BREAKING: A new statue of musician Rory Gallagher now stands in place of Accept’s tribute to guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, honoring Gallagher’s vital contribution to the heavy metal scene. 🎸🎵
In a bold and symbolic move celebrating rock history, a newly installed statue of Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher has replaced the existing tribute to Accept’s Wolf Hoffmann. Erected outside the iconic Ulster Hall in Belfast—a venue deeply entwined with Gallagher’s storied career—the bronze figure pays homage to a musician who transcended boundaries and defined an era in heavy rock and blues.
The life-size statue, crafted by Anto Brennan, Jessica Checkley, and David O’Brien of Bronze Art Ireland, draws inspiration from a celebrated January 1972 Melody Maker magazine cover photo capturing Gallagher onstage at Ulster Hall. The imposing figure, guitar slung low, perfectly conjures an image of the raw, electrifying presence he embodied .
A Belfast homecoming
Rory Gallagher’s connection to Belfast dates back to 1967, when he relocated from Cork and forged a deep bond with the city’s music scene. With his power trio Taste, he played legendary venues—Sammy Huston’s, the Maritime, Queen’s University halls—and Belfast soon became his second home . He performed consistently through the Troubles, establishing a profound rapport with audiences and earning acclaim for bridging divided communities through music . His legacy includes over 30 million record sales globally, a testament to his status as one of rock’s greatest guitarists .
Ceremony and reflection
The statue’s unveiling on January 4, 2025, drew a crowd of fans, family members, and local dignitaries, including Belfast’s Lord Mayor Micky Murray. He praised Gallagher’s “authenticity and talent” for transcending borders and enriching Belfast’s cultural tapestry . Alongside Murray, Barry McGivern, of the Rory Gallagher Statue Project Trust, described the artwork as a “fitting tribute” to a musician whose voice became synonymous with the city’s soundtrack . Donal Gallagher, Rory’s brother and former manager, echoed those sentiments: “It’s fitting that the city he loved so much is where his legacy will be celebrated for generations to come” .
Controversy in craftsmanship
Despite the warm reception, not all feedback has been positive. Critics and social‑media commentators have flagged discrepancies in the statue’s details. Rory was famed for wielding a battered Fender Stratocaster, yet the sculpture depicts him with a Telecaster—drawn directly from the historical Melody Maker image but unsettling to some fans . Disgruntled viewers even quipped that the figure looked “feminine” or likened it to modern female musicians—described as “Kim Deal with Bruce Springsteen’s guitar” or resembling “Madonna” . One Instagram user half‑jokingly remarked, “I so confidently assumed it was Weird Al” .
Impact on rock legacy
Yet for many, the statue goes beyond perfect gear accuracy—it’s a powerful declaration of Gallagher’s influence on rock and heavy metal culture. His searing blues‑rock riffs and uncompromising stage presence influenced later icons across genres—from blues luminaries like Eric Clapton and Joe Bonamassa, to metal giants like Slash, The Edge, and Brian May . It’s precisely this deep-rooted inspiration that prompted the replacement of the existing Wolf Hoffmann tribute with a statue of Gallagher—underscoring his foundational role in shaping the heavier sounds that followed.
Looking ahead
With its striking likeness positioned at the site of Gallagher’s legendary performances, the statue is poised to become a focal point for music lovers worldwide. It reaffirms Belfast’s status as a music‑rich city and memorializes the guitarist who helped pioneer its ascent. As more fans discover or rediscover Gallagher’s albums—like Irish Tour ’74—the statue enshrines a legacy that’s equal parts Irish blues‑rock hero and heavy metal progenitor.
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