Donal Gallagher recalls the time when his brother Rory almost became a member of The Stones. This is an outtake from Songs & Stories New York Remembers Rory Gallagher. Watch it here vimeo.com/onde...
Rory was his own man. Too much of a maverick to ever be tied down to someone else's band. He definitely wasn't going to be a 'replacement' for MickTaylor. Or anybody else. Rory was nobody's spare wheel.
twilightatireland, so why did Rory get on an airplane and go to Rotterdam? Why did he play with band and seek answer from Mick? Then waited to speak to Keith? Please watch video again in slow motion and have someone explain it to you.
But as donal said it would have only broadened his audience even if he had played one tour....i have nothing but respect for rory...but i didnt know who he was til he died.. and im sure im not the only one. I admire his integrity but i do wish he had reaped the benefits....he really did deserve RIP rory
it would have been interesting though to hear what they would have come up with, but I agree, Rory could/ and did write some legendary tunes, and was his own man
most definitely, i like keith, always have but he is one seriously over rated guitar player, rory G on the other hand is and will always be a brilliant guitarist . anybody who was ever lucky enough to see him in his prime live will back me up on that one.
I don't think so. keith is a rolling stones and Rory Gallagher was to be hired to fix all of keith's shortcomings. I think Rory had a good decisión. Rory was better than Rolling stones and Rory was a leader. Greetings FIERO
I think Rory would have been driven crazy if he would have joined the Stones. He was everything they are not. Rory loved playing for the smaller crowds, the Stones had gigantic tours, the Stones were into drugs, Rory wasn’t. Would he have been able to write songsand sing for the Stones albums and also live? I don’t think Mick and Keith would have let him.
Rory was way out of the Stones league as a guitarist and overall performer. Saw the Stones 82 tour and even George Thorogood as a support act blew them off the stage. We can count ourselves lucky Rory didn't join them, what a waste that would've been. Mick Taylor's the best guitarist they ever had,and no harm to Mick,but even he would bow down to Rory who was just so many tiers above him.Just look at all the great music we would have missed out on if Rory had joined. Kudos to Rory for not and staying true to himself, Legend ☘
Miss ya Rory.. One legend gone way too soon just imagine the kind of music he had in him.... Keep on Rocking brother wherever you are . :( Good he didnt join the Stones!
Rory Gallagher did show up to audition for the Stones and was told by Mick to see Keith. Rory only had one day to audition because he had to leave for Japan the following day. Anyway, Rory found Keith in some room completely knocked out. It was the morning so Rory figured he'd stop by later. Four hours later, Rory comes by the room and Keith was still asleep. He decided to wake Keith and shook him a little but Keith was unresponsive. Three hours later, well into the evening now, Rory goes up to the room and Keith is still out. Gallagher, then desperate to do some work with Keith cause he only had a couple hours left, shakes Keith up and tells him it's Rory and he was supposed to audition for the band. Keith responds: "Who are you?" Rory tell him again. Keith offers no response this time as his eyes roll up, passed out again. Gallagher then went downstairs, got his gear, and left never to be seen again.
+Rory Gallagher Contrary to popular belief, these were not 'auditions' - it was Jagger's canny way to get free session work (and a few ideas)!!! The Stones were just waiting on Woody from the night Taylor resigned!
As cool as Keith was, he was at times an asshole. Nobody could lay down a rhythm like Keith, I think with Rory on lead they would have been phenomenal. Mick Taylor wasn't too shabby either
Great comments but surely the main issue was lifestyle? Donal mentions it twice: Rory was emphatically not concerned with the druggy, beautiful models jet-set life.
I think he would not have fitted in the Rolling Stones. They allways had that superstar thing going and Rory was a normal and down to earth guy. That would have bot been the right thing for him.
Rory wasn't English - that was the problem, and that's the bottom line. The RS were an English band, and more specifically a London band. I heard later that this was Richard's main issue, and one he wouldn't compromise on. That - and jealousy.
Kathryn Mellor It was Jagger who really wanted him. Apparently he "saw a lot in Rory". I'm guessing what he saw was the sort of skill that Richard's couldn't match and which would make Mick look even better on stage. I think Richards sensed the real agenda, and blocked it. Remember the Rolling Stones is a full on corporation where all original members have voting and veto rights. The 'English' argument is sometimes touted by journalists. But I think the real reason was Richard's jealousy of RG's skill.
