A beer, renewal of friendship with a great Irish musician, and another beer

Posted by: JWM on 01 February 2007

What a great day!

Today I had the joy of meeting up with Rasher (of this here Forum) for a great day out.

After a token coffee (he did offer me tea, sic) we moved on to delicious real ales (Bombadier and Youngs) at the excellent Lamb and Flag, near Covent Garden.

This was the warm-up for the main event, the Born to Rock exhibition at Harrods, newly come over from the National Museum, Dublin.

This is a collection of over 150 guitars, played/owned by such greats as Hendrix, Stones, Neil Young, and - the largest number of instruments - by the late great Irish Bluesman, Rory Gallagher.

In addition to Rory's Mexico White and Black Telecasters, which we had both seen him play, there were many of the quite early electric instruments that Rory would collect on his travels round the USA - including a rare burgundy Gretch Corvette picked up for $50 from a pawn shop, with brother-manager Donal keeping the car running outside for a quick getaway from a shady neighbourhood (or should I say neighborhood, since it's the USA?).

Rasher can give far more of the detail, I'm sure, as he can actually play...

The highlight of the exhibition - in its own glass case - is, of course, Rory's legendary battered '61 Strat, the 'Tatocaster'. And we didn't get to see it!! Despite an earlier flyer from Harrods saying 29th Jan, clearly the opening day had been put back to today, 1st Feb. And so the Tatocaster was on PR / TV duty with Rory's nephew Daniel!!! See BBC News website : Electric Guitar Show

But here it is on the 'celeb launch' with Irish garden designer Diarmid Gavin (and A.N.Other I feel I recognise, but can't name)...


As much as a disappointment as it was not seeing the Tatocaster, paradoxically, at the same time we felt quite strongly about the fact that we had both last seen it not as a museum piece in glass case, but as God intended it...

(Taken by me as a spotty 15 year old at Ipswich Gaumont 19 Jan '79 - I've bored you with it before!)

And then we went and consoled ourselves with more excellent beer (London Pride and Mordue's from Wallsend - new to both of us and really delicious) at the Bear and Staff, opposite Leicester Sq Underground.

Thanks for your company on a great day out, Rasher - and good to meet you. And above all - I know we both agree - thank you for the music, Rory!

James
Posted on: 01 February 2007 by JWM
Have now worked out how to download photos from new phone, but missed the edit deadline...

Rory's Mexico White Tele


Black Tele (lacquer beginning to peel)


And Vox AC30


J
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by nicnaim
James,

Sounds like you had a great day out.

You are right about Mordue's beers, extremely fine. My personal favourites are the wonderfully named Workie Ticket (Someone who works his ticket i.e. a wind-up merchant) and Radgie Gadgie (Angry bloke). Sorry this is slightly off topic, but the opportunity to champion some fine local ales was too good to miss.

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by JWM
Nic,
Keeping off-topic for a moment, thanks for Mordue's website link, which reminds me it was 'Geordie Pride' (m'Da in Amble would be proud of me ... though it's been since the C18th since we've been real Geordies! My 4xGt Grandfather, George, was Master of the Holy Jesus Hospital and a Freeman of Newcastle).

Back on-topic(!!), for those whom might be interested in going themselves, I forgot to say that the Born to Rock exhibition at Harrods continues until 3rd March 2007.

J
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by Rasher
A great day with wonderful company. Days like this are too rare.
I'm okay because I'll be up there again next week, so I'll look in to see the Strat then. Strange to think that I haven't seen it in the flesh for 28 years, but there it is.

It's curious to think that Rory's Strat is so battered being a '61, and we first saw it when it was around 14 years old on Deuce (?), which isn't really very old at all. He played it for another 20 years on an endless tour and must have become the hardest working Strat ever, but it didn't get any more battered - no more paint was lost! Curious.
I have a '77 Strat that I gigged with solidly for 5 years and although the lacquer has gone strange, and it has bashes, it isn't in bad nick. It's 30 years old now. Something doesn't add up.
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by Chillkram
Excellent chaps, sounds like you had a great (and boozy!) day.

I'm a lover of great rock/blues guitarists, but strangely have no Rory in my collection. Any recommendations as a good starting point?

Regards

Mark
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by JWM
To start off a collection, I would recommend the seminal live albums, as these are well recorded and really do capture something of the essential spark of genius of Rory Gallagher - live performance of Blues and Rhythm n Blues as an intense and lived experience.

Live in Europe
Irish Tour '74

I would also recommend the BBC Sessions double album. CD1 is music from live concerts for the BBC; CD2 is studio sessions for the Corporation.

All of Rory's music is available new or s/h at reasonable cost. He has had sales in excess of 30 million in total, so there is stuff floating around - either new, or some especially sad individuals who are selling off their collections... (but : their loss, our gain... Smile)

CD-users can either Buy It Now on flea-Bay, or from your favourite music emporium (but interestingly, not from the Harrods exhibition - lots of music tat, but nothing relating to Rory - see, he manages to maintain his integrity, even postumously!)

For vinyl lovers (like Chillkram Smile), I have seen some LPs on offer at Amazon, but they do also come up quite often on e-Bay, or search your favourite online s/h record dealers.

James
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by Chillkram
Thanks, James.
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by BigH47
quote:
He played it for another 20 years on an endless tour and must have become the hardest working Strat ever, but it didn't get any more battered - no more paint was lost! Curious.


Customized damage?
We hope to see the exhibition in half term.

Howard
Posted on: 02 February 2007 by JWM
The story's a bit like Excaliber...

Rory didn't get the Strat new, but s/h (it had come from another Showband which changed its co-ordinated colourway).

Not so long after Rory bought it, the Strat was nicked, and found some weeks later lying in a ditch.

This did not do the varnish any good!

On top of this - not to be too indelicate - it is often said that Rory's copious sweat in his intense performances was particularly corrosive!

Rory's Stratocaster has seen really substantial use, in a rock n roll lifestyle - different place every day. And it must have been played just about daily for the rest of his life - daily for 30 years!

As I said above, the varnish on the black Tele - played regularly, but much less than the Strat - is also beginning to go. Anyone who knows about varnish (eg boatowners) will know that it doesn't just chip of in bits. Once it starts to go, varnish usually comes off in quite large bits - like a silver birch.

If one really want to do so, one could trace the progress of the balding Strat through various photos through Rory's career!

James
Posted on: 06 February 2007 by Sloop John B
I was at the Dublin "Rockchic" part of this exhibition and rather belatedly have gotten round to putting the pictures in cyberspace



SJB
Posted on: 08 February 2007 by JWM
Just back from a course to find these excellent pics from SJB from the 'Dublin Session'. Great pics, SJB! Thanks.

James
Posted on: 12 February 2007 by JWM
Well, I couldn't not go back, could I?? Winker

(And if - for some strange reason - you don't know what all the fuss is about, click here or here or here or here or here.

And here's the Tatocaster:





















Some other devotees come to the shrine (two of about a dozen - over the 20 minutes we were there - who came to photograph, and be photographed with, the Tatocaster)...


A day of so many happy memories, tinged of course with poignancy and sadness that THE MAN is no longer with us.

James
Posted on: 12 February 2007 by Rasher
Wonderful photos
Posted on: 12 February 2007 by urs
Hello James
Thanks a lot for your great pictures. I am also a big fan of Rory Gallagher and got all his CDs. I saw him live in Montreux with Taste, when the album Live Taste was recorded. I was 14 years old then, and still remember the concert well. Hopefully the Taste CDs will be released as remasters one day. Just last week I declared a day as a Rory music day, and played one after another of his CDs.
cheers
urs
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by JWM
Urs, a 'Rory Day' is a very good idea! In fact, taking up your idea, I think we should all celebrate 2nd March (his birthday) as 'Rory day each year! (Next year, 2008, would be his 60th birthday.)

I'm really enjoying Rory with my new Kudos Cardea C10 speakers. A bit less McAvoy perhaps, compared with the bassy ProAc D15s, but so nimble - they really express his fine guitar work.

Not only do I wish to see Taste remasters, but it would also be good to see the whole Rory catalogue released on audiophile quality 180g or 200g vinyl. In fact, just before your post I sent a message to his brother-manager Donal, saying exactly the same thing!

We wait with hope...

All the best - and glad you enjoyed the photos.
James
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by BigH47
Saw the exhibition today. Interesting show.
Posted on: 13 February 2007 by DenisA
James,

I'm off to see the show on Thursday with a friend. I purchased Live in Europe & Irish Tour '74 and they are great recomendations. So far, really enjoyed Million miles away from '74 and the shear energy from 'Europe'. I did see Taste in the early 70's at The Roundhouse in Essex and these CD's bring back good memories.
Thanks for another re-discovery, this year looks like it might follow 2006 mixing Old and New.

Denis
Posted on: 16 February 2007 by JWM
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
quote:
He played it for another 20 years on an endless tour and must have become the hardest working Strat ever, but it didn't get any more battered - no more paint was lost! Curious.


Customized damage?
We hope to see the exhibition in half term.

Howard


Glad you caught the show, Howard!

Re your previous point, at the risk of being branded a heretic, I'm not the greatest fan of SRV (waits a moment ... the sky hasn't fallen on my head) - but I have found this SRV album cover, which depicts similar damage to RG's Tatocaster...



Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.

James
Posted on: 16 February 2007 by BigH47
After finally seeing the "Tatocaster" in the flesh so to speak ,it looked as if there was not much finish left to "fall" off. Perhaps RGs sweat removed practically all the rear finish.I have not seen him performing so not sure how much his playing style would have affected the "paintwork".
Maybe SRV has a heavy strumming style that has removed the finish? Saying that the top coat has gone in a similar way to RGs.

Most old guitars I have seen, including a '63 Strat my mate has just seem to be battered with knocks and pick scratches.

Just watching RHCP and their guitarist's strat has massive pick damage and a lot of finnish missing where his right arm comes over the top.


Howard
Posted on: 17 February 2007 by JWM
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Just watching RHCP and their guitarist's strat has massive pick damage and a lot of finish missing where his right arm comes over the top.


Howard - comme ca?


Another Sunburst Strat...! (RHCP at Portman Road, Ipswich 30.06.2006)

James
Posted on: 18 February 2007 by BigH47
quote:
Another Sunburst Strat...!


May be thats the secret? Not as durable a finish?

Howard