Rory
Gallagher
Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica, CA
July 25, 1974
Photo by Neil Zlozower
Irish blues/rock legend Rory
Gallagher is pictured here with his
famous 1961 “ex-sunburst” Strat.
Various stories about its worn
finish exist, including an episode
in which it was left outside in the
rain and a theory that his sweat was
abnormally acidic to the point of
acting like paint stripper. Gallagher’s
mods to the guitar include a
five-way pickup switch, a disabled
bottom tone pot and mismatched
tuners ( 5 Sperzels and a Gotoh).
