American star Joe Bonamassa to lead tribute concerts for Irish rock icon Rory Gallagher with setlist of 1974 shows

Promoter Peter Aiken has described next year’s two-night show as “a labor of love” for everyone involved – and an acknowledgment of the incredible legacy of Rory Gallagher, who has died aged 47 only in 1995.

Joe Bonamassa flew to Cork today for a special press conference to announce the two concerts in the Live At The Marquee series this July.

The New York-born musician, who opened for BB King when he was just 12, is a longtime fan of Rory Gallagher and is one of only two musicians licensed by the Gallagher family to play on Rory’s iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster.

“It’s truly a labor of love for everyone involved,” Mr. Aiken said.

“I think the fact that Joe came to Ireland just to be here today highlights how much Rory Gallagher and these shows mean to him.”

Mr Aiken added that, on a personal level, he also wanted to honor the legacy of the Donegal-born but Cork-raised guitarist, who was once offered a place in the Rolling Stones.

“In 1972 Rory Gallagher agreed to play in Belfast,” he said.

“It was one of the worst years of the Troubles and no international groups were prepared to travel to Belfast. My father, Jim, was involved in music promotion and things were so difficult he considered returning to teaching .”

“But after Rory played Belfast, other bands suddenly agreed to play there.”

The influential music magazine “Melody Maker” hailed Gallagher as “a true working class hero” for agreeing to play in Belfast in 1972 and using music as a unifying factor.

“(John) Lennon and (Paul) McCartney made headlines for their attempts to introduce Ireland into rock’n’roll lyrics. To me, it was horribly out of place. You see, without no problem, Gallagher had done just the one thing a rock’n’roller could do for Belfast – and that was play the damn place,” he said.

The 2025 tribute concerts were organized in collaboration with the Gallagher family.

Donal and Daniel Gallagher attended the launch with Gerry McEvoy.

The tribute shows will take place on July 1 and 2 and will see Joe Bonamassa lead a band including Jeremy Stacey, Lachlan Doley and Aongus Ralston.

It features a 14-track show that will exactly replicate Rory’s 1974 tour setlist and include hits such as “Tattoo’d Lady,” “Bad Penny,” “Out on the Western Plains” and “Bullfrog Blues.”

Rory Gallagher remains an icon among guitarists and many cite him as a major influence on their playing style.

He is regularly cited among the greatest guitarists in rock history.

The tribute concerts were announced as Rory Gallagher’s 1961 Fender Stratocaster will be offered for sale on October 17 at Bonham’s auction house in London.

Hailed as “the most recognizable Strat in rock history”, interest in this guitar is expected to be intense, with some estimating its value at over a million euros.

Cork has led the way in the campaign to keep this iconic musical instrument in Ireland – with a crowdfunding campaign underway and an invitation to politicians to get involved.

Various options to retain this valuable instrument in Ireland are currently being considered.

The guitar has been kept safe by the Gallagher family in recent years.

It was only kept for very special occasions, such as requests from other prominent musicians to play it.

Among those who received special requests to see and play guitar were Joe Bonamassa and Smiths founder Johnny Marr.

Rory is considered one of the best rock and blues guitarists in the world.

Famously, he was offered a place in the Rolling Stones, but decided to pursue his own solo career.

He has been hailed as an inspiration by some of rock and blues’ most famous guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Brian May and Alex Lifeson.

The guitarist died in June 1995 in London after contracting MRSA while being treated for a serious liver disease.

He had spent more than 13 weeks in intensive care in a London hospital after falling ill while performing at a concert in the Netherlands.

The musician was only 47 years old.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of his death, but his record sales and song downloads remain strong, with the Cork guitarist enjoying iconic status in countries including Germany, France, the Netherlands and the UNITED STATES.

Gallagher had purchased the 1961 Stratocaster in 1963 for IR£100.

His mother had already agreed to a payment plan at Crowley’s Music Store in Cork for a cheaper guitar, but when Gallagher saw the Strat he had to acquire it.

He renegotiated a new payment plan on the basis that he had paid for a job as part of a local performing group and that he had kept the Strat under a bed in his family home.

Clair Tole-Moir, director of the cultural department at auction house Bonham, said the guitar was iconic in the rock sphere.

“Known for his electrifying live performances, this was the guitar he used on stage and in the studio,” she said.

“There’s also a legend that it’s the first Fender Stratocaster to come to Ireland. So it’s also an important Fender guitar as well as an important Rory Gallagher guitar.”

“It’s been considered the most recognizable Fender Stratocaster in the world because of… its unusually worn appearance, but it has a really distinct look, and everyone associates it with Rory.”

The Stratocaster, whose price is estimated between 700,000 pounds and 1 million pounds sterling, is the star lot of “The Rory Gallagher Collection” auction which will take place on October 17 at Bonham’s in London.

It will include approximately 150 items, including other guitars, amplifiers and touring accessories.