THE music of the legendary guitarist Rory Gallagher – hailed as Ireland’s “first real rock star” who paved the way for many major Irish acts to follow on the international stage – is coming to Southend.

It will be brought to the Riga live music club, upstairs at O’Neill’s off Southend High Street, by Sinnerboy, a renowned tribute band led by Barry Barnes from Manchester, who became a super fan of Gallagher’s after he first saw him perform in the Sixties rock group Taste in 1969.

The gig at Riga takes place on Saturday, April 9.

Rory Gallagher died in 1995. Barry, who is lead guitarist and singer in Sinnerboy, remembers reading about his hero’s sad passing.

“I was sitting in my kitchen reading the Guardian, and reading about a new issue of the US twenty dollar bill.

Being a Rory fan, I started singing to myself the line ‘just give my baby a brand new twenty dollar bill’, from the John Lee Williamson track When My Baby She Left Me that Rory used to include in his sets.

“I then turned the page and it was the obituaries.

The headline said: Irish rock legend Rory Gallagher dies at 47. I was just so, so upset. He was far too young to have been taken from us.”

Apart from his reputation as being one of the most talented electric guitar players, Rory was a prolific composer, recording fifteen albums of soulful blues and rock.

On the first anniversary of his death, Barry promoted the first ever British tribute concert to his lifelong hero.

Barry says: “As the months went on, I had it in my mind that something should be done to commemorate Rory’s death, and to celebrate the huge contribution he made to the rock and blues scene, influencing so many great players over the years.

“I had this idea to put on a tribute to him one year on from his passing, booked a venue and organised the first British Rory Tribute gig. The place was rammed, I couldn’t believe it, there were people stood at the windows listening because they couldn't get in!

“I had no idea that so many fans remembered Rory and his music, and felt the same way I did. It was so moving.”

Then in 2001 Barry went on to form Sinnerboy with the sole intention of keeping Rory’s memory and music alive.

Sinnerboy have a gained a reputation for faithfully recapturing the sound and excitement of a live Rory gig. Joining Barry in Sinnerboy are Dave Smiley on bass guitar and Steve Richardson on drums.

The gig starts at 8pm.

Ttickets are £10 on the door, or £8 advance from O'Neills or by calling 07960 442331.