Rory Gallagher’s brother slams new book about rock legend and refuses to be interviewed saying he is planning own memoir
This autumn, Rory Gallagher The Man Behind The Guitar, will be published by Collins Press and author Julian Vignoles promises the book will shed light on the rocker
A NEW biography about Irish rock legend Rory Gallagher has been slammed by the famous guitarist’s brother.
This autumn, Rory Gallagher The Man Behind The Guitar, will be published by Collins Press.
Author Julian Vignoles promises the book will shed light on the complex personality of the blues man through a range of extensive interviews with friends.
However, Rory’s brother and former manager, Donal Gallagher, has refused to be interviewed for the book and is planning his own memoir about his sibling.
Donal, who was at Aras An Uachtarain this week to unveil a commemorative coin in honour of Rory, told The Irish Sun: “This is an unapproved book and I don’t intend reading it. There is no connection to Rory.
"It’s difficult when you know someone is a genuine fan but at the same time, you have self appointed people writing a book called The Man Behind The Guitar, yet they didn’t really know him.
“Yes, (Vignoles) might have met Rory but so did millions of other fans, and he wouldn’t be writing a book if I wasn’t championing Rory.”
But ex RTE commissioning editor Julian stands by his tome, which he said Donal won’t see until it hits the shops.
Julian said: “I respect Donal’s decision. He loved his brother and wants him remembered in a certain way. When you write a biography, you are moving around in someone else’s life.
"It’s a difficult position to be in. But I started out on this journey as a fan, and had to de-fan myself to write the story but came out the other side an even bigger fan.”
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In the book Julian claims the Ballyshannon man was a devout Catholic who went to mass every Sunday.
Julian said: “Rory was also quite superstitious. I’ve always felt he was underrated as a songwriter because he was so good at the guitar. His songs speak very eloquently about his state of mind. He was a troubled person.”
Rory, 47, died after a liver transplant in June 1995. He is buried in Co Cork.