Brian May Interview On Taste & Rory Gallagher 

I have my own Rory story, back in 73 he opened a three band concert in Vancouver. I'm a drummer but I pay a lot of attention to lead guitar players. I shouted out several times asking for Bull Frog Blues. After about 40 mins he played their last song.....big standing ovation, played another song again a 2nd ovation then Rory settled the crowd saying he would play one more song. Rory then pointed directly at me and said " This is for the guy up there, BULL FROG BLUES ". It was a thunderous ,fast and furious rendition and he left with a long wave at the crowd and left the stage. The two bands following were Fleetwood Mac and then DEEP PURPLE. One of the best concerts I have ever seen. 😎

I love that Brian talks of Rory as if he were still here! Rory will always be with us as long as we talk about him and never forget ♥️ Rest well Rory 🇮🇪

Rory refused to sell his soul and his music to the music industry. For that alone he is a true hero to those of us who appreciate his dedication and talent. Its not all about money

It always seems that Rory's biggest fans are guitarists!

Class Act Brian May. Like Rory was.

I went to a Rory Gallagher's concert back in 1977. I did not know too much about his solo carreer. I just have listened to "half a dozen" Taste's songs. I was astonished about the sounds he picked from his guitars. My best guitar player ever

Never knew that Brian May was such a fan of Rory Gallagher. Both gentlemen, both superstars. In my humble opinion.

I don’t think Rory ever got the recognition he deserved. Amongst musicians he did.

Kind, repectful and genuine admiration for Rory Gallagher from Brain May. It takes a gentleman to know a gentleman. Slainte.

Rory Gallagher, the greatest of great guitarists.

Saw Taste in the 70's did not know before that night who Rory was, but decided he was the greatest guitarist I had ever seen, Have not changed my mind.

I love the way Brian speaks of him

Brian May is one of my biggest influences and to hear him gush about Rory makes me smile. Rory was such an influence on me that I named my son after him. It’s amazing how small a world we all live in. Cheers from Fort Worth, Tx.

Lovely appreciation of Rory by Brian May.

its funny, the way Brian speaks about Rory, its exactly the same as what Brians fans say about him! :) nicest guy in the world

Rory was for me the greatest live performer ever totally unmatched ! For Brian taking his sound and still using it today and being very humble about it Rory would be proud. Keep rocking the heavens and earth forever Rory R.I.P.

Once saw Rory play Redcars Coatham Bowl to an audience of only around 150. Man, what a night, he gave it his all and left me in awe. To this day I feel honoured to have met one of the nicest guys to have ever graced a stage. So heartening to hear Brian speak dearly of the guy. RIP Rory

RIP Rory, ..And what a humble and grateful man Brian is.

When I was about 17 years old I went to see Taste at the Jazz Club in Grimsby. It was an upstairs room, quite small, with the stage diagonally across one corner, the floor bounced up and down as we moved to the music. Taste influenced my own taste in music forever. I've loved the blues ever since. Rory and Ritchie, the bass guitarist, would hang out after their show with me and my friend Helen. They were complete gentlemen and never laid a hand on us. We were just school girls but they were so kind to us and we felt safe with them. I was amazed that they chose to spend time with us, just chatting and being normal, regular blokes. Whenever they came to the jazz club we would go see them - I must have seen them a dozen times.

Rory is the true Irish manifestation of feeling, this is the big difference between poseurs and true artists. Wonderful man, a human being, good on ya Brian.

fair paly to Brian May here..talking so generously about Rory...i have yet to hear anybody ever say a bad word against Rory,,,by all accounts ,he was kind and generous with his time to all his fans..i read online once that a fan of rorys approached him backstage to say hello at a gig in the states..a security guy tried to stop her to Rorys disgust..Rory told the Goon to leave her alone and let her through...rory apologised to the girl and they had a nice chat and he signed some stuff for her and they took photos...it was the same girl who wrote the piece ...she said he was genuine and so kind....he was a rare talent...brilliant guitarist and a wonderful human...R.I.P.

