from "Ongaku-Senka" magazine , (Dec. 1977)
Rory Gallagher Japan Tour 1977
part 1 : Interview | part 2 : Tour Report | part 3 : Live Review
Part 2 : Rory Gallagher Japan Tour Report : Gallagher's 15 days in Japan
- - Boost exchanging with his fans went well with pleasant smile23rd Oct. (Sun)
The guys departed at London Heathrow airport at 14:00 p.m. on 22nd Oct., but their plain was in delay around more than one hour to arrive at Haneda airport, his road manager and tour crew came out of customs before 18:00 p.m., then around 18:10 Rory came out.The airport was really crowded with lots of teenage fans of HELLO (British young idol band in late 70's) , they were also on the same plane with Rory. He run into a car which arranged by UDO promotion (a famous tour eventer in Japan) without a time to shake hands with his fans.
25th Oct. (Tue)
This day was the first day for Japan tour, they were in Nagoya since yesterday.The venue was Nagoya city Hall (Nagoya-shi Kokaido), almost full. Around 18:40, Rory turned up on stage with running like always, the opening number was "Moon Child", his show was started with lots of greeting by applause. He seems to be really in good condition, his vocal sounded totally full of energy. This is his third Japan tour, following in '74 and '75, tunes he played were from his album "Against The Grain" and "Calling Card". In the middle of show, he changed the guitar to acoustic guitar and mandolin, played "Out on the Western Plain" and other 5 songs were played with great bottle neck technique in open tuning. Then hard-high tensioned tune, "Souped up Ford" was played as the last number at any show on this Japan tour. The encore set for tonight were "Bullfrog Blues", "Country Miles" and "Messin' With The Kids", totally much service to fans.
(*The description of those two days are skipped, so tried to write down easily:)
26th Oct. (Wed)
Day off. -Supposed to leave for Hiroshima or stayed still in Nagoya. Schedule for this day is unknown.27th Oct., Thu.
They played at Hiroshima Yubin Chokin-Hall. Show was started at 18:3028th Oct. (Fri)
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Rory and his tour manager Peter (* Peter Collins) were on local live radio program called "Doki-doki ragazine seishun sai-zensen" (typical radio program for youth) in Osaka. I've heard from Mr. Masami Tanaka, the DJ of this program, it was the first radio show experience to Peter, he was totally strained and opened up his big eyes full without any blinking, Rory laughed at his expression. Autograph session was held at Miyako-Record shop in Shinsaibashi, Osaka at 16:00 for one hour. Normally Rory doesn't do autograph session but this time was special, he was appeared at the venue with his full smile, ca. 300 fans were there. |
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29th Oct. (Sat)
Interview was taken by music press for one hour from 14:30 to 15:30 at his staying hotel, Osaka Grand Hotel. It went in a relax mood, which told his character, dedicated to everything, the topics were about guitars, his home country Ireland, and much more.30th Oct. (Sun)
He went to play rehearsal for new songs at a rental studio in Osaka for three hours, he tried to rehearse three new songs in next album. Sadly these three songs were not played at any show during this Japan tour.31st Oct. (Mon)
The venue for tonight was Osaka Festival Hall.Rory was totally into practicing guitar before show every time. When I asked him to play new song tonight, he told me maybe he will play one but he didn't. In the dressing room, other guys in the band played all the time with radio control car with jump course kit, which someone in the band bought after arriving in Japan ...
(*The report for this day is skipped)
1st Nov. (Tue)
Show in Osaka Kosei-Nenkin Kaikan, stared at 18:302nd Nov. (Wed)
(*They left for Tokyo from Osaka in the morning)The temperature in Osaka yesterday was extraordinary hot as in Autumn, even tough guy Rory caught a cold. I've got a phonecall from Tack, Mr. Takahashi from UDO promotion, he told me the autograph session at 17:30 sounds nearly hard to hold. When I rushed to the hotel, they called a doctor for Rory. He put muffler on, hardly try to go through the fan event. Then he arrived at Yamano-Gakki (musical instrumental and record shop in Tokyo), the venue was on 4th floor of the building, above 100 fans were there, totally exciting mood. Autograph session was started at 18:00 o'clock sharp. After playing the film live at Montreux '77, he gave autograph and kiss for all female fans. I took off my hat to his guts even having cold. Rory got a Uchide-no-Kozuchi (*) as a present by courtesy of Yamano-Gakki, he was pleased with it a lot.
3rd Nov. (Thu)
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Double show at Shinjuku Kosei-Nenkin Kaikan in Tokyo, started at 14:00 and at 19:00. Rory did try hard on stage even he had throat ache with cold anyway, Rory-tone with his Fender stratocaster gripped lots of audience. After the early show, Rory did work lots of things: he talked about the guitar which was made as special custom guitar(*Guyatone guitar), also he talked about the specifications of guitar, then he did test playing at empty hall. When he turned back to the dressing room, enjoyed playing with radio control racing car witch other all guys plays, he seemed to enjoy himself a lot on off stage as well as naturally on stage. |
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4th Nov. (Fri)
This day was the longest day on this tour for him. He took 4 interviews for music magazines since noon until around 16:00 in the late afternoon. He seemed to enjoy but couldn't deny he get tired.The show for tonight was at Nakano Sunplaza Hall. The distance between audience and artist on stage is closer than the last venue - Kosei Nenkin Kaikan because of orchestra pit, no wonder the show went crazy at that night, all member of the band got wild of course.
After the show, a party was held by Toshiba EMI (their record company in Japan) at Chinese restaurant in Akasaka. All guys in the band and tour crew attended at, they had a nice time until midnight. I found Rory didn't drink any alcohol just had soft drinks. The reason he told me why he didn't drink any alcohol during the tour was he just wanted to give his all energy to every stage. Professional.
5th Nov. (Sat)
The last day for this tour. Double show also for today, started at 14:00 and 19:00 at Nakano Sunplaza Hall. Early show was mildly impressive because time was really limited for the late show, sadly not so much big reaction from audience but evening show was totally dynamite and full energetic with all his power, called as the highlight of this tour as the last show in Japan tour. I haven't seen such a sensible but hard staging for many years but tonight was excellent, he may be the top live act. Above 100 of tape recorders were dug up by security check at the entrance today.6th Nov. (Sun)
Flew to San Francisco on JAL-062, departed at 9:00 in the morning. Spreading good cheer to enthusiastic fans who came to say him good bye to Haneda airport, he boarded his flight.That's all for tour report for this time. I have met so many foreign artist but I have never ever seen such a considerate and taking care of fans or other people like him. He is totally nice and truthful. His character also grasp many fans I suppose.
- translation notes -
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* Uchide-no-KozuchiJapanese lucky mallet : a kind of luck-bringing figure, it is said when you hit the mallet, your wishes come true, and lucky mallet is related item for person who was born in year of the Rat in Chinese sign - of course Rory was.This year, 2008 is year of Rat. |
1977 Japan Tour Report
from "Ongaku Senka" magazine (Japan), December issue, 1977
top photo was taken by a fan in Osaka (from a Japanese magazine "Music Life" 1978 April issue)
bottom photo : Rory with Guyatone LG-1000 (from a Japanese magazine "Rock Steady" 1978 September issue)
English translation & translation notes by Shinolez (2008) / thank you!