from "Ongaku-Senka" magazine , (Dec. 1977)
Rory Gallagher Japan Tour 1977
"Japanese fans are excellent; they can bring my technique out more than my ability"
Rory Gallagher came over to his third Japan tour, he did play hard in big cities.
This is the very closely contacted reportage for all Gallagher fans.
part 1 : Interview | part 2 : Tour Report | part 3 : Live Review
Part 1 : Exclusive interview -- Interview with Rory Gallagher
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"It is an old Stratocaster but a good lovable friend of mine" - spending amiable and relaxed 60 minutes with Rory - ( interviewer: Yusaku Matsumura ) |
4th November, 1977, I was in a room of Hotel New Japan in Tokyo. Rory met me with warm hand shaking and a lot of smile, even he had a problem with his throat and bad condition with too much warm air conditioner.
- I went to see your show last night, how do you think about this tour? This is the third time tour in Japan, isn't it?
Rory: Great, great! It is wonderful whenever I come over to Japan. I can play additional show in Osaka for this time, also happy to play in Hiroshima, not only play in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya like last time, audience seems to be glad. Japanese audience have really good vibe I think.
- You and other guys of the band's staging is rather simple, haven't you try to do more show-up staging like KISS or QUEEN ?
Rory: Oh! QUEEN ... we want to play on stage to express ourselves completely.
I can understand their show is under controlled everything like a plot, but the point of our show is to let audience to listen to music in a relaxed mood. I want let the audience to listen to my music than watching.
- You put the point on try to listen to your music in your show.
Rory: Not only try to listen, of course I really think about how to show us to the audience, how to appeal us on stage, I don't mean we are package band as always do the same thing from 1 to 10 at any show. Depends on my feeling, sometimes I try to run around and jump on the stage. But I suppose it is almost impossible to do the same action at the same part of song all the time ...
- I see. I think your looks get stronger when you are playing on stage than the last Japan tour. Am I imagining too much?
Rory: Oh, wow... I think I look completely the same... nothing has change... (laugh) I suppose I might be tired in the last tour because the schedule was tight. But whenever I'm on the road, I always think to try hard every time. The reason you told me my looks gets stronger might be... it may be rather more heavy number in set list for this time than the last time... it was rather much melancholic number in the last tour I suppose. But I don't like to give artificial smile to the audience on stage... I can't do that anyway. I am expect nothing for me.
- Your latest album "Calling Card" is really good album, do you think you've got changed in mentally?
Rory: I'm not aware of trying to change, but the listeners might feel I've been changed if it had long interval between new album and the last album. I don't think try to change myself at all. Now that you mention it, there are more heavy impression songs in my last album than my any other albums, but I definitely not try to play harder and more serious than before. I never have done scamped work in my any album.
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- Is your feeling totally different when you play on stage and recording?
Rory: Right, when you play on stage, lots of audience are in front of you, you can get direct reaction. This is the biggest different from playing on stage and recording. It depends on us whether the show goes well or not. In studio, only we have to do is try hard to make the best record, and intervening of engineers can't be freezed out. It gets different if you try to put the same atmosphere on stage to the studio. |
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Rory: Thank you. Lots of people say my playing is better on stage than in record. I can't deny to play better because first play on recording then on stage. No wonder I can get better play and play again, I can change the length of songs and arranges to check audience's reaction during tour. I am sure you can realize our playing is better to come to see our show than playing our record in your place. As for us, playing gets smoother when you are in front of us. Every musician may think in that way I think.
- Roger Glover produced your "Calling Card" album, how do you think about him?
Rory: Roger is really good producer to work with, that because once before he played as a musician I guess. Most of ordinal producers tends to give more advice to play faster and louder, but he was different. He gave us really good advices as a musician as well as idea how to catch music in a different way from me. Also he is a really nice person. It was really good atmosphere though, it took very long time to complete the job than we planned. It might be the best to produce by myself if I try to make a record faster.
- Are you already working on your next new album?
Rory: I have some plans and already 15 original songs are up. In a week after Japan tour, we have schedule to do recording. We've already done lots of rehearsal, hope to release in December or January. I don't decide yet which studio to take, in America or in Europe.
- It may sound crap to you Rory, how do you think about punk music?
Rory: No, no, it's a good question. In a good side of punk music, it's young people's power explosion. There is no alternative but to express. They may get lots of new audience because their way is totally new to them. But as for me it is not so much fresh to my feeling. They seems to be almost the same with what THE WHO did before, how do you think?
- Exactly, I also think they do the same thing what early STONES or WHO did.
Rory: Regarding to the music, if they just repeat the same beat and same cord, it makes nothing. Young people get bored such kinds of music then leave them. Making progress is important even on playing music as well. Anyway I'd like to tell you the good part of punk music scene is bringing the power and good atmosphere in rock club back again like before. Lots of rock clubs in London has been occupied as disco club after blues music got out of trend. I want the young new commers want to progress in playing music to keep the energy on.
- Hum, I have a feeling they try to turn back the past than progress, it sounds to be bored.
Rory: That's right. Well, I don't mean the progress of music is to make totally different kind of music from what it was before. Music has been playing down through the ages, and number of notes are limited. If you try to step out from the common sense of music, just make the others disturbing. I want young people to remember the music you play or listen to may reflect how you get matured, how you grow up. They may think it's just a music, nothing is different on surface, I also think nothing so much has been changed, music is music, but I think in that way. It doesn't make any sense to me if you may think the attitude to improve playing is anti-punk music.
- How many guitars do you have?
Rory: I don't know for sure... I don't remember exactly. Stratocaster, Telecaster, slide guitar, doblo guitar... I have any kinds of guitar. Whenever I find funky cool guitar on magazine, I can't stop myself to get it. I can't say no to guitars. Mainly I play Stratocaster and Telecaster on stage, sometimes I play old "Silvertone"... I bought it with only $15 at department store, I played with it on "Cradle rock". I have no though to make a great guitar collection like just keeping good guitars putting in the great cases, but I've never throw any guitar away even I don't need it anymore. That the reason I don't know how many guitars I have.
- I can imagine your famous Stratocaster is the best one to you.
Rory: I really have much of affection with it, I don't know why. I know it's getting older and I have to change to new guitar but I can't make up my mind till today.
- Ritchie Blackmore is famous for smashing his guitar on stage, how do you think?
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Rory: Oh, he smash it hard... (laugh) I just think he only waste expensive guitar to smash. Sometimes I have a feeling almost to smash my guitar when it doesn't twang what I want. But my case is different from him. I can realize it is a kind of fan service, but it's not his original, once before Pete Townshend did, Jimi Hendrix did, you know... I suppose the guitar Ritchie smashes on stage might be imitation one, you can't smash your beloved guitar without any thought (laugh).
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Rory: John Hammond, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, B.B King, Muddy Waters.
- Which new guitarist do you put your eye on?
Rory: I don't listen to new bands... well I've heard Mickey Jones can play properly in new wave music scene, sadly I've never listen to him. There's a way of thinking in punk rock scene, to be a good guitarist is bad thing, I don't know how they will be.
- Thank you very much for today.
- after interview -
Rory seemed to be more relaxed when he talked about guitar than any other topic.
I found he is totally the same guy, Rory whom I take interview and a guy on stage. I can recognize his great playing on stage comes from his character, I found in that way after meeting him in person. He is really nice, kind person. At night, I was back to my home and I heard his album "Calling Card". That was totally great.
interview : by Yusaku Matsumura, 4th November 1977, at Hotel New Japan, Tokyo
from "Ongaku Senka" magazine (Japan), December issue, 1977
English translation by Shinolez (2008) / thank you!