First Time Hearing Rory Gallagher - “Philby” Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@membysteph64]

Rory is a phenomenal musician from Ireland. He was very popular in Europe. He was in a band in the late 60’s called Taste. Rory left the band and went solo was popular in the US but was more popular in Europe. Jimmy Page, Brian May, Slash , Alex Lifson, Tony Iommi have all played with Rory and gave praise for his talents as a musician. Left us to young from complications from a liver transplant. Asia/ BJ you will thoroughly enjoy his entire catalogue of music. Rory has a festival every year in Ireland with musicians coming from all over paying tribute to this great great artist. Love what you guys are doing keep up the great work.

[@thesongremainsthesameLZ]

Glad you mentioned Brian May and Tony Iommi, they both used Rory's technique of putting a treble booster pedal in front of an already driven tube amp. Brian even used a VOX AC30 like Rory, Tony did it with a Laney for a more driven early heavy metal sound.

[@stephenodonnell8023]

Did he ever share a stage with srv

[@membysteph64]

@@stephenodonnell8023 I am not aware of it. That would have been fun to see two legendary musicians performing together.

[@finbarrokeeffe9985]

​He went to the same school as a lot of guys did at the time, "North Monastery Christian Brothers" but left over "hair style" opinion 😂😊😅with the Monastery . God bless and rest in peace.

[@finbarrokeeffe9985]

His brother looks after the business now and it's amazing the amount of young followers that are finding his music again !!!

[@1Moonchild]

Thanks for a great reaction to Irish musician, Rory Gallagher (pronounced Galla-her). There was a raw passion and intensity to his playing that grabbed my soul when I saw him live in '78 and I've not been so profoundly touched by any other performer, before or since. I listen to him every day. Rory was a self-taught multi-instrumentalist - electric/acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, electric sitar, alto sax. His extensive catalogue is incredibly diverse - embracing blues & rock to folk, jazz and a bit of funk. He was also an outstanding songwriter, and unique vocalist. Rory was a genuinely good human who never played the game and refused to allow the record companies to dictate his musical vision or release singles - this has a lot to do with why some people have not heard him. Probably the hardest working musician at the time - for years he performed constantly around the world but always made time for his fans. When he left us, the world became a sadder place. His studio stuff is sublime and his live performances are truly legendary. This song refers to Kim Philby, who was a historic, notorious cold war double agent and he presents a comparison of his transient life on the road to that of spy Philby. You can hear him play a Coral electric sitar in this song. Hope you react to more Rory, there's so much great music to choose from.

[@garystokes9979]

It's not a sitar, it's a Dolcimer being played, an electrified traditional Irish stringed instrument.

[@dawnmoore4329]

Thanks for taking a listen to Rory! A self-taught musician, here he is playing an electric sitar for the exotic feel, but you are totally right in picking up the blues influence. Rory was a blues master, playing both electric and acoustic guitar and is counted as one of the top slide players ever. He preferred playing live and always tried to capture the raw feeling of his impassioned live performances in the studio. I'd highly recommend checking out his Irish Tour '74 album, specifically "Cradle Rock" and "A Million Miles Away" to start. Rory sold over 30 million albums and was extremely popular in Europe, but he had no desire to play stadiums, preferring smaller venues where he could connect with his audience. There are many performances of his on YT and I'd suggest the 1979 recording of "Rock Goes to College" to get a good feel for his enormous talent and stage presence.

[@patcomer2660]

Great reaction to a song about a British spy called Philby. Rory was Irish and was hugely popular in Europe. I suggest you listen to Moonchild, Shadow Play, Bad Penny , Tattooed Lady , A Million Miles Away or indeed any Rory track. Thanks for playing Rory.

[@strayling1]

Another vote for Bad Penny. It's still my favourite.

[@EShelby2127]

After Kim Philby, people stopped naming their sons "Kim" - "Kimberly" used to be the feminine "Kim" - We males who were named before, just have to live with everyone assuming we are female, after the girls took over the name!

[@padfolio]

I Wonder Who....Rory Gallagher Live in Belfast and Rory Gallagher - Do You Read Me (Rock Goes To College, 1979) are live cuts that will blow you away.

[@johntate5050]

Respect for listening to Rory. A true guitar slinger.

[@vedantapdx]

You gotta hear him play the Bullfrog Blues on the Old Whistle stop venue. It will blow your mind. Rory was surely unique.

[@chriso5374]

My all time fav. Rory was the man. He also played a mean harmonica and sax as well.

[@mattshaw6180]

Rory G came out of Ireland and lit up the amps big time; try a live performance of "Bad Penny," "Calling Card," or "Shadow Play" and watch the man totally OWN the stage.

[@rickernst56]

What a great, great song. He and this song are so underrated and under-appreciated. Please play Moonchild as the next Rory Gallagher Song/reaction.

