Squirrels |
Year Zero for disciples of the Rigg is 2002, being the year in which James and Ben resolved to begin the long journey towards the ultimate goal of nothing less than a small-scale local musical revolution. Based in the vicinity of the village of Hazlerigg, itself nestled on the periphery of the metropolis of Newcