Which act are you paying tribute to and why? Chuck Berry and BB King. Both these artists were pioneers in blues, R&B and rock'n'roll genres. Their influence can be seen on artists in every decade since they first came to prominence.
What was their best period musically? My favourite musical periods for Chuck Berry are 1955 - 1969 and for BB King 1950 - 1962. They were both so creative and productive in those years.
Your favourite riff of theirs and why? My favourite Chuck Berry riff is Roll Over Beethoven and my favourite BB King riff would be The Thrill is Gone.
Is their material generally easy or hard to play? On a technical level, it is relatively easy to play the notes however, it is difficult to mimic their unique musicality, phrasing, articulation and note selection; that comes from their individual life experience and maturity.
What was the first song of theirs you managed to play all the way through? For Chuck, it was Memphis, Tennessee as it only has two chords in the whole song. For BB King it was his classic blues tunes The Thrill Is Gone.
Which album of theirs would you give to a newbie who had no idea about them to best represent them? Chuck Berry, Chuck Berry Is On Top (1959). BB King, King Of The Blues (1960).
When and where is your gig paying tribute? 26 Aug, The Concourse, 7.30pm
