Gerry McAvoy: Trusty bass player revisits Rory Gallagher’s music

Gerry McAvoy spent 20 years on the road with Rory Gallagher. Despite the hard work involved, he remembers those days with affection, writes Ed Power

TRAVELLING the world with Rory Gallagher, performing to adoring crowds every night, was enormous fun — but not nearly as wild and fast-living as might be imagined.

Those are the recollections of Gerry McAvoy, who was Cork rock icon Gallagher’s left-hand musician for two decades. They had their laughs on the road, but mostly it was about putting in the hours and staying focused.