A gentleman talking about a gentleman. Two fine guitarists. It will always be a fine memory for me seeing Rory play. He was a master.

For a guy who's got endless respect for both Rory and Brian, what a treat to hear this exchange; I've never heard any connection between the two. To hear the reverence and sincere admiration from a giant like Brian is just a pure pleasure. What a gentleman.

My best friend is 12. He's a black cat with yellow eyes. When I got him 12 years ago, I looked at him and saw no sense in naming him anything else but Rory...such a good natured cat and as not many people remember Rory, whomever gets to meet my cat I introduce them to Rory's opus... rip brother

I've seen so many Brian interviews where you can tell he is dying inside answering the same old questions, talking about Rory you can see his eyes are alive......respect 🙌

Brian May, beautiful person, so was Rory Gallagher, we need more people like them.

So cool memories of rory

I could listen to Brian May talking all day. Such a genuine, kind and down to earth human.

Brian May was the reason I started to play guitar, it's so nice to see that not only is the guy a genius, but he's also the nicest guy too. And what a lucky guy to have known Rory too.

Rory Gallagher - peerless. Brian May, as good as his word. My daughter, years ago, travelling in Britain, attended a gig of some contemporary band. A quiet buzz went through the young crowd that Keith Richards was 'just down there' watching. She, being a student of the classics, knew that it was Brian May, and when she and her friend approached him, he was gracious, patient and friendly, everything that he attributes to Rory. We are blessed to have had players like these two in our time.

Beautiful comments by Brian - he, too, is one of the classiest and most humble musicians you’ll ever come across. His remarks are the most insightful I’ve heard about Rory Gallagher, who I had the opportunity to see perform in a small club in Philadelphia in the mid70s. The performance left me speechless. Then two summers ago I traveled to Cork and visited the small music library they’ve established there in Rory’s honor. It was a very moving experience, to be affected so deeply by someone I’ve never met, but who made such an impression on me. That’s the power of music.

I still regularly listen to Rory's music, still sounds fresh and alive to me.

two men, two monuments, in music, in life. Thanks Rory and Brian.

I saw him play in Sydney during the 1980s I think it was. As you'de expect he blew the roof off but what impressed me was the way he handled a fan jumping up on stage and going for the mic. Security were right on his tail but Rory waved them off and let the guy sing with him. The guy must have been a diehard fan because he knew all the words and they played the song right till the end. The audience went bersek,, the guy had such a big smile it was obviously one of the high points of his life he probably tells his grandchildren about it. over and over. What a night, I'm almost seventy and I've seen hundreds of bands over the years and Rory Gallagher was up there at the top with all of the greats.

I recently came to realise that after 40 years of listening and revisiting Rory, he is probably the only musician I feel something like love for. Of course, I didn't know him. But he remained so true to what he was doing. He hits that spot; call it what you like

I saw Rory live in the early 80s in Bristol Colston Hall and it's by far the best gig I've ever witnessed in my entire life. He was an absolute legend.

What a lovely warm and gracious tribute to Rory. Brian really invokes that deeply organic musicality and honesty that Rory exuded. He uses the term "elemental" which I think is perfect. I always connected with Rory's music in a way that felt "real" and meaningful because that's what he was about. A Great artist with spiritual depth that really felt every note he ever played,and consequently,so did we.

Mr Brian May, I just love that that man has played with the best and can sit there and talk so candidty about other rock n rollers , love this

one guitar idol talking about another. rory was groundbreaking and forever will be, big respect for brian recognizing his amazing talent!

