Joe Bonamassa has released two new live singles, ‘Bad Penny‘ and ‘Back On My Stompin’ Ground‘, taken from his forthcoming live album and concert film The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork. The release arrives 19th June via J&R Adventures, on CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray and double 180-gram red marble vinyl.
The project is a tribute to the late Rory Gallagher, recorded across a sold-out three-night stand in Cork, Ireland. What began as a planned one-off concert grew into something far larger as the local response took hold, drawing fans from around the world to the city most closely tied to Gallagher’s legacy. The set was performed with the blessing of Gallagher’s family.
The two singles show different sides of Gallagher’s catalogue. ‘Bad Penny‘, originally from 1979’s Top Priority, is a tough, swaggering blues-rock staple built on a punchy groove and sharp guitar attack. Bonamassa leans into the tension and drive that made the original a favourite rather than smoothing the edges, the Cork crowd responding to every turn. ‘Back On My Stompin’ Ground‘, from 1973’s Blueprint, is rooted in place and identity, written as Gallagher re-established himself after the breakup of Taste. Performed in the guitarist’s hometown, it became one of the most personal moments of the entire set.
Guitarist Magazine has already praised the project, noting that Bonamassa “does his hero proud” and calling it a fitting, affectionate tribute to one of the notable blues guitarists of the age. Across 14 songs the album spans the breadth of Gallagher’s work, from ‘Walk On Hot Coals‘ and ‘Bullfrog Blues‘ to ‘Tattoo’d Lady‘ and ‘I Fall Apart‘. The DVD and Blu-ray editions add bonus features including The Inspiration Of Rory, with conversations featuring Brian May and Slash, plus behind-the-scenes footage from Cork.
A blues-rock superstar with a record-breaking run of number ones on the Billboard Blues Chart, Bonamassa is also one of the world’s leading guitar collectors and historians. We think that deep reverence for the lineage is exactly what makes this tribute land, honouring the songs faithfully while capturing the raw, communal energy that made Gallagher’s live recordings endure.
