shadowplays.com

Some things just seem to naturally go well together; like Peaches and Cream, Frye & Laurie, or Fish and Chips. And then there’s that great combination of Rory Gallagher and Belfast’s Ulster Hall. Since the 70’s no other performer has played the Ulster Hall more times than Rory, nor has anyone filled the Hall on as many consecutive nights as the legendary G-man. Yet when the BBC announced recently the upcoming re-opening of the famous venue after a lengthy closure for refurbishment, there was no mention of the Irish guitar wizard on their list of famous bands who played the venerable hall. Oh they trotted out the usual suspects: the Stones, Who, Zep, U2, and even Coldplay got a nod — but no Rory. Here’s a link to the article by Chris Page on the Ulster Hall: Ulster Hall Reopening. Feel free to contact the BBC and voice your displeasure:
BBC Comments and Complaints

So what’s the big deal? What does it matter if they forget to mention Rory?

If there’s ever a city whose name seems forever linked to the term “war-torn” it’s Belfast. It was Belfast that saw the most intense violence of the August 1969 riots, what is commonly known as the start of “The Troubles”, and it was in Belfast on July 21, 1972, on “Bloody Friday”, that 22 bombs were set off killing 9 people and injuring 130 more. Belfast’s hotel Europa is considered to be “the most bombed hotel in the world.” During these tragic times, few musicians would play in the troubled city. The street outside of the Ulster Hall was christened “Bomb Alley,” and when Rory and his mates first performed in Belfast in 1971 you could hear the bombs going off in and around the city while they played.

The first night we played Belfast in ’71, there was ten bombs that went off around the city as we were playing…you’re always worried.– Gerry McAvoy, bass player for Rory Gallagher Band

Yet play they did. Every year, during the Christmas Holidays, Rory would perform at the Ulster Hall, seemingly immune to the violence that otherwise gripped the city.

Rory was accepted by all sides. I wouldn’t say he was untouchable but there was an element of that. Particularly at Ulster Hall…–Donal Gallagher.

So how many other big name bands would play at Belfast’s Ulster Hall during the height of “The Troubles”, and of those, how many would have come back a second time? Certainly not the bands that Mr. Page trots out to sell the grand re-opening of the famous concert venue. It was Rory, and only Rory, who stood by the Ulster Hall during those troubled times.

Nobody will come now, it’s impossible. There’s only Gallagher here who’ll do it. — Jim Aiken, Belfast’s legendary concert promoter

Rory Gallagher has once again returned to Belfast, at least he came, and for that we must thank him. Belfast has now become a graveyard for music. Concerts and big groups are a thing of the past…We want action now, for too long the groups in England haven’t given music where it can give the most help. Lennon tells us to give peace a chance, but has he visited us? All we want John ,baby, is the truth. Perhaps he is furthering the peace movements somewhere in Hyde Park. Perhaps the groups don’t want to make any sacrifices, maybe they are afraid, maybe they cannot stir themselves to help the people who need it most, who have no power to speak of.– excerpt from early 70’s Belfast underground paper,’Take One’.

Rory’s concerts at the Ulster Hall were packed to the gills with protestants and catholics alike and for a few brief hours there was a respite from those tumultuous times; for a few brief hours it became all about the music. Politicians could talk about bringing the two sides together, but it was Rory who could deliver, at least for those few shining moments. Of course, Rory, being the humble soul he was, would never in a million years claim any part of the credit for the easing of tensions in the stark battlefield that was 70’s Belfast. But I will. And hopefully others will too. The following is an excerpt from Roy Hollingworth’s review of Rory’s January 1972 concert at Belfast’s Ulster Hall.

I’ve never seen anything quite so wonderful, so stirring, so uplifting, so joyous as when Gallagher and the band walked on stage. The whole place erupted, they all stood and they cheered and they yelled, and screamed, and they put their arms up, and they embraced. Then as one unit they put their arms into the air and gave peace signs. Without being silly, or overemotional, it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It all meant something, it meant more than just rock n’ roll, it was something bigger, something more valid than just that.

You just wanted to take the lid off the walls from around this hall and put it on a huge platform, raise it above the city and let just everyone see it, and hear it. Two thousand people together as one…–Roy Hollingworth, NME January 1972

Share on Facebook

Glasgow: Second City of the Empire

Located on the banks of the River Clyde, in West Central Scotland, the City of Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and the third largest city in the United Kingdom. With a history dating back over 2 thousand years, Glasgow was one of the premier cities of Europe and came to be known as the ‘Second City of the Empire’. Glasgow’s position on the River Clyde, where Trade Winds first hit Europe, gave its merchants a two to three week advantage over other ports in Britain and Europe. The port city thrived on the West Indian and American trade agreements and become one of the richest cities in 18th century Europe. Glasgow merchants, such as John Glassford and James Dunlop made obscene amounts of money off the tobacco trade and built huge mansions laid out on streets named after themselves on the western edge of the city. These merchants would come to be known as the “Tobacco Lords”.

The close proximity of the largest coal fields and the richest iron-ore mines in all the British Isles kept the city of Glasgow in good stead for the ensuing Industrial Revolution, and Glasgow turned their new found industrial might to the building of ships and steam locomotives. “More ships were built on the banks of the Clyde before the war than in England, Germany and America put together.” These were exported throughout the world, and the term “Clyde-Built” became synonymous with solidity and reliability. In the 20th century however, Glasgow experienced a severe economic downturn as demands for ships and locomotives dwindled due to increase competition overseas. Today most of the shipyards on the River Clyde have disappeared; houses now stand where once the great oceanliners such as the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were built.

Perched at the top of Glasgow’s Renfield Street was the Apollo Theatre. Originally known as Green’s Playhouse, the theatre was a vast 3-story structure that at one time housed a cinema, a ballroom, 3 cafes and assorted lobbies and waiting rooms. Built in 1927 for Bert and Fred Green, the most successful cinema proprietors and film renters in Scotland, Green’s Playhouse was the largest cinema in all of Europe, with a seating capacity of 4,200. By the mid-sixties however, the cinema was having trouble filling the auditorium and began using the venue more and more for rock concerts. The measure proved only a temporary remedy and Green’s Playhouse closed it’s doors on June 30, 1973.

The venerable theatre would not stayed closed for long however, and 3 short months later it reopened its doors under new management, Unicorn Leisure, and with a fresh coat of paint and new name: the Apollo Theatre. Under the experienced hand of Unicorn Leisure’s management, it became the leading concert house in all of Scotland. The sheer size of the venue and it’s elevated stage could be daunting, but the winning over of the typical Glaswegian crowd was the true test of a band’s mettle. A Glasgow audience was said to be one of the most demanding in the world. “Such was its reputation that one relieved act is reputed to have printed T-shirts saying: I Played the Apollo … and Survived.” — www.inthewilderness.com/apollo

…we were all really, really nervous….Glaswegians were said to be the most difficult of any audience in Britain, especially on a Friday night…when they got paid and got pissed.
— excerpt from Sharon Osbourne’s autobiography, ‘Extremes’

I remember at the time thinking this is rock’n’roll, just standing on that stage at the Apollo in front of so many people, and having to get roadies to wring out the sweat from our T-shirts because we were so hot…the Apollo was a terrifying venue because the stage was so high. You felt very, very exposed up there and, added to that, you had a hard, industrial audience. I think if you got off on the wrong foot it would be a disaster…–Rick Parfitt, Status Quo

The old Glasgow Apollo was wild; the balcony used to visibly bounce up and down. I was there with Lynyrd Skynyrd in ’75 when a midget fell from the first circle into the stalls. It was one hell of a shock, but I can laugh about it now. If I’m being honest, I could laugh about it then as well. I’m not proud of that.– Steve Coogan

Rory Gallagher played the Apollo on 10 separate occasions and at least one time when it was still Green’s Playhouse. If Belfast was regarded as Rory’s “second home” then Glasgow was surely a close third, and when visiting Scotland’s ‘Second City’, the Apollo Theatre would have been his preferred “Stompin’ Ground”. Reviews of several of his performances there can be found in John Ganjamie’s excellant repository of articles at roryon.com: article 1, article 2, and article 3. But in a nutshell, Rory Gallagher’s shows at the Apollo were simply incredible.

[I] remember seeing the Amazing Mr.Gallagher on 2 march 1973 [at Green’s Playhouse] support was Greenslade (they didnt have a guitarist). A banner above the stage saying “its good its guiness”with guiness scored out and GALLAGHER put in instead.Classic set included tracks from the Blueprint album too! High point of the night was when Gerry McAvoy told us it was Rory’s birthday and, already on our feet, we sang happy bithday to him! That Famous Choir never sounded better and the measure of the man is how humble he was, genuinely touched by our affection for him! 1 of the few real gentlemen in the business he is so sadly missed.–www.inthewilderness.com/apollo

A battered strat; a tartan shirt; hair clinging to his face with sweat; total dedication to his music – and his fans. This quiet-spoken gentle man was once the darling of Glasgow’s Apollo Theatre and I saw him there.
He had injured his hand, and while many others would cancel a gig (or a tour) we knew Rory would come. For an hour and a half or so, the Glasgow crowd kept up a seemingly constant chant of “Rory! Rory! Rory!”.The houselights went up but no-one moved – there may have been an announcement but no-one would have heard. The balcony was bouncing to the stamp of the audience’s feet. Then,quite slowly and without introduction he walked onto the stage – the place exploded. The energy and anticipation the crowd gave off can’t be described. They made it a great gig – and Rory didn’t let them down. — rockmine.com

So have a listen to Rory Gallagher at the Apollo Theatre on May 28, 1982, his electrifying guitar work hitting you between the eyes like a Glasgow Kiss.*

• Download an mp3 of Rory’s show at the Apollo,
  HERE.
• Receive notification when a new bootleg is uploaded, HERE.
• Listen to the concert on your computer right now, HERE
  (You must have Adobe Flash Player 9 installed)

*A Glasgow Kiss

A Headbutt to the lumpy bit on the nose. The headbutt is much used as a method of attack in Glasgow pubs on a friday night- hence the name The Glasgow Kiss.