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Review
One of the best books I have ever read about a rock musician. Honest, funny, and in the end very moving. It is a great tribute to Rory, and more than that one could not ask. All those who loved Rory, and there were many, will be incredibly grateful for this book. --Tony Palmer, author and film director
Riding Shotgun presents a complex picture of a man who was charming, polite, painfully shy, obsessed with music, passionate about the blues, driven, often distant, probably lonely, careful with money and definitely a control freak. McAvoy's tribute to Gallagher makes fascinating reading. --Irish Independent on Sunday
A searingly, almost, at times, painfully raw, but endlessly fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Gerry's years on the road with Rory. --Ulster Television
Riding Shotgun presents a complex picture of a man who was charming, polite, painfully shy, obsessed with music, passionate about the blues, driven, often distant, probably lonely, careful with money and definitely a control freak. McAvoy's tribute to Gallagher makes fascinating reading. --Irish Independent on Sunday
A searingly, almost, at times, painfully raw, but endlessly fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Gerry's years on the road with Rory. --Ulster Television
Product Description
Gerry McAvoy was Rory's bass player from 1971 through to 1991, the only constant factor on all 14 of Rory's solo albums which sold over 30 million copies worldwide. No-one knew Rory better or was closer to him throughout this most creative period of his life, before serious illness blighted his career. Gerry is highly regarded as a musician's musician and, as Rory's right-hand man for over 20 years, his career has given him the opportunity to meet and play with a veritable who's who of rock and blues performers - from Muddy Waters, John Mayall and Van Morrison through to Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Deep Purple, Rod Stewart, ZZ Top, Queen, Rush, Eric Clapton, Sting and U2. In 1991, with Rory's health having deteriorated to the point where he had all but given up touring and recording, Gerry reluctantly left the band to help reform R&B legends Nine Below Zero, with whom he has recorded eight successful albums. Nine Below Zero continue to tour Europe almost incessantly and remain one of the UK's hardest working bands. Gerry was also responsible for creating the Band of Friends - an informal reunion of ex-Rory Gallagher band members who get together several times a year to play tribute concerts and festivals all over Europe, following Rory's tragic death in 1995 at the age of 47. Riding Shotgun is the story of Gerry McAvoy's life before, with and since Rory Gallagher. But it's also a story about a group of young musicians growing up amid the madness that was Belfast during the Troubles. And how, out of that cauldron of violence and hatred, emerged a group of performers who were to take the world by storm and launch an Irish assault on popular music that continues to this day. The story of how, amid the hype and insincerity of the music business, a softly spoken and intensely shy Corkman could become a legend: a folk hero to whom all modern Irish musicians - from Bono to Boyzone - acknowledge a debt of gratitude. Based on over 100 hours of personal recollections and interviews with many of Rory's friends and colleagues in the UK and Ireland, and illustrated throughout with dozens of unique and previously unseen photographs from Gerry's personal collection, Riding Shotgun is a sometimes shocking and often hilarious account of what it was really like to be a musician in one of the 1970s' biggest rock bands. It's also quite possibly the nearest we will ever get to unravelling the complex character that was and remains Rory Gallagher.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a truly excellent book. A real page-turner. I grew up in Belfast during the 70s when the only bands who had the courage to come and play there on a regular basis, because of the "Troubles", were Horslips and the Rory Gallagher Band. Gerry McAvoy was a critical and key member of this Band, and, given that McAvoy was a Belfast boy there was always that added resonance when they played Belfast, usually every Christmas during the 70s, selling out either the Ulster or Whitla Halls 3 nights in a row.
The fact that Gerry stayed with Rory for 20 years and featured on 14 of his albums speaks for itself . For this reason, McAvoy was an integral part of the Rory Gallagher legend and I don't think the experience of watching the RG Band live would have been the same without the anchor influence of Mr. G. McAvoy. He and Rory had this great synergistic effect/presence on stage which gelled without the aid of any gimmicks or choreography which are so ubiquitous with today's live acts.
The book itself is infective and humorous with some marvellous stories of life on the road viewed thorough the wide-eyed perspective of a young 20 year old McAvoy who can hardly believe his luck, touring the world with one of the biggest names in rock. (Gallagher was huge at the time, voted World's best guitarist by the influential Melody Maker in an early 70s poll). However, McAvoy comes across as rather self-effacing and sells himself short on many occasions in terms of his technical ability as a rock musician. The reality is that McAvoy was one of the finest rock bass players I have ever seen. He had to be, as Gallagher did not suffer fools and drove him to the limits of his technical capacity on many occasions. The best compliment I can give to McAvoy is that he is as good as, if not better than, Jim Rodford (ex-Argent, Kinks, The Animals now with the reformed Zombies).
My only criticism of the book is the odd lack of attention to detail e.g. that some Irish place names are mis-spelt (Limavady spelt as "Limavadie", O'Connell Street (spelt as "O'Connor Street").
In summary, this book is highly recommended, extremely poignant and a bit like getting into a time machine and finding oneself in the front row of the Ulster Hall, circa 1977all over again. For this alone I am most grateful to Gerry McAvoy.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For such a multi-talented musician (guitarist, performer, singer, songwriter and lyricist) and one so steeped in his craft (rock, blues, folk, country, bluegrass, jazz), Rory Gallagher has been poorly served by biographers. The only one to come close was the section in Dan Muise's book on Rory, Robin Trower (another neglected master), Marriott and Derringer. Now Rory's bass player Gerry McAvoy has come along with a wonderful account of their lives together. In fact the book is also Gerry's autobiography. Wisely he has brought in a co-author (Pete Chrisp) to allow his true voice to come through and between them they have turned out a book that is well structured and well written. I began it prepared to skip straight to the bits about Rory but was quickly drawn in by McAvoys's warmth and humour - his own story is well-worth reading. Gerry McAvoy has occasionally drawn criticism for his perfunctory bass style: the theory is that a more creative bassist would have spurred Gallagher to greater artistic endeavour. This book shows how wrong that is. For all his wonderful qualities as a person, Rory was still an ego-driven and demanding frontman, and McAvoy was exactly what he wanted and needed: unshowy, loyal, dependable, reliable, warm, funny and good company. Which is what this book is. It's rare amongst books about rock and deserves to find a wide readership.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read quite a lot of biographies recently, with the vast majority regurgitating already well known facts, or long established conjecture. Whilst this is an autobiography of Gerry McAvoy and not a biography of Rory Gallagher, it provides a great insight into the ways of the great man.
McAvoy played bass in Rory's band for 20 years and it is evident from the text, that he was one of the few people that had any inkling into what made the shy introvert guitar genius tick. Yes, there were times when the waters ran less smoothly, but what relationship doesn't have its ups and downs over twenty years. Despite any problems they did have, the love and respect Gerry had for his former leader comes shining through. The story charts the author's career from the early days in Belfast through the glory years up to the present with Nine Below Zero (also a very fine band) and is told with warmth and humour. I found the book a compelling read, check it out.
McAvoy played bass in Rory's band for 20 years and it is evident from the text, that he was one of the few people that had any inkling into what made the shy introvert guitar genius tick. Yes, there were times when the waters ran less smoothly, but what relationship doesn't have its ups and downs over twenty years. Despite any problems they did have, the love and respect Gerry had for his former leader comes shining through. The story charts the author's career from the early days in Belfast through the glory years up to the present with Nine Below Zero (also a very fine band) and is told with warmth and humour. I found the book a compelling read, check it out.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Riding Shotgun
Being a big Rory Gallagher fan i really enjoyed this book. It is rare you get an insight into rorys life as he was something of a reluctant star, Gerrys recollection of 20 years... Read more
Published 1 month ago by jaydoubleyou
Good pressie
Book delivered promptly. Little wrap up pressie for my husband - who's a big Tom Waits fan. He was very pleased with it.
Published 9 months ago by chris
What a shame
Should have called it "Me, Me, Me".
God Bless Rory Gallagher, how he put up with this selfish twit we shall never know.
Take care out there.
God Bless Rory Gallagher, how he put up with this selfish twit we shall never know.
Take care out there.
Published 9 months ago by Edwin D. Mason
One Of The Best 'Tell All' Rock Books I Have Read
I am a big reader of Rock Biographies and there are many that are either very outrageous or not detailed enough. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bring_back_the_60s
As close as you can get!
Let's face it - until Rory's brother, Donal, writes a biography then Gerry McAvoy's excellent book is as close to the G-Man as we're going to get. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Malcolm C. Porter
What made Rory Gallagher tick?
I am a complete Rory Gallagher fan and am happy to admit it. I first saw him in 1968 with Norman Damery and Eric Kitteringham and saw one of his last shows at the Town and Country. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Thomas Thatcher
Excellent read!
This is an excellent book folks.This is not a hagiography , but still it has many details and story's. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by Alien
A brilliant read about a musician and his life
When I first picked up the book to read it, I was hooked immediately. Particularly because the style of writing definately makes you feel like you're in conversation with the... Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by P. D. Smith
Recommended book!!!!!
Great book for the Rory Gallagher Band fan. Realistic, true and rare photos. Gerry McAvoy IS ONE OF MY BASS HERO'S. Go fo it !!!!!!!!!
Published on 14 July 2009 by Hector G. Rodriguez
A real page turner
The life of Rory Gallagher as seen through the eyes of Gerry McAvoy who spent the best part of twenty years sharing a life with Rory Gallagher. I think this is good stuff. Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2009 by Thomas Koetzsch
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