In the early 70's a friend of mine turned me on to Taste, and I immediatley fell in love with the sound of the AC30 & Strat. Shortly after hearing Taste I discovered that Rory was playing at The Whiskey in Hollywood. My friend & I went out there to see him and it was just balls out great! But the thing that shocked me was the opening act, a band I never heard of but never forgot - Tempset, with Allan Holdsworth. That show stands out as one of the top 5 shows I've ever seen. The thing about Rory was, his studio recordings could never capture his "Live" show energy - the recording of live shows didn't have the capability we have now, or in the last 30 years. He is so missed, and this interview speaks volumes re Rory. Thank you for posting!

I think Rory's legacy is the influence that he had, and continues to have, on so many guitarists, known and unknown. He was a guitar players guitar player and I think that's the best complement one could pay him. His love of the guitar shown though every time he picked one up and he was just at home on acoustic as he was on electric. Rory will always be noted as one of the last great blues guitarists and I have no doubt we'll be still listening to his genius many years from now.

I can certainly attest that Rory was the most gracious, nice person I've ever met.

It's nice of May to acknowledge Gallagher's influence. He went on to global superstardom with Queen, while Rory continued to battle it out in the trenches. Armed with Brian's remarks here though, some of his riffs make a bit more sense. I'm not saying EXACTLY Rory, but there's a clear influence in some of it. May is a born gentleman, anyhow. Pity he's not Irish!

Brain is such a class act. So humble, yet so amazing!

Brian's warmth and humility shine through as ever. The perfect Rock Gentleman - how shrewd that Brian sees that making time for people is so very important...

Fair play to Brian...what a gentleman and true musician....sames as Rory..RIP....

I do not know either of these gents well,. What a pleasure to here the one man speak with such respect of the other.....

“I think Rory’s elemental” Nailed it!

Brian May is a thorough gentleman (not a bad guitar player either) and it was so nice to hear him talking about Rory in such an emotional and eloquent fashion and admit that he owes his sound to Rory, not many people of the stature of BM would ever admit that. Fabulous interview.

What a nice bloke Brian is.

What a marvelous tribute from one guitar legend to another.

You may have been lucky enough to see Rory do "Out on the Western Plain,' on acoustic, sat on a stool in the spotlight. Magic.

I met rory when I was 11. Exactly the same. He took the time to talk to me, a proper conversation too.V v polite, very patient. Unreal.

Two great guys, and wonderful talents. Saw Rory play in a little club outside Chicago in the late 70s. I was right up front and got a great guitar lesson. We shook hands after he finished. I saw Queen in the early 80s. Totally different sort of experience there, but awesome and unforgettable as well.

Rory was the man. Miss him.

A fine tribute to Rory by a real gentleman, Brian comes across as very sincere in this interview, nice one!

Brian May is thoughtful, always nice, and a genius on guitar. One of my all time favorite musicians.

Take care Brian. I had a heart attack myself 10 years ago, still plodding on. Look after yourself you legend.

my very 1st gig was Rory and Taste at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh in 1969 with my best mate. The man was absolutely amazing. Fell on stage playing Bullfrog Blues and never missed a note,just got up and carried on. Visited his grave in Ireland in 2012 and felt so prirviliged to have seen him play. A true gentleman of blues/rock. Sadlymissed.

Born too late to see Rory play, the guys an absolute hero in my eyes ,wish you were here Rory ❤️🤙❤️🤙GBNF

You could listen to Brian all day.. And it's wonder to hear that he got his sound from Rory.. Top fellas

Brian May the great master is so considered, elegant, and full of love in his tribute to the Irish master, Gallagher.

I saw Rory in Glasgow in (I think) 1976 and the next day I saw Queen in Aberdeen. There couldn't have been a bigger contrast; Rory just wandered on stage plugged in, checked he was in tune and then just played. Queen were so showy, pyrotechnics, costumes and fancy light show but both bands were brilliant in their bery different ways. Nice to hear Brian May show so much love and appreciation.

An eloquent gent, so well spoken and sincere.

Total respect to Brian and Rory. Very talented, highly intelligent and amazing human beings.

