This weekend on Radio Nova, we will pay tribute to one of Ireland's legendary musicians, Rory Gallagher.
Coming up this Sunday (April 27), our very own Marty Miller from Marty@Work will air a special documentary, as we mark 30 years since the singer's passing.
The documentary will include rare recordings, previously unheard interviews, as well as a host of deeply personal memories, as we look at the man behind the music.
It will include a wide range of audio history, including a previously unheard backstage interview with Rory in Santa Cruz, where he speaks about his Fender Stratocaster being famously stolen, only for it to be found in a bush weeks later. The guitar was sold for close to €1 million at an auction last year.
The interview will also see Rory Gallagher kicking himself over not having the nerve to talk to Jimi Hendrix.
It will also feature American blues rock guitarist, Joe Bonamasa, who expresses his excitement ahead of three sold out shows at Cork's Marquee this Summer.
Elsewhere, this documentary will include a contribution from popular Northern Irish Irish blues-rock bassist, Gerry McAvoy, who performed alongside Rory Gallagher for over two decades.
Here, McAvoy speaks about the pair's commitment to performing live, even playing live in Belfast at the height of the Troubles.
"There was bombs going off on a daily basis, but Rory went, ‘no we're going to do it’, and we did and it was fantastic. That's one of the main memories for me, coming from Belfast and going back to play Belfast", he said.
Ahead of this weekend, curator and presenter, Marty Miller, said working on this documentary was "an honour".
“Rory Gallagher was such a special artist. I was in my early 20’s when he died, it wasn’t till much later that I learned just how important he really was and is. To hear Rory chatting back stage in Santa Cruz in 1991part of this documentary, then for me to interview his family, super fan Joe Bonamassa and former bandmate Gerry McAvoy, just an honour”, Marty said.
This documentary is a must listen for music fans across Ireland and beyond, especially for fans of Rory Gallagher.
Tune into Radio Nova this Sunday at 9pm and check out a truly wonderful tribute to an Irish music icon.
