Re: New Biography: Rory Gallagher The Man Behind the Guitar

One or two of the factual details that I assume Donal would prefer not to see in print seemed unnecessary to me. On the other hand, Vignoles has finessed some other sensitive things.
According to the Irish Independent's review, Vignoles' biography is definitive. It's certainly not that. Taking his lead from a quote from Donal, Vignoles sees his own distinctive contribution to 'the man behind the guitar' as coming from his chapter on Rory's lyrics and the insights they give to Rory's character. However, that chapter is one of the weaker parts of the book, in my view. Much of what Vignoles infers from lyrics is already in the public realm, and what he adds by way of his own contextual or interpretive comment is superficial.
According to the Irish Independent's review, Vignoles' biography is definitive. It's certainly not that. Taking his lead from a quote from Donal, Vignoles sees his own distinctive contribution to 'the man behind the guitar' as coming from his chapter on Rory's lyrics and the insights they give to Rory's character. However, that chapter is one of the weaker parts of the book, in my view. Much of what Vignoles infers from lyrics is already in the public realm, and what he adds by way of his own contextual or interpretive comment is superficial.