Wow! Never heard this interview before. What a glowing tribute to the Great Rory! Captured wonderfully what Rory was as a musician and person. I interviewed Rory Gallagher once after a concert in Galway. Lovely, lovely man. After a concert, late at night and no doubt tired. But still sat for an interview for a local paper he never heard off. Agree 100% that he never wanted to be a rock star. Never cared about the trimmings. One of the purest musicians ever in that his attention was dedicated solely to his art. As happy playing in a small club as on a big stage. Gone way before his time. And the tragedy was he would have got better with age as all the great blues guys do.

My respect for Mr. May has deepened after listening to him talk so well about Rory...

My good friend, who is no longer with us got me into Rory's music when i was a young lad, he went to a Rory gig in a small club in Newry N.I & stormed onto the stage, Rory put his arms around him, gave him a hug & dedicated a song to him, a true gent & as Brian said he just wanted to play for his fans. If there is a heaven then i hope my mate is up there now shooting the breeze with his idol Rory. I will always be grateful for him for introducing me to his music.

I am late coming to the party. My husband has just introduced Rory to me. He was a fantastic musician. I am a fan.

When a great artist shows admiration for another great artist, it's a deep deep compliment.

So wish I'd seen Rory play. I did see Brian play with Queen at their prime and he's special. Smashing interview, thanks for sharing.

The one-to-one relationship with Rory Gallagher he is talking about I experienced at a concert in Copenhagen during the Photo Finish tour. He came running on the stage during a short break. I managed to shout PLAY BULLFROG BLUES ..... he gave me a high five and played it. Man was I proud. I still to this day think about it as one of my greatest concerts ever.

A patient and humble master, gave the hint to young and gentle boy, who few years later became a superstar. What a story-teller Brian is. This clip is a treasure. Thnx for posting

Brian May spoke so highly, respectfully, and with such brotherly love of Rory Gallagher. I tip my hat off to Rory as well! God bless his soul...and his family as well.

"You know what else I learn from Rory Gallagher? Don't be an ass." - Brian May

Rory Gallagher, what a kind, and honorable, very humble and very special man he was. What a brilliant singer, songwriter and greatest guitarist he was. Listening to the lyrics of his song brings a picture to the listener's mind. How luck many us were to have had the very great privilege to have seen Rory and his Band doing gigs over the years, Rory Gallagher, music is as fresh today as it was when it was first released, his music will last for hundreds of your years to come. His very great talent’s are just banning to get know by people from all over the whole wide world, his name will grow and grow way into the future.

I saw him twice in concert in the 1970s. They were fantastic shows. Its so nice to hear that he was a nice guy too!

Respect from one legend to another Brian May class act

Totally understand what Bryan is saying about Rory. I met Rory in the mid-70s at a small club in Dover, NJ called D'Place. We were right up front and, of course, Rory was killen' it. The rapport that he made with the audience was magical. We went up to him and the guys after the gig, and just like Bryan mentioned he took the time to say Hi and speak with us. We even invited him and the band to party with us but he said they had to catch a plane out of Newark airport. I've always loved his music and total command of his instrument but he left me feeling like I knew him. I was devastated when I heard that he had passed and still listen to his recordings frequently. RIP Rory.

I saw Taste about 5 times in 1969 and 70, they were often on at the Lyceum Ballroom just off the Strand in London. I saw them at the Isle of Wight Festival in August 1970, they performed on the Friday I think it was, and was the first band to really get the audience going. I also saw Rory with his new band a couple of times at the Lyceum in 1972 I think it was, and at the Albert Hall just before Christmas in 1975. A great performer and always exciting to watch.

He was at the top of my list from when I was a teenage kid back in early 70s. He was amazing.

I went to see Taste at the Philharmonic in Liverpoolback in the day. At the time there was a pub called O'Connors just down the road, which was a hang out of muscos hippies and general lowlife...oh and me! and there was Rory standing at the end of the bar on his own drinking a pint, we waved to him and he smiled lifted his pint in acknowledgment. No big time Charlie

I don't want to say how many times I've watched this video. There was one emotion that ran through every concert. Intensely respectful love.

what a great guy brian is you can tell he really loves rory gallagher and he is not alone i have listened to rory every single day over the last 40yrs.