Of course Keith Richards was against it. But because Jagger and Rory would have pushed Keith out just as Jagger and Keith pushed Brian Jones out all those years before. Keith won his battle over Mick Taylor but the shape he was in, I do not think he would have won the battle with Rory. As it was, they eventually hired Ronnie Wood, another hell raiser, which led to a different and ironically more stable dynamic as he and Keith were equally feral.
Rory and Stones? No. He would have started to rip on the guitar and the rest of the band would have stopped and just stared. Rory would have had to downgrade his playing with the Stones. He was a leader. With the Stones he would never have been able to go into the stratosphere like he always did. He wasn't about money and fame. I think he felt he did OK.
I saw gallagher and the Stones in the same year round 73' and Rory was brilliant along with his great band and as for the Stones very ordinary performance. Yep Rory would have blown them right off the stage mate !!
you are not honest tellin the stones in that period were ordinary .. i love rory but in 72 73 stones live was incredible with taylor ! They became ordinary with wood but not before
Richards then had heroin as a priority , music second.....music of many types ( mandolin , national steel , acoustic guitar , harmonica ,alto sax , banjo , coral sitar , electric guitar..... Slide par excellence ) was always "Top Priority" ..... no mere coincidence that he used this as an album title.... he was creatively in another dimension that none of the stones could even dream of entering
There were a few problems with this, but the main one was Richards. His excuse to Jagger (who admired Gallagher) was that we're "a London band". The real reason was far more petty. Gallagher would have blown Richards off the stage. Keith knew that.
You can never trust second hand info. I believe Rory's story completely. HOWEVER, the other day, I was reading about Rory and there was a mention that he was invited to be a member of the Stones but he declined. NOW that was a false story...obviously he tried to become a member but burned out Keith couldn't come to when Rory was trying to ask if he wanted him in the band....Had Richards woke up and not comatose as he was at that very important timeframe, Rory could very possibly have been a Stone for at least a bit of time but it wasn't to be...Ironic, not that Rory's drinking would have abated if he joined the Stones...but just maybe the way life works out....just maybe he might have switched gears instead of needing a liver transplant from alcholism and died from complications of the liver transplant gone wrong within days after getting it when he was just 47 years old. Fate.
Rory would have been wasted in the stones he was a front man he was a fantastic guitar player he would have blown keef away and rorys personality was the compete opposite to the stones band members Lee Hambleton from Sheffield
As someone suggested - I wish he would have joined for a few recordings. To follow Taylor with Rory would have been one great guitarist with another. But Rory was a band leader and played and performed to his own strokes. Long time in the Stones just wouldn't have worked. Have to give Jagger credit if he was pushing to get him in though. I suspect it was more Richards on getting Wood in since he was more comfortable with him. Too bad he isn't much of a lead player.
Rory was asked to fill in Blackmore's spot in Deep Purple in 1976=5 after Ritchie had left. But Rory rejected that lucrative offer.. The man was genius at playing guitars
Rory was WAAAY too good for the stones. That would have been like Hendrix joining up with Aerosmith. I would have liked to have seen Rory join up with Deep Purple for awhile, that would have been a better fit and gotten Rory more recognition.
I agree completely. I think Rory would have been a great replacement for Blackmore in Deep Purple. Just imagine Rory, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes in the same band! Just...wow.
Sounded like it was, nadinechevalier. Damn, I'd heard the rumours, but i didnt figure it was true. I'm glad he didnt join them... but then again, you've got to wonder what it would have been like. Wonder why they didnt call him back? :P
All I can say is thank God Rory didn't join the Rolling Stones, he was far too much of an accomplished singer, songwriter, and obviously genius of a guitar player to be stuck lumped in with the over-inflated ego of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Any single one of Rory's solo albums are endlessly superior to anything Jagger and Richards have ever written.
I don't think Mick's prancing would have been Rory's cup of tea. JMHO. Antithetical. And anyway, let's face it -- as far as putting on a show is concerned, the spotlight belonged to Mick and Keith. It would be like looking/listening for musicianship at a Madonna show.
in all fairness, they had a quality guitarist who they allowed to play what he wanted, in Taylor. but he was not a stage presence who needed the whole audience. Rory did. he was as much a showman as he was an excellent musician. and he may have worried that his own fans would see him as a sellout.
rorywas used to be independent,he would not submit to keith's ego,and his sound would not fit in with the stones,especially when they flirted with funk and disco music
I can honestly say that in my gut I think that Donal wanted only the best for Rory. And I have got pretty keen instincts. I wish that I'd had a Donal looking after my business as we have a lot of Rory in us when it comes to art vs. commerce! There is a middle ground. Thanks for comment!
I do not think joining the stones would have been healthy, in the middle seventies those guy had a lot of problem with drinking and drugs and all that shit .
I have loved the Stones since the late 60's snd also loved Rory. I don't think he would have blown keith of the stage but i do think he was better on his own with his own band and songs. Maybe he coukd have recorded an album with them, would have been really cool. Long live the Stones and love Rory
Stones have too much ego Rory has no ego and would not have been happy with them plu Rory was his own man To have Mick jagger jumping around and wanting the lime light would have not fitted with Rory being a modest guy And too talented for the stones
That wouldve been one of the biggest wastes of talent in the history of music if he had decided to join the stones. No guitarist deserves to stand behind mick jagger while he homosexually prances around the stage.
I interviewed him in Cork in 1983. This wouldn't have worked for several reasons. 1. Rory was a frontman by himself. So was Jagger. I would argue that Gallagher had better stage command than Jagger. How does that work? You're asking a guy who has better audience skills than the lead singer to stand in the background and play guitar. 2. Rory was an artist, with a certain purity of spirit. Imagine him being asked to wade in during some Mick v. Keith shit. How long could he (or anybody) put up with this? 3. The Stones were essentially a London band. Rory wasn't from there. This eventually enters the dynamic. 4. The entertainment press would have quickly worked out that Gallagher was musically better than anyone else in the band. The logical deduction would have been that he was simply "using" the Stones for a year or two to amplify his own name, and that he would then leave. "Ex Stones guitarist, Rory Gallagher" would then be playing to massive audiences who had an opportunity to view his talent. Imagine the constant mistrust as Jagger & co anticipated this move. Imagine the jealousy. I could go on.
Thank God he never joined the Stones. I never cared for much of what they've done since Goat's head soup. {Damn I'm old} plus as some have mentioned Rory was his own man. I can't imagine had you never followed that with~ against the grain,calling card,photo finish and top priority... 4 masterpieces! Long live Rory's music ,memory and legacy. I highly recommend seeing "Band of Friends " with Gerry McAvoy and Davy Knowles and ,or the European version with Brendan O'Neill. It's not Rory! No one is but they do justice to his music. Rory On!
@@anton2417 Nothing to brag about because popularity does not determine who is the greater. . Rory's talent far superior to that of the Rolling Stones. . Besides many other bands such as Led Zeppelin become bigger then the Stones
I don't think he really wanted it - maybe guest on an album or some tracks here and there (studio), but he had his own material and wanted to follow that.
I think Rory couldn't be a member of the Stones because he was an authentic bluesman the Stones have another dress code and make up they're more showmen
he played blues and slide guitar, which they were all about. but Rory , one look at any film on YT you can see he's electrifying! he wasn't gonna be a team player when he already knew the love of his crowds, and the chance to be a genuine rock star every night w/ out the ROLLING STONES. probably for a lot less money, but he was a power trio guy. he was right to remain a solo star. tho it would be good to have some STONES records to hear w/ him on them. maybe for about a yr. or two, but he would've missed his own gigs .this guy was a star.they even tried to sign him to ROLLING STONES records earlier in his career.
It wouldn't have been a good match. Rory was too much of a saint to have remained with the sleazy Stones. He would have had to sell himself to the devil to make it work well. It was serendipitous and divine intervention.
I for one am glad this never happened. Might have made more of a name for Rory, but to share a stage with Jagger and Richards would have been a letdown for him. Both Rory and the Stones made the right choice. After all the guy they eventually settled on is still with them.
A lot of people totally agree with you.By the way we are raising money for another Rock Doc, one of the perks is an in depth interview with Donal that we did for the film.You can find a link on the Songs & Stories facebook page.
Thanks god he did not join those clown band . The stones were finished in 74, they had already done all what they could with beggars , get yaya , sticky, exile goad head soup and its only rock'nroll . Most of their work after that is pretty boring (lets save maybe black and blue and some girls but most of the songs from it have been wrote in the past and they just recorded it). Would have been of course financially confortable, but musically a waste . Hell when you listen to photofinish, its far superior to anything the stone did in that period. Also, what he would have done ? play some good solo on blues song ? they were not even using blues tune like love in vain etc in their show . Good decision to move on
Rory's creative talent as a song writer would have been over as a Stone,as it was always Jagger/Richards when it came to royalities.He would have just been there to play their songs which would have frustrated him after a while;I mean how many times can you play Satisfaction and Jumping Jack Flash night after night when you have better songs of your own which you are not allowed to play?.He would have gone from band leader to a bit player.Plus the constant treadmill of playing bigger and bigger stadiums for more and more money coupled with the hedonistic life style of groupies and drugs were not to Rory's taste either.I think that Japanese Tour may have been a blessing in disguise...
