - Saxophon John Cooke - Keyboards

Rory Gallagher - voc, g Gerry McAvoy - b Brendan O'Neill - dr Mark Feltham - harm Geraint Watkins - keyb