Rory Gallagher was the original Irish rock star musician, whose artistry with a road-worn ’61 Fender Stratocaster became the stuff of legend. He became an icon, one of the hardest touring musicians of his era. Away from the stage, Rory Gallagher was an intensely private man; his closest confidante was his brother, Dónal, who accompanied Rory on his extraordinary musical odyssey. 

Through the decades, Dónal was at his brother’s side to witness Rory’s golden moments: from the siblings’ early stage performances, to the Irish showband scene, then the move of Rory’s Cork trio, Taste, to Belfast’s jazz and blues environment, before springboarding into the heart of the late 60s London music scene and onwards to the global progressive music world. Gigging from St John’s, Newfoundland to Hobart, Tasmania. From playing bomb-shattered Belfast at the height of the Troubles to performing over twenty-five tours across America and Canada, the brothers encountered the cream of rock bands along their travels. 

Hailed by his peers, from John Lennon to Muddy Waters, the ‘people’s guitarist’ would inspire musicians such as Brian May of Queen, The Edge of U2, Slash of Guns N’ Roses, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Joe Bonamassa and Ed Sheeran to strap on a guitar and make history in their turn. Offering a definitive account of his life in the music world, this is not only the tour de force firsthand biography that Rory’s fans have hungered for, but it is also an extraordinary eyewitness chronicle of rock’s golden era with the giants of music, and, sadly, of Rory’s decline into ill health and tragic early passing. 

Foreword by Joe Bonamassa.