All Stones songs were written by Jagger - Richards. Rory would have to play their songs and not write anything. I think he could not go on like that. Also consider this: Maybe all his albums after 1974 would have never been released, so...
You know what would have been interesting, and a much better musical fit? Mick Taylor joining Rory Gallagher's band for a tour. But Rory withthe Stones would have been a fifth wheel. Might as well have asked Eddie Van Halen a few years later.
There is another story- that in fact Gallagher played for three days with the Stones and during that "audition" they played Brown Sugar. Half-way through the song Keith stopped and told Gallagher he was in the band. During their playing, Gallagher had the germ for the song "Miss You" which they jammed on. Why there was no follow- thru-who knows? Rory could have continued his solo work while in the Stones- They didn't tour often. I sure would have liked to have heard Rory on Stones stuff versus Wood and also on stage!
THANK GOD. Playing rhythm to Keith Richards, what a waste. They treated Bill Wyman like shite for years and Ron Wood is rich but he's still just playing second fiddle to those two jerks. But playing with Charlie Watts should have been worth the trip... I can see dollar signs in Donal's eyes but who can blame him really.
Rory was his own man. Too much of a maverick to ever be tied down to someone else's band. He definitely wasn't going to be a 'replacement' for MickTaylor. Or anybody else. Rory was nobody's spare wheel.
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twilightatireland, so why did Rory get on an airplane and go to Rotterdam? Why did he play with band and seek answer from Mick? Then waited to speak to Keith? Please watch video again in slow motion and have someone explain it to you.
@@jackflash5659 😂
@@jackflash5659I think he was curious more than anything else🤔
Rory is a far superior guitarist than any of the stones members
What does that even mean?
Rory's style was never fit for the Stones - he was way too good for them
Yes. I agree. So, was Mick Taylor. IMHO, the Stones peaked with Mick.
Loved Rory's playing, but not loose enough for the Stones. Wound too tight.
@@slimturnpike he was a donegal man., we're different up here
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@@hometeamproductions the reason the stones lasted as long as they did is they didn’t burn out by playing 100% full on like Rory did all the time.
I'm glad he never joined the Stones. He had too much talent to be in "a band". He needed to have his own band to reach his full potential.
Right you are
But as donal said it would have only broadened his audience even if he had played one tour....i have nothing but respect for rory...but i didnt know who he was til he died.. and im sure im not the only one.
I admire his integrity but i do wish he had reaped the benefits....he really did deserve
RIP rory
it would have been interesting though to hear what they would have come up with, but I agree, Rory could/ and did write some legendary tunes, and was his own man
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gallagher would blow richards off stage !!!
most definitely, i like keith, always have but he is one seriously over rated guitar player, rory G on the other hand is and will always be a brilliant guitarist . anybody who was ever lucky enough to see him in his prime live will back me up on that one.
Agreed, it’s well documented around this period 73/74 Keith Richards actually fell asleep against an amp while on stage with the Stones!
Richards is a dick pretending to be a guitarist..........sad!!!
@@emmetnolan7081 still he wrote some of the greatest riffs in rock history 🤷♂️
You folk do not understand music.
I think that if Rory HAD joined the Stones, Keith would have been on the unemployment line.
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I don't think so. keith is a rolling stones and Rory Gallagher was to be hired to fix all of keith's shortcomings. I think Rory had a good decisión. Rory was better than Rolling stones and Rory was a leader. Greetings FIERO
Fortunately that never happened
Rory had his own sound which is far much better than anyone else. He deserved a band of his own.
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give me gallagher all day everyday over the stones
Rory Gallagher
He was honest with his art
He was tru to his heart
Rip
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Rory Would Of Never Been Able To Handle The Glimmer Twins Drama I Could Never Picture Rory With The Stones !
Absolutely.
me neither. They would never have been able to work together.
Agree. Ugh! The thought of it turns my stomach.
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@luluvonpod Yes it was definitely the right move for Rory not to join up after all he was truly the LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS
I don't think Rory wanted that type of fame.
Keith Richards is a good Rhythm Guitarist, a great showman, alas!!! When it comes to Rory Gallagher..there's no contest.☘🎸🎼God Bless Yeh Rory🎸🎼
The Stones always needed another guitarist, one who could play, glad it was never Rory.