I cant count the times i saw Rory and he always gave 100% and i always was right in front of the stage. Loved him from the first time i heard him

Brian May and Rory Gallagher are two of my all time fave musicians!

I remember hearing Rory Gallagher on main stream radio, in Chicago in the 70's. Artists that are legends now were played on the radio when we were growing up. Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Doors, Rolling Stones and of course the great Motown sound.

Imagine inspiring Brian May. Rory Gallagher was the absolute best.

A glowing tribute from Brian may and what a tribute Rory was such an underrated player I only discovered Rory while fingering through the albums in Woolworths and came across “Calling Card” and for some reason I bought it and that album never left my Decca dancette record player turntable for over two years my favourite was “edged in blue” followed by “secret Agent” Rory will always be in my top five greatest ever guitarists......in no particular order GARY MOORE, BILL NELSON , RORY GALLAGHER , PAUL KOSSOF , MARK KNOPFLER.

My first ever concert..Rory G..1977 in Aberdeen...great stuff..died way before he should have in 1995!😒

Saw Rory many times. He was the real deal. All round player, electric, acoustic and slide. I remember in school arguing that Rory was a much better player than Eric Clapton. Rory was God!! Brian May, another rock gentleman like Rory

Rory was a complex man Lovely to hear Brian speak highly of the legend

Brian is such a great presence and voice for the guitar world... thank you Rory!

I saw Rory and Taste when they opened for Blind Faith in July 1969 @ Varsity Stadium in Toronto. No ne had heard of them before but no one went away anything but amazed. They got such a standing ovation I don't think people would have cared if BF played. Of course when BF came on Eric Clapton went all out to impress - even played Presence of the Lord lead with wah wah behind his back. But I don't think anyone would ever forget how amazing Rory was

Thanks Brian. Lovely words. You are a gent.

Brian is a good man. Always well spoken and humble.

A humble bloke speaking about ab humble bloke. What a pleasure.

Great listening to Brian about Rory. Met Rory in the 60's in Norwich, We were semi pro and supporting many top liners. I have to confess to a funny story! When we got to Norwich we realised our manager had booked us into a blues club and we played soul! Not a good start. We set up on a very small stage and waited for the top of the bill to appear. We hadn't a clue who they were. Shortly the back doors opened and in walked three guys who we thought were roadies. We chatted and organised the changeover but couldn't help but notice the state of their gear including the Fender guitar which was battered to hell. We player the first set which was politely applauded. Then to our amazement the top of the bill came out, the same guys who had unloaded the gear and they were in the same clothes!. We had never heard of "The Taste" at that point but WOW what a guitarist. He made the guitar talk. Absolutely brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We felt embarrassed to do our second spot. Mottoo Never judge a band by their gear! Keep playing all! Smutty (ex Nelsons Column)

I Still Miss my old Friend Rory Gallagher and We Jammed many Times in Amsterdam Paradiso way back in the sixties 28-1-2019 The Saint of Sheryl Crow still playing What's Going On in D minor! God Bless Rory Gallagher So Long Chris F.W Sibbald Blues Jazz musician since the sixties!

Thanks for this treasure. Brian May greatly respects Rory as a man and a musician. The fact that he saw what being genuine and human helped Rory transmit his know-how to his own career, this helped mold Brian into also becoming that true nice person. I have seen hundreds of hours of Rory's concerts. And the most noticeable feature is that his audience loved Rory. And Brian was able to put that in words that really captured Rory's ambitions. If you took the part where he said Rory was content to playing clubs out of context, it could almost be seen as negtive. Brian was so appreciative that there is no way someone can interpret this in a negative way. Thanks again for filming this and asking the right questions.