I’ve just returned from viewing the Rory Gallagher collection exhibition at Bonhams prior to its auction on Thursday.
Simply A M A Z I N G.
Highly recommended if you get the chance before Thursday.
Rory was a hero of mine and the first gig I ever went to aged 15 in 1973 at Newcastle City Hall. We’ll never see his like again and it was a real privilege to see these guitars and amps close up.
The famous Strat has an estimate on it for £800,000 - £1,200,000 but it will go for far more. Some are even saying as much as £10m!
The have been in the care of Rory’s brother- Dónal Gallagher - since his death. It is his decision to sell the collection. There’s a lot of hope that the famous Strat will be bought by someone or an organisation that will keep it in Ireland🤞
As a fan, it must be really something for you to see these classic guitars and amps up close. I wonder what the family will do with the sale proceeds. Not that it matters of course. It would be nice to think it supported aspiring musicians somehow.
Happily Rory’s strat is staying in Ireland. From The Irish Times:-
"Irish rock and blues musician Rory Gallagher’s signature Fender Stratocaster guitar will be donated to the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) after it was sold for £700,000 (approximately €841,000) at a London auction on Thursday. A “premium” placed on the item brought the total to £889,400 (approximately €1,069,000).
The late Ballyshannon, Co Donegal-born musician’s 1961 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster was up for auction at Bonham’s Auction House on Thursday.
Minister for Arts Catherine Martin said the guitar had been purchased by Live Nation Gaiety Ltd with a view to donation to the NMI under Section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. She said the purchase agreement ensured the guitar would be “preserved in the ownership of the state”, and made available to view for the public and Gallagher’s fans around the world.
“I am absolutely delighted that Rory’s guitar is coming home to Ireland. My Department has been working closely with the National Museum to bring this about. The successful acquisition, in association with the NMI, is hugely welcome,” she said."
“In late October 2011, Dónal Gallagher brought the guitar out of retirement to allow Joe Bonamassa to perform with it on his two nights at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. Bonamassa opened both night’s performances with his rendition of “Cradle Rock” using Gallagher’s Stratocaster.[”
WIKI.
