Rory Gallagher Turned Down An Appearance At The Last Waltz

Irish legend Rory Gallagher is often talked about as one of the greatest guitarists ever. A true blues legend, his electrifying stage presence had audiences hooked since the 1960s. Fellow musicians respected the hell out of him, but Rory had a habit of getting in his own way. He regularly passed up big breaks, including one of the most iconic music events in history: The Last Waltz.

The Last Waltz was The Band’s farewell concert in 1978, directed by Martin Scorsese. It turned into a massive celebration, with a dream lineup that included Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, and more. It’s still considered one of the greatest concert films ever made.

According to Gallagher’s bassist, Gerry McAvoy, legendary promoter Bill Graham personally invited Rory to join the lineup, both Scorsese and The Band’s Robbie Robertson were huge fans of his. It could have been a huge moment for Rory, putting him in front of a much bigger crowd and on screen with some of the biggest names in music. But Rory said no. He already had two gigs lined up in Portland and Seattle and didn’t want to cancel. Even after Gerry begged him to reconsider, Rory stuck to his word.

That was kind of Rory’s story in a nutshell, tons of talent, endless respect from his peers, but never chasing the spotlight. While guys like Hendrix and Clapton leaned into fame, Gallahger kept his head down and played the blues. It's a shame we'll never get to see what magic he could’ve brought to The Last Waltz, he definitely would've stolen the show.