Gerry McAvoy

Gerry McAvoy

McAvoy at the Aglientu Summer Festival on 18 August 2009
Background information
Birth name John Gerrard McAvoy
Born 19 December 1951
Belfast, County Antrim
Northern Ireland
Genres Blues rock, Rhythm and blues, Rock and Roll, Blue eyed soul
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Bass guitar
Years active 1967–present
Labels Atlantic, Buddah, Polydor, Chrysalis, Castle Records, Capo Records, Zed Records
Associated acts Pride, Deep Joy, Rory Gallagher, Nine Below Zero
Website http://www.bandoffriends.eu
Notable instruments
Music Man StingRay

Gerry McAvoy (born John Gerrard McAvoy, 19 December 1951, Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland) is an Irish blues rock bass guitarist, who is best known for his 25-year-long friendship and professional association performing with Rory Gallagher between 1970 and 1991. A melodic bassist, McAvoy provided what Gallagher has maintained a "musical ESP",[1] in performances and songwriting composition, often playing solos within Gallagher's quartets, and most notably, power trios. After playing with Gallagher for 21 years, in 1991, McAvoy moved on, and joined Nine Below Zero.

Biography

McAvoy first began his musical career in the Belfast band Deep Joy. During his tenure with Deep Joy he first played with drummer Brendan O'Neill, who was later to tour with Rory Gallagher and appear on Gallagher's last three albums Jinx, Defender and Fresh Evidence.

McAvoy began listening to blues records at an early age. As well as rock and roll, his main influences include Muddy Waters, Paul McCartney and Jet Harris. In his autobiography he cites his brother-in-law (of the same name) as an influence on much of his musical taste. He mostly plays Fender bass guitars, particularly Precisions, owning a 1955 butterscotch blonde Precision and a 1975 cream Precision. However his main stage bass guitar is the black Music Man StingRay. He also owns a black Silvertone bass. For amplification, he uses a Trace Elliot V6 amplifier and a 4 X 10 speaker cabinet, a Peavey T1-15 and a Marshall bass 30W.

On 18 December 2011 McAvoy performed his last gig (to date) with Nine Below Zero in Leicester, at a venue called 'The Musician'.

He subsequently formed "Gerry McAvoy’s Band of Friends". On 15 May 2014, Gerry McAvoy’s Band of Friends performed at the Flowerpot[2] in Derby for a celebration of the music of Rory Gallagher and were supported by British acoustic blues singer songwriter, Matt Woosey.

Riding Shotgun

McAvoy with Nine Below Zero in 2009

2005 saw the publication of his biography, Riding Shotgun: 35 Years on the Road with Rory Gallagher and Nine Below Zero.

Discography (solo)

References

  1. ↑ Gallagher, Rory (26 May 1985). "Rory Gallagher - Texas 1985 interview". Radio Interview on video with Gallagher. Houston Texas. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Belper News, "Dutch masters come to The Flowerpot" 8 May 2014

External links