[@strayling1]

His live performances were something to behold. When I saw him he rocked the place for a good two and a half hours straight, and I was close enough to see the rust on the pickups of his guitar. The best part was seeing him hang out in the bar before he went on stage - just another one of the lads grabbing a pint before the show. BTW, that's a sitar he's playing on this track.

[@Hector-yl1kh]

Rory's unbelievably gorgeous guitar vibrato makes the hairs stand up on you arm.

[@andreawitthaut9011]

Rory is one of the best guitarist ever. Jimi Hendrix once answered in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine when asked "“How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world?” “I don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher.” And from all that one reads Rory must have been an awesome person too.

[@jeremyfagner6808]

Rory is one of my favorite Blues/rock guitarist and artist. So much talent. Every song of his is amazing

[@barblessable]

YOU HAD TO SEE HIM LIVE . the joy and passion he exuded on stage was infectious , best guitarist to come out of Ireland , the song is about a spy Kim PHILBY who was one three English men ETON OX/BRIDGE educated who were spying for Russia , Rory read a book about them and wrote this song .

[@amitychief3061]

So cool that Asia picked up on a Southern Bluesy sound because that was his influence. The Live version of Philby from Montreux is great.

[@sarahrodriguez3059]

❤️ Rory ❤

[@markoliver630]

He was an independent. He recorded on small labels and his brother was his manager. MONSTER guitarist.

[@bogdog1755]

Rory is considered in the same guitar league as Jimi Hendrix, as far as ability and influence - - - in fact, many believe Rory is the GOAT

[@skiptowne5724]

The best I've ever heard.

[@paulhughes2317]

He's from Ireland, not the UK. He was very big in Europe.

[@stephenodonnell8023]

we know

[@richardnolan3903]

@@stephenodonnell8023 Maybe you do but Asia and BJ obviously don't. They keep saying from the UK. Ireland is a different country, not part of the UK.

[@SlumminAngel]

Thanks for this, I'm so happy that you've found Rory! Other commenters have already given lots of good info, so I'll just add my suggestions for future reactions (I hope there will be future reactions). I would provide links but some KZbinrs block those, but just copy these into the search bar. Rory Gallagher Calling Card - Hammersmith 1977 Rory Gallagher Do You Read Me - Rock Goes To College 1979 Rory Gallagher Shadow Play - Belfast 1984 Rory Gallagher I Wonder Who - Belfast 1984 and a few from his acoustic repertoire Rory Gallagher Pistol Slapper Blues_Too Much Alcohol - 2/14/77 RTE Studios, Dublin Rory Gallagher Jam Session, Guitar Techniques & As The Crow Flies 1974 Rory Gallagher Rag Mama Rag (Rockapalast 1976) I hope that's not too many, there's plenty more if you want them 😀

[@eddie623]

As always you bring fantastic music to the table and your reactions are tremendous 👍

[@AsiaandBJ]

Thank you so much 😀

[@eddie623]

@@AsiaandBJ pleasures all mine my friends 👍

[@mikesmith3481]

Way more Rory please!

[@jailnurse]

Rory was my first concert ever. Fantastic live performer. Gone too soon.

[@robbierobinson3966]

You need to check out Just Hit Town. Rory is on 🔥 in that tune.

[@josnroh]

Please go down the Rory Gallagher rabbit hole!

[@macker33]

Suprised to hear somebody from my native city,

[@willemdefouw3605]

Thank you for doing this💋❤️

[@MACMISIAS]

Philby is one of his best songs . Great choise !

[@timmothymonaghan5236]

RIP Rory Gallagher Bad Ass MF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saw Rory in concert !!!!

[@bert0522]

Rory was Irish, I saw him with Taste in 69 open for Blind faith. To me he stole the show. Jim

[@kickahaw]

In the mid 70s, I went to see ZZ Top and Rory opened for them. The next day I went and bought 3 LPs, ZZ Top? No. Rory Gallagher true story, He was truly a class act. Try I take what I want, or Calling Card.

[@martin-vg7hf]

If you like this, you have to see 'Shin kicker' live from Montreaux or Bullfrog Blues from The Old Grey Whistle Test. Welcome to the world of Rory

[@robertrohde4579]

When Jimi Hendrix was being interviewed on the BBC in London a reporter asked him what it was like to be the greatest guitarist in the world to which Jimi responded I wouldn't know, why don't you ask Rory Gallagher.

[@dimitriskolytas7872]

rory ❤❤

[@mwrobinson1169]

Great selection!

[@BadAppleBlues]

Great review guys 😊As other people on here have recommended so many classic Rory tunes, I will suggest my own fave Rory song - Brute force and Ignorance - this song always fills me with joy.

