Legendary Irish guitar player Henry McCullough, the only Irish musician to play at the 1969 Woodstock festival, was born on this day (July 7) in 1943. To mark the event his good friend, local solicitor Paddy Goodwin and his band the Holy Ghosts will be playing with some “very special guests” at a special birthday gig in McHugh’s Venue this Saturday night.
McCullough, who was born in County Derry and died in 2016, is perhaps best remembered for playing with Paul McCartney’s band Wings in 1971/3 but he also toured with Jimi Hendrix and featured on the Pink Floyd’s iconic album Dark Side Of The Moon.
McCullough was the ultimate rhythm & blues rocker, his Woodstock appearance was with Joe Cocker but the significance of the 1969 festival in rock music history didn’t dawn on him straight away. For him it was just another gig during a tour of the US. “I was only there for six hours! We just didn’t realise” he said in an interview some years later.
The 18 months touring and recording with Wings was a difficult time for Henry who had serious “musical differences” with McCartney, especially when he suggested that they get a better piano player than Linda. “I wanted a fuckin’ Jerry Lee Lewis!” he told Hot press magazine.
McCullough had also played with a band called Doctor Strangely Strange which led to him playing lead guitar with Irish band Eire Apparent on a tour of the UK in 1967 alongside such luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Soft Machine, Amen Corner and Pink Floyd. Oh to have been a fly on the wall of that tour bus!
McCullough was also an acknowledged songwriter – his song ‘Failed Christian’ was covered by Nick Lowe. In 2008 he recorded an album called Poor Man’s Moon which consisted of his own songs and others co-written with Eamonn Carr, on which Paddy Goodwin played guitar.
Other guest musicians on Saturday night will include Jim Lockhart of Horslips, Tim Booth and Ivan Pawle, both former friends of McCullough’s, who played in a Dublin band called Doctor Strangely Strange and also featured on Henry’s 2008 album Poor man’s Moon as did Paddy Goodwin.
Tim Booth is also a gifted artist who designed album covers for Thin Lizzy and many others. He has written a song about Henry and will be singing it on Saturday in McHughs which is shaping up to be a momentous night.
Tickets are available at the door which opens at 9.00. Here’s a snippet of what to expect:
