ROBBIE Dinwoodie's very fine piece on Rory Gallagher ("My annual Taste of guitarist I still worship", The Herald, June 4) brought back many memories of one of the finest guitarists to play in any genre of music.
Shy, modest and still greatly underrated, Rory could play the pants off most of the much more lauded guitar heroes with only Jimi Hendrix coming near to his talent. I was fortunate enough to see both Taste and Rory's band on a number of occasions, one memorable one being when Taste played at a festival at Caley's Telford Street ground in Inverness in July 1970, a month before their Isle of White appearance.
Rory was also the nicest rock star I ever met. As a near 17-year-old skulking underage in The Grill bar in Union Street, Aberdeen, before a Taste concert at the Music Hall, I was befriended by three hairy Irish guys who enaged me in conversation and bought me a pint of Guinness. Never having seen a proper photo of the band it took me a minute to realise I was talking to the great Rory Gallagher and 45 minutes later, with the support act nearly finished, I was ushered in the stage door with the band to see them in action for the first time. A great night, and great memories!
Keith MacRae,
Mains of Hilton,
Catterline, Stonehaven.
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