[@timmothymonaghan5236]

Irish Legend

[@IisDeeps]

Welcome to the legend that is a Rory. So overlooked these days it's a sin.

[@stephenodonnell8023]

He was very modest he liked being anyoumus

[@gigi-tj4xy]

Toute ma jeunesse ...vu deux fois sur scène.......le meilleur guitariste que j'ai jamais vu !!

[@penshaw2]

Rory is an icon to so many of the world's most famous guitarists. Hendrix said he was the best guitarist in the world.

[@JBMindset]

Rory was one of the best. As an American, he is probably my favorite.

[@timgard7091]

Note much respect for the Rock and Roll hall of fame, ask Jimi about Rory

[@scottmeeks662]

Try Bad Penny. Acoustic song Pistol Slapper Blues. Actually anything acoustic is a win.

[@finbarrokeeffe9985]

Rory Gallagher RIP

[@tylerhackner9731]

Awesome 👏

[@AsiaandBJ]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@deargdoom8743]

Top Priority. What an album! What a guitarist!

[@greygreen5610]

to add some context to this song philby was a russian spy who defected to russia before the british security services could arrest him

[@chriso5374]

Electric Sitar.

[@vedantapdx]

The reason Rory was somewhat of a mystery is that he was afraid to fly so he primarily lived in Cork Ireland and performed in Europe. His earliest sighting was playing at the Isle of Weight giant concert back in the mid 70's or so. People were shocked at his sound and they thought they had another Eric Clapton and Cream kind of phenom, but Rory was unique. He decided he only wanted to play blues in live concerts in Europe and he died in his early 50's. If you could locate a copy of his only album as Taste, you would see why everyone who saw or listened to him in that period was totally in shock. He was young and a brilliant musician, but preferred to play great live blues for his Irish countrymen and the few Euro's that were lucky enough to catch his act. RIP Rory, you made your mark.

[@SlumminAngel]

Rory played all over the world! He grew up in Cork, Ireland but for most of his career was based in London, England, not that he was home much, he toured constantly (including around 23 tours of the US). After flying frequently, often two flights a day, for many years, he did develop a flying phobia in the mid 80's after a couple of particularly bad flights in small planes, but managed to overcome it to tour Japan, Australia and the US in '91. He was very popular in Europe, also Japan and many other places. Taste supported Cream on their farewell concert, toured the US with Blind Faith and were tipped to be the next big thing before the Isle of Wight festival, where they played on the same bill as Hendrix, The Doors, Free, and many of the biggest bands at the time. The main reason Rory didn't become a household name was mainly because he refused to release singles, or to compromise his music to make it 'radio friendly', he wasn't interested in becoming a 'pop star'. He didn't want to be defined by some frivolous song aimed at the pop charts. So he didn't get much radio play outside of some (usually late-night) rock or blues shows that would play album tracks. Interestingly, this track Philby was the only one that he allowed to be released as a single, because it just happened to be the right length, he liked it, and as he put it "it wouldn't have hurt me too much if it did well", but it wasn't promoted, so didn't chart. Taste released two studio albums the first just titled 'Taste' and the second 'On The Boards', as well as a 'best of, and' Taste Live at The Isle of Wight' which were released without Rory's permission after the band broke up. He went on to make 11 studio albums and 3 live albums under his own name. He died in 1995 at the age of 47.

[@stefaniaorlando4047]

He was IRISH! Please watch the live performance from rockpalast 1977 "i take wath i want", and from the whistle test "walk pn hot coals", and ive from Rory goes to the college "to you read me"...and welcome ti Rory's world❤

[@mikevito89]

Asia, it really does have a southern rock vibe. Good call

[@waltw4537]

Nobody like Rory! Irish Force of Nature! No hit songs. He is no longer with us. Taste was the band. Then he went solo. Just ripped it up! Thanks.

[@johngandolfo2073]

The greatest!!!

[@davegilmore7420]

You guy's, when it came to Rory and vinyl, Alvin Lee was right in there with em! ❤

[@kindnick58]

I'm back like I never left 🔥

[@richardtorpey559]

Ireland is not the UK ; c’mon .

[@rnrsteev]

offered a try out for The Rolling Stones

[@RichardErnst-f4y]

My favorite from Mr. Gallagher. How about Moonchild or Tatoo'd Lady Next.

[@JohnRPumpernickel]

Gary Moore doing Red House on Fender Guitar 50th anniv.

[@TheMkamix]

Yep!

[@heinztania9393]

Sweet Monster.... My eternal addiction!!!!!

[@jamesmcmahon2966]

He’s Irish

[@johndoyle2397]

Absolutely Irish. Absolutely not English

[@thatsterrific7421]

Just horrible!!! People stop requesting horse sh..

[@deargdoom8743]

Nice! Nobody is forcing you to listen.