http://www.contactmusic.com/news/gallagher-was-considered-for-rolling-stones_1280411



Former Rolling Stones star Bill Wyman has confirmed a longtime rock 'n' roll myth - tragic Irish blues great Rory Gallagher almost grabbed the spot that was to become Ronnie Wood's in the band.
The bassist reveals Mick Jagger and Keith Richards flew Gallagher out to Holland to rehearse with the Stones after Mick Taylor quit the group suddenly at the end of 1974, and they seriously considered adding him to the line-up.
Interviewed for a new documentary about Gallagher, Wyman says, "Rory stayed two or three days there and played some nice stuff. We had a good time with him, but I think Mick and Keith felt that he wasn't the kind of character that would have fit.
"If he'd have been in the Stones, he wouldn't have been singing and that was one of his strong points. He would have just been playing (guitar) solos... and learning to be subservient to two big egos. I don't think it would have worked."
And Gallagher's friend Bob Geldof agrees. Also appearing in the film, Ghost Blues, the Boomtown Rats star adds, "He could never have put up with the b**locks of Mick and Keith, never in a thousand years... Up against Mick and Keith, he would have shot himself."
Gallagher died of complications from a liver transplant in 1995, aged 47.

KEITH SAID HE WAS A RIGHT ASSHOLE AND PISSED IN HIS BEER BOTTLE DURING THEIR SESSION.

A friend of mine who's Irish keeps saying that Rory didn't want to be in The Stones, it's them that knew he wouldn't fit in, he was his own man sort of speak, wouldn't go just to be a part of a band unless it was his own band, like Clapton or Jeff Beck, he's another that drank himself to death, big talent though.

if he would have joined the stones we probably wouldnt have been blessed with Calling Card

He was 'considered' to the extent where he auditioned. As were several others.

Nothing more than that. The Wyman quotes are basically selective rehashes of his recent Uncut interview where he basically dismissed Rory as never being a serious contender.

Standard contactmusic bullshit which takes one bit of an interview, and then invents a headline which completely misses the point.

Theres some serious myths about his audition which have elevated the story to the extent where if you believed some people he was offered the job and turned it down.

"He was 'considered' to the extent where he auditioned. As were several others.  

Nothing more than that."

As I was always led to believe.

Rory was simply terrific in his own right.
Irish Tour '74 is an outstanding lp.