Joe Bonamassa plays Rory Gallagher's 1959 Esquire

As the late Irish blues-rock guitar legend Rory Gallagher's guitars come up for auction this October at Bonhams in London, we caught up with Joe Bonamassa to play Rory's much-modded '59 Esquire while it was in New York being exhibited to the public – a pillar of Rory's slide guitar sound throughout his career – and hear his perspective on a player who embodied pure adrenalin and soulful intensity through his extraordinary career and also learn why Rory, as a guitar player, was about more than just that iconic '61 Strat.

[colinbennington]

I had the privilege to see Rory at the Reading Festival in the UK in the early 80’s. He played on the Friday night. Came on stage at 10pm. He was still playing at 4am in the morning. Legend. Sadly missed

[johnn]

I bought that Live in Europe album in the mid 70s and several times since in different formats. The vinyl copy is still in the garage somewhere. And I saw Rory Gallagher play twice in Belfast and once in Leeds, also in the late 70s, early 80s. He was adored by the young people on both sides of the political divide because he came to Belfast every year to play, around New Years usually, when no one else would take the risk.

[jstrat]

I got to see Rory open for Rush on their “Signals” tour…….he was the first live performance I ever witnessed……..I still haven’t recovered, lol.

[thesjkexperience]

My oldest is named Rory. He loves the name and enjoys his namesake’s music.

[gerh]

Not too long before he died Rory was on ‘The Late Late Show’ here in Ireland (I’m talking about the original version, not the crap it has become since Pat Kenny and the lads since him🙄)
Rory played some tunes and did a short interview about his playing, etc.
There’s a line in there that I’ve never forgotten and it relates to the Market-Capitalist way of ‘owning stuff cos I can’ approach to musical instruments…
Rory says “… just hit the bloody thing…” He loved and lived for guitar and music and we loved (and love) him for that - so if yer going to buy this or any other instrument PLAY IT, don’t stick it in a vault. You owe it to (in this case) Rory to do that.
🇮🇪🇸🇩👍

[Transterra]

Saw Rory here in Memphis in August of ‘79….What an incredible presence.

[RyanM]

Joe sending a warning shot for when Rory's strat goes on sale, later in the year! 😂

[davidhackett]

Saw him in '77 - he had a super cool black Tele with 2 Strat pickups mounted on the pickguard. In the '78 GP interview (cover story!) he said it was a "Telecaster a la Strat."

[michaelsicowitz]

I saw Rory in Milw July, 1969, Midwest Rock Fest, 3 weeks before that other one, always forget that name, NY somewhere. But anyhow Taste opened this thing, 'who the hell is that guitar player? Great 3 piece and great mixing PA, rare for the time. Their set opened with Blister on the Moon, just awesome, believe their LP wasn't even out yet. I can't remember what guitar he played. Weird cause I remember everything else, I was blessed to b there, 14 yrs old. Zeppelin ended that night, Blind Faith and Johnny Winter - how about that? ...many others

[zaprodaju]

This is the best sounding tele I've ever heard.

[declanhowley]

one master who respects another master...❤ from ireland..

[benmarshallproduction]

My god Joe can make a guitar sound glorious 🙌

[ShadysMyCat]

Great to hear Joe talk and play guitars. Be interesting to see Rory's other guitars too.

[supermashriq]

It'd be nice if Joe acquired some of Rory's collection. He's not precious about taking valuable guitars on the road, and that'd be preferable to them disappearing from public life.

I hope joe buys one of his guitars. They definitely need to be played.

[MrLeFilipfloppyvelarde]

What an incredible sound, sounds big and haunting, it was made to olay blues

[satyanpatel]

I know Joe gets a lot of hate, but I like him. Without him we would never get to see these beauties again, and get to hear them, and Joe's take on them and the mini documentaries behind them. It's like a PBS documentary for guitars with Joe. If it wasn't for Joe, we would never get to know the detailed history and it would be in some rich guy's house wall never to be seen or heard again. I for one, can't afford anything expensive and I play my guitars, so I appreciate this.

[bobnicolai]

Saw it, and it made me pick up my tele from under the dust together with some old Rory vinyl (Top Priority) ... great week-end ahead 🎸 thx Joe !

[bluesrocker]

Rory's guitars, especially his Strat, should stay in Ireland.

[Joyce]

This guitar is up for sale too .. Along with Rory's Strat and 150 other items . This Esquire has a starting bid of Rory's back up Strat, starting bid £250, 000... !!! Everything up for grabs ....