I think Rory would have been driven crazy if he would have joined the Stones. He was everything they are not. Rory loved playing for the smaller crowds, the Stones had gigantic tours, the Stones were into drugs, Rory wasn’t. Would he have been able to write songsand sing for the Stones albums and also live? I don’t think Mick and Keith would have let him.
totally agree
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Rory was way out of the Stones league as a guitarist and overall performer. Saw the Stones 82 tour and even George Thorogood as a support act blew them off the stage. We can count ourselves lucky Rory didn't join them, what a waste that would've been. Mick Taylor's the best guitarist they ever had,and no harm to Mick,but even he would bow down to Rory who was just so many tiers above him.Just look at all the great music we would have missed out on if Rory had joined. Kudos to Rory for not and staying true to himself, Legend ☘
Miss ya Rory.. One legend gone way too soon just imagine the kind of music he had in him.... Keep on Rocking brother wherever you are . :( Good he didnt join the Stones!
Well said...the stones, give me a break...Rory was a man not a wimp.
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Rory joining Stones? To humiliate them?
It would have been great to have gotten at least a couple of recorded tracks from the pairing of Rory & the Stones.
Rory Gallagher did show up to audition for the Stones and was told by Mick to see Keith. Rory only had one day to audition because he had to leave for Japan the following day. Anyway, Rory found Keith in some room completely knocked out. It was the morning so Rory figured he'd stop by later. Four hours later, Rory comes by the room and Keith was still asleep. He decided to wake Keith and shook him a little but Keith was unresponsive. Three hours later, well into the evening now, Rory goes up to the room and Keith is still out. Gallagher, then desperate to do some work with Keith cause he only had a couple hours left, shakes Keith up and tells him it's Rory and he was supposed to audition for the band. Keith responds: "Who are you?" Rory tell him again. Keith offers no response this time as his eyes roll up, passed out again. Gallagher then went downstairs, got his gear, and left never to be seen again.
That seems to be an accurate story or at least the same version I was lead to believe.
Rory Gallagher that seems to be exactly what the video says ffs
+Rory Gallagher Contrary to popular belief, these were not 'auditions' - it was Jagger's canny way to get free session work (and a few ideas)!!! The Stones were just waiting on Woody from the night Taylor resigned!
As cool as Keith was, he was at times an asshole. Nobody could lay down a rhythm like Keith, I think with Rory on lead they would have been phenomenal. Mick Taylor wasn't too shabby either
Ron Wyatt a
Would have been pretty cool seeing Rory sit in with the Stones, but not as a fulltime member.
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IMO, Rory was too talented for the Stones...so was Mick Taylor for that matter
Sure. The greatest rock band in history was only one guy.
Exactly right. Good analogy.
@Gallagherfreak100 interesting thought but I think most Rory fans are very pleased that he stayed true to himself.
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Great comments but surely the main issue was lifestyle? Donal mentions it twice: Rory was emphatically not concerned with the druggy, beautiful models jet-set life.
I think he would not have fitted in the Rolling Stones. They allways had that superstar thing going and Rory was a normal and down to earth guy. That would have bot been the right thing for him.
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Rory respected his fans
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Rory was his own man Keaith. Richards was a bully he would never fit in with the stones. I very good decision Roy. Bless you. ❤️ R I P.
Rory wasn't English - that was the problem, and that's the bottom line. The RS were an English band, and more specifically a London band. I heard later that this was Richard's main issue, and one he wouldn't compromise on. That - and jealousy.
Kathryn Mellor It was Jagger who really wanted him. Apparently he "saw a lot in Rory". I'm guessing what he saw was the sort of skill that Richard's couldn't match and which would make Mick look even better on stage. I think Richards sensed the real agenda, and blocked it. Remember the Rolling Stones is a full on corporation where all original members have voting and veto rights. The 'English' argument is sometimes touted by journalists. But I think the real reason was Richard's jealousy of RG's skill.
You know i think you hit it there. RG would never have fit in anyway even if he was English.
Keith Richards is a good Rhythm player and a great showman!! Alas!!! He isn't a Wart on Rory's Arse!!!
Of course Keith Richards was against it. But because Jagger and Rory would have pushed Keith out just as Jagger and Keith pushed Brian Jones out all those years before.
Keith won his battle over Mick Taylor but the shape he was in, I do not think he would have won the battle with Rory.
As it was, they eventually hired Ronnie Wood, another hell raiser, which led to a different and ironically more stable dynamic as he and Keith were equally feral.
