Which act are you paying tribute to and why? Chuck Berry and BB King. They are the two most influential guitarists of all time and both don't get much credit. Chuck Berry defines rock'n'roll like BB does the blues.
What was their best period musically? Chuck was on fire from '55 to '65, with Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, Sweet Little Sixteen and Johnny B Goode. BB King' s Live At The Regal (1964) is the greatest live blues record ever.
Your favourite riff of theirs and why? For Chuck, Johnny B Goode. It's the greatest guitar song ever, it represents everything about the genre; wild, fun and simple. For BB King, the opening of The Thrill Is Gone. He is the most soulful player there ever was.
Is their material generally easy or hard to play? Rhythm and blues in technical terms are simple but in reality, you need to live them to play them. Chuck and BB King are great at leaving spaces. That is the hardest thing to do.
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What was the first song of theirs you managed to play all the way through? For me, I grew up with them and after all these years I still can't get it perfect, but The Thrill Is Gone was my first.
Which album of theirs would you give to a newbie who had no idea about them to best represent them? Chuck Berry, Greatest Hits (Chess Records). BB King, Live At The Regal.
When and where is your gig paying tribute? 26 Aug, The Concourse.
