Rod de'Ath
Encyclopedia
Rod de'Ath is a former musician, best known for his role as drummer with Irish
guitarist Rory Gallagher
in the 1970s.
De'Ath was playing with the band Killing Floor when he was offered the job as a temporary substitute for Rory Gallagher's drummer Wilgar Campbell
for a leg of a European tour in 1972. When Campbell left permanently, de'Ath was asked to join full-time. He stayed with Gallagher, performing on several albums, until 1978 when he and keyboard player Lou Martin
left the band.
After leaving Gallagher's band, de'Ath joined Ramrod (with Martin) and then he played with the Downliners Sect before moving to the United States. In the mid-1980s, he returned to the UK to produce
an album for a band called Road Erect. Around this time, he suffered a serious accident which led to the loss of one eye and some brain damage. Deciding to return to the UK permanently, he eventually made a near-complete recovery, although he was no longer able to play.
When Gallagher died in 1995, many obituaries claimed that de'Ath was also dead, and for this reason he stayed away from Gallagher's funeral. However, he later appeared at a memorial service, having "waited for a suitable moment" to show that he was still alive.
Little or nothing is known of de'Ath's whereabouts since 1996.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
guitarist Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
in the 1970s.
De'Ath was playing with the band Killing Floor when he was offered the job as a temporary substitute for Rory Gallagher's drummer Wilgar Campbell
Wilgar Campbell
Wilgar Campbell was an Irish blues rock musician, best known for his role as drummer with Rory Gallagher in the early 1970s.-Career:Campbell played with local band The Method, who moved to London in 1968 and became Andwella's Dream...
for a leg of a European tour in 1972. When Campbell left permanently, de'Ath was asked to join full-time. He stayed with Gallagher, performing on several albums, until 1978 when he and keyboard player Lou Martin
Lou Martin
Louis 'Lou' Martin Louis 'Lou' Martin Louis 'Lou' Martin (born 12 August 1949, Belfast, Northern Ireland is a piano and organ player, who is most famous for his work with the London-based band Killing Floor and fellow Irish musician Rory Gallagher....
left the band.
After leaving Gallagher's band, de'Ath joined Ramrod (with Martin) and then he played with the Downliners Sect before moving to the United States. In the mid-1980s, he returned to the UK to produce
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
an album for a band called Road Erect. Around this time, he suffered a serious accident which led to the loss of one eye and some brain damage. Deciding to return to the UK permanently, he eventually made a near-complete recovery, although he was no longer able to play.
When Gallagher died in 1995, many obituaries claimed that de'Ath was also dead, and for this reason he stayed away from Gallagher's funeral. However, he later appeared at a memorial service, having "waited for a suitable moment" to show that he was still alive.
Little or nothing is known of de'Ath's whereabouts since 1996.
With Rory Gallagher
- Blueprint (1973) PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
- Tattoo (1973) Polydor
- Irish Tour '74Irish TourIrish Tour '74 is a blues rock double-album by Rory Gallagher. The album was compiled from live recordings made at concerts on an Irish Tour in January 1974 at Belfast Ulster Hall, Dublin Carlton Cinema and Cork City Hall. "Back on My Stompin' Ground " was taken from a jam session during the tour...
(1974) Polydor - Against the GrainAgainst the Grain (Rory Gallagher album)Against the Grain is a 1975 studio album by Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Rory Gallagher except where indicated.Side 1# "Let Me In" – 4:03# "Cross Me Off Your List" – 4:26...
(1975) ChrysalisChrysalis RecordsChrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis... - Calling CardCalling CardCalling Card is the sixth studio release by Irish singer/guitarist Rory Gallagher. A 1976 release, it was his second of four albums released on Chrysalis Records in the 1970s. Deep Purple/Rainbow bass guitarist Roger Glover co-produced with Gallagher: it was the only time that Gallagher worked...
(1976) Chrysalis