Rory and Stones? No. He would have started to rip on the guitar and the rest of the band would have stopped and just stared. Rory would have had to downgrade his playing with the Stones. He was a leader. With the Stones he would never have been able to go into the stratosphere like he always did. He wasn't about money and fame. I think he felt he did OK.
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I saw gallagher and the Stones in the same year round 73' and Rory was brilliant along with his great band and as for the Stones very ordinary performance. Yep Rory would have blown them right off the stage mate !!
There´s not much more to talk about. Ghost Blues Doc.
Right on all counts Paul!!!!......
you are not honest tellin the stones in that period were ordinary .. i love rory but in 72 73 stones live was incredible with taylor ! They became ordinary with wood but not before
would have been good to hear Rory do like strAy cat blues or honky tonk ,can’t hear me knocking
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Richards then had heroin as a priority , music second.....music of many types ( mandolin , national steel , acoustic guitar , harmonica ,alto sax , banjo , coral sitar , electric guitar..... Slide par excellence ) was always "Top Priority" ..... no mere coincidence that he used this as an album title.... he was creatively in another dimension that none of the stones could even dream of entering
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I love the stones but I'm glad Rory didn't join them.
Nice interview with Donal.
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Thank God Rory didn't join the Stones, look what we would have missed, Rest in peace dear Rory☘️❤️☘️❤️☘️❤️☘️
There were a few problems with this, but the main one was Richards. His excuse to Jagger (who admired Gallagher) was that we're "a London band". The real reason was far more petty. Gallagher would have blown Richards off the stage. Keith knew that.
They could fit together, if rory could stay in the shadow.
No because Keith is and has always been a riff guitarist.
@@bertrandvanderstraete4921 it worked wtih MT so why wouldnt it with rory?
@MrConeman I think all Rory fans are in universal agreement that joining the Stones would not have been a good idea, HIS GENIUS stands alone
You can never trust second hand info. I believe Rory's story completely. HOWEVER, the other day, I was reading about Rory and there was a mention that he was invited to be a member of the Stones but he declined. NOW that was a false story...obviously he tried to become a member but burned out Keith couldn't come to when
Rory was trying to ask if he wanted him in the band....Had Richards woke up and not comatose as he was at that very important timeframe, Rory could very possibly have been a Stone for at least a bit of time but it wasn't to be...Ironic, not that Rory's drinking would have abated if he joined the Stones...but just maybe the way life works out....just maybe he might have switched gears instead of needing a liver transplant from alcholism and died from complications of the liver transplant gone wrong within days after getting it when he was just 47 years old. Fate.
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Rory would have been wasted in the stones he was a front man he was a fantastic guitar player he would have blown keef away and rorys personality was the compete opposite to the stones band members Lee Hambleton from Sheffield
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EXCELLENT POST.... BIN HEARIN ABOUT THIS 4 YEARS GLAD TO FINALLY HEAR THE STORY RIGHT FROM THE SOURCE....THANKS
As someone suggested - I wish he would have joined for a few recordings. To follow Taylor with Rory would have been one great guitarist with another. But Rory was a band leader and played and performed to his own strokes. Long time in the Stones just wouldn't have worked. Have to give Jagger credit if he was pushing to get him in though. I suspect it was more Richards on getting Wood in since he was more comfortable with him. Too bad he isn't much of a lead player.
Rory was asked to fill in Blackmore's spot in Deep Purple in 1976=5 after Ritchie had left. But Rory rejected that lucrative offer.. The man was genius at playing guitars
The Stones would have been Rory`s backing band.
true to his own heart, always xo
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Rory was WAAAY too good for the stones. That would have been like Hendrix joining up with Aerosmith. I would have liked to have seen Rory join up with Deep Purple for awhile, that would have been a better fit and gotten Rory more recognition.
I agree completely. I think Rory would have been a great replacement for Blackmore in Deep Purple.
Just imagine Rory, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes in the same band! Just...wow.
Sounded like it was, nadinechevalier.
Damn, I'd heard the rumours, but i didnt figure it was true. I'm glad he didnt join them... but then again, you've got to wonder what it would have been like.
Wonder why they didnt call him back? :P
A great Irish- bluesman in the stones? Oil and water is right ! Rory would have been their teacher, etc !
@DONDIVA1969 Never would have worked in the long run but would have been interesting for one performance
All I can say is thank God Rory didn't join the Rolling Stones, he was far too much of an accomplished singer, songwriter, and obviously genius of a guitar player to be stuck lumped in with the over-inflated ego of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Any single one of Rory's solo albums are endlessly superior to anything Jagger and Richards have ever written.
