Rory Gallagher

After paying his dues on the Irish showband circuit, Gallagher formed a trio called Taste in 1965. Following their acclaimed second album, On The Boards (1970), and a powerful performance at the Isle of Wight festival the same year, the group was poised to follow in the footsteps of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream.

But poor management contributed to an acrimonious split, instilling in Gallagher a deep-seated loathing of the business.

As a solo act, Gallagher rejected the star-making process, concentrating instead on performing his beloved blues-based rock & roll. He was apparently invited to try out for The Rolling Stones after Mick Taylor left in 1974, but Gallagher's blistering technique and loner temperament made him a singularly unsuitable candidate.

Instead he poured his heart and soul into doing what he loved best - touring to sold-out arenas and never turning out a bad album - until early in 1995 when, at the age of 47, his health failed him.

In March 1995 Gallagher underwent a successful liver transplant but suffered subsequent complications triggered by chest infections and, ultimately, pneumonia. He died in a London hospital on 14 June 1995.