One of the most iconic guitars in rock, 's road-worn 1961 , is to be auctioned, alongside the rest of his collection of instruments. Gallagher originally purchased the Strat for £100 from Crowley’s Music Store in Cork, Ireland, in 1963. After acquiring the guitar – reportedly the first Stratocaster to reach the country – Gallagher made it his go-to instrument and modified it significantly.
It was briefly stolen in the late 1960s, but was recovered after being found in a ditch after the story appeared on a TV show that attempted to return lost possessions to their original owners. “After nearly thirty years since my brother Rory’s passing, I now believe it’s time for other people to cherish Rory’s ‘orphaned’ 1961 Fender Stratocaster and the rest of his incredible instrument collection," says Donal Gallagher, the late guitarist's younger brother and manager. "Since 1995, I have always felt that there was a mission to be fulfilled to cement Rory’s legacy and further widen the knowledge of his music.
"So, following much deliberation and reviewing of all options, in what is one of the most difficult and sensitive decisions to reach, I have decided to facilitate the release of his instruments for sale, so that these emblems of his legacy can be enjoyed by others. "It is difficult to separate or even begin to quantify the depth of relationship Rory had with his instruments, this decision is one I recognise as challenging for some, however, with the proceeds rais.