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When asked why Keith didn't sing more. He is answer was, what would Mick do? The same for Rory. What would Keith do had he joined?
I don't think Mick's prancing would have been Rory's cup of tea. JMHO.
Antithetical. And anyway, let's face it -- as far as putting on a show is concerned, the spotlight belonged to Mick and Keith. It would be like looking/listening for musicianship at a Madonna show.
in all fairness, they had a quality guitarist who they allowed to play what he wanted, in Taylor. but he was not a stage presence who needed the whole audience. Rory did. he was as much a showman as he was an excellent musician. and he may have worried that his own fans would see him as a sellout.
steve Marriott was also considered
That would have been a more interesting fit. Not a virtuoso, but competent and someone with good musical ideas.
rorywas used to be independent,he would not submit to keith's ego,and his sound would not fit in with the stones,especially when they flirted with funk and disco music
"Last of the Independents!"
I can honestly say that in my gut I think that Donal wanted only the best for Rory. And I have got pretty keen instincts. I wish that I'd had a Donal looking after my business as we have a lot of Rory in us when it comes to art vs. commerce! There is a middle ground. Thanks for comment!
I do not think joining the stones would have been healthy, in the middle seventies those guy had a lot of problem with drinking and drugs and all that shit .
I have loved the Stones since the late 60's snd also loved Rory. I don't think he would have blown keith of the stage but i do think he was better on his own with his own band and songs. Maybe he coukd have recorded an album with them, would have been really cool.
Long live the Stones and love Rory
Agree
Stones have too much ego Rory has no ego and would not have been happy with them plu Rory was his own man
To have Mick jagger jumping around and wanting the lime light would have not fitted with Rory being a modest guy
And too talented for the stones
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maybe they did...I get the sense when Rory made a decision, he'd made the decision...
That wouldve been one of the biggest wastes of talent in the history of music if he had decided to join the stones. No guitarist deserves to stand behind mick jagger while he homosexually prances around the stage.
I interviewed him in Cork in 1983. This wouldn't have worked for several reasons. 1. Rory was a frontman by himself. So was Jagger. I would argue that Gallagher had better stage command than Jagger. How does that work? You're asking a guy who has better audience skills than the lead singer to stand in the background and play guitar.
2. Rory was an artist, with a certain purity of spirit. Imagine him being asked to wade in during some Mick v. Keith shit. How long could he (or anybody) put up with this?
3. The Stones were essentially a London band. Rory wasn't from there. This eventually enters the dynamic.
4. The entertainment press would have quickly worked out that Gallagher was musically better than anyone else in the band. The logical deduction would have been that he was simply "using" the Stones for a year or two to amplify his own name, and that he would then leave. "Ex Stones guitarist, Rory Gallagher" would then be playing to massive audiences who had an opportunity to view his talent. Imagine the constant mistrust as Jagger & co anticipated this move. Imagine the jealousy.
I could go on.
I think Mick and Kieth egos would’ve been too big for Rory to handle. He did the right thing , he did it his way.
Thank God he never joined the Stones. I never cared for much of what they've done since Goat's head soup. {Damn I'm old} plus as some have mentioned Rory was his own man. I can't imagine had you never followed that with~ against the grain,calling card,photo finish and top priority... 4 masterpieces! Long live Rory's music ,memory and legacy. I highly recommend seeing "Band of Friends " with Gerry McAvoy and Davy Knowles and ,or the European version with Brendan O'Neill. It's not Rory! No one is but they do justice to his music. Rory On!
It's obvious the Stones missed a chance at being a truly great band.
I hate hearing how Rory could have join the stones . . that is nothing to brag about
Don't worry, it's just a myth. Only source is Donal, not exactly an independent source.
It happened- they auditioned other guitarists though.
Nothing to brag about? Stones is the biggest rock band...
@@anton2417 Nothing to brag about because popularity does not determine who is the greater. . Rory's talent far superior to that of the Rolling Stones. . Besides many other bands such as Led Zeppelin become bigger then the Stones
I don't think he really wanted it - maybe guest on an album or some tracks here and there (studio), but he had his own material and wanted to follow that.
I think Rory couldn't be a member of the Stones because he was an authentic bluesman the Stones have another dress code and make up they're more showmen
This seems to be a universal feeling held by most Rory fans
Rory probably wouldve died at least a decade earlier if he joined the Stones.
he played blues and slide guitar, which they were all about. but Rory , one look at any film on YT you can see he's electrifying! he wasn't gonna be a team player when he already knew the love of his crowds, and the chance to be a genuine rock star every night w/ out the ROLLING STONES. probably for a lot less money, but he was a power trio guy. he was right to remain a solo star. tho it would be good to have some STONES records to hear w/ him on them. maybe for about a yr. or two, but he would've missed his own gigs .this guy was a star.they even tried to sign him to ROLLING STONES records earlier in his career.
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that's what being true to yourself means.
Absolutely both great in their own right!!!
you are as handsome as your brother. cutie🥰
Rory too good for stones.
It wouldn't have been a good match. Rory was too much of a saint to have remained with the sleazy Stones. He would have had to sell himself to the devil to make it work well. It was serendipitous and divine intervention.
Would have been a bad fit
hey!! the Rolling Stones and Rory would have been HUGE. the world may not have been able to handle that. Deadly Awesome Combo.
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I for one am glad this never happened. Might have made more of a name for Rory, but to share a stage with Jagger and Richards would have been a letdown for him. Both Rory and the Stones made the right choice. After all the guy they eventually settled on is still with them.
He was too awesome to join the stones.
A lot of people totally agree with you.By the way we are raising money for another Rock Doc, one of the perks is an in depth interview with Donal that we did for the film.You can find a link on the Songs & Stories facebook page.
Thanks god he did not join those clown band . The stones were finished in 74, they had already done all what they could with beggars , get yaya , sticky, exile goad head soup and its only rock'nroll . Most of their work after that is pretty boring (lets save maybe black and blue and some girls but most of the songs from it have been wrote in the past and they just recorded it). Would have been of course financially confortable, but musically a waste . Hell when you listen to photofinish, its far superior to anything the stone did in that period. Also, what he would have done ? play some good solo on blues song ? they were not even using blues tune like love in vain etc in their show . Good decision to move on
And by the way -- why aren't these greats in the Hall of Fame????
I love Rory, but nobody was ever replacing Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones.
Rory's creative talent as a song writer would have been over as a Stone,as it was always Jagger/Richards when it came to royalities.He would have just been there to play their songs which would have frustrated him after a while;I mean how many times can you play Satisfaction and Jumping Jack Flash night after night when you have better songs of your own which you are not allowed to play?.He would have gone from band leader to a bit player.Plus the constant treadmill of playing bigger and bigger stadiums for more and more money coupled with the hedonistic life style of groupies and drugs were not to Rory's taste either.I think that Japanese Tour may have been a blessing in disguise...
Playing with ego maniacs like Mick Keith no thanks..Rory and Brian Jones yeah
@loopstheloop
Spot on m8. All this "handbags at 20 paces" crap is ridiculous. Stones are brilliant, Rory was as well. End of.
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Unthinkable -- on both counts.
it sure is food for thought Larry KIRWAN of BLACK 47 SPECULATES ABOUT IT IN THE THE FILM.
All Stones songs were written by Jagger - Richards. Rory would have to play their songs and not write anything. I think he could not go on like that. Also consider this: Maybe all his albums after 1974 would have never been released, so...
Woody's a good fit for the Stones.
You know what would have been interesting, and a much better musical fit? Mick Taylor joining Rory Gallagher's band for a tour.
But Rory withthe Stones would have been a fifth wheel. Might as well have asked Eddie Van Halen a few years later.
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Keith Richards .. pretending to be asleep.
Geeze dude, get rid of the captions, really! You can't even see the video!
A little Rolling Stones Trivia
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Keith was too junked out to talk .
Rory’s humble genius would have too much for the Stones.
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Rory and Eric Clapton would have been a great concert.
There is another story- that in fact Gallagher played for three days with the Stones and during that "audition" they played Brown Sugar. Half-way through the song Keith stopped and told Gallagher he was in the band. During their playing, Gallagher had the germ for the song "Miss You" which they jammed on. Why there was no follow- thru-who knows? Rory could have continued his solo work while in the Stones- They didn't tour often. I sure would have liked to have heard Rory on Stones stuff versus Wood and also on stage!
Thats the story I remember it was Mick that didn't want Rory in the band :) Peace
THANK GOD. Playing rhythm to Keith Richards, what a waste. They treated Bill Wyman like shite for years and Ron Wood is rich but he's still just playing second fiddle to those two jerks. But playing with Charlie Watts should have been worth the trip...
I can see dollar signs in Donal's eyes but who can blame him really.