FLANNELED VIRTUOSO: RORY GALLAGHER

You have to feel for any band opening for a Rory Gallagher show; at the best of times Rory fans will not suffer fools or wellmeaning opening bands lightly; at this year’s Rock On The Tyne festival, the hard-working Dr. Feelgood was drowned out at the end of their set by audience howls of “Ro-ry, Ro-ry.” This, after a year or so away from the limelight for the shy Irish virtuoso!

It seems to be a word-of-mouth phenomenon-several years after my Rory Gallagher story appeared in CREEM, I still get cryptic letters and telephone calls; I’m often pulled aside for intense discussions in clubs by Rory fans who spend years beween gigs in their hometowns playing the albums and turning on other people to him. Who inspires this emotional bond?