“S**t, what did I just sign up for?” Joe Bonamassa reveals fears over Rory Gallagher tribute gig
Next summer, Joe Bonamassa is set to pay tribute to his guitar hero, Rory Gallagher, with three shows in Gallagher’s hometown of Cork, Ireland.
Having previously described the endeavour as the “biggest honour and challenge of my musical life”, Bonamassa now reveals the nerves he feels about stepping into the shoes of the late Irish legend.
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In a new interview with Classic Rock, Bonamassa explains that the idea for the tribute came from the Gallagher family – Dónal, Rory’s younger brother and manager, along with Daniel, his nephew and archivist – and a promoter named Peter Aiken “who wanted to do something to celebrate next year’s thirtieth anniversary of Rory’s passing.”
“When they reached out I said: ‘You had me at hello.’ Then I thought about it and went: ‘Shit, what did I just sign up for?’”
Bonamassa explains that he’d made his intentions clear to Dónal, Daniel, and Peter before starting rehearsals: “I told [them]: ‘I’m not Rory; I don’t want to be a tribute act that replicates all the little glitches and mistakes. I’m going to be myself,’” he recalls. “And they said that’s exactly what they want. Having heard that, I could relax. It’s proven very popular, and from two shows it became three.”
The musician adds: “I never thought I would be forty-seven years old – forty-eight by the time the shows happen – and doing a set of Rory based on [the legendary double live album] Irish Tour ‘74. And doing it in Cork. But here we are. Let’s boogie.”
Bonamassa also assures fans that while the shows wouldn’t be “perfect”, they’ll be “the best I can”: “It’s like all of the tribute shows I’ve done, with The Three Kings [blues legends Freddie, Albert and BB] and the one to Clapton, Beck & Page, you just have to go in there with conviction and show the fans how much the music means. But that’s me, I’ll never back down from a challenge.”
Joe will be playing his Rory gigs on 1, 2, and 3 July 2025, at Live at the Marquee in Cork; The guitarist will be joined by a talented band featuring British drummer Jeremy Stacey, bassist Aongus Ralston, and keyboardist Lachy Doley.
Tickets for Joe Bonamassa plays Rory Gallagher are now available at Ticketmaster Ireland.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
