Rory Gallagher - vocals, guitars, harmonica; Gerry McAvoy - bass; Rod De'ath - drums, percussion; Lou Martin - keyboards
The late Rory Gallagher made some very cool records, but he could never capture the excitement and power that were almost always part of his live shows. Just take a listen to this recording made for the King Biscuit Flower Hour on his '74 US tour. Gallagher had a strong following on the west coast and this show in San Diego was well attended by a large, loyal audience.
Gallagher made a name for himself in 1969 with the band Taste, who recorded three albums before splitting in 1971. Gallagher recorded several solo albums between 1971 and 1991, but is also noted for his session work on Muddy Waters' The London Sessions album, released on Chess Records. Sadly, he died after receiving a liver transplant in 1995 at the age of 47.
By the late 1970s, Gallagher's brand of blues rock fell out of favor with radio programmers, and like artists such as Robin Trower and Steve Marriott, he had to focus on a smaller, but fiercely loyal, following. Although he never received the worldwide recognition of Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, and Jimmy Page, he certainly deserves to be remembered for the many excellent albums and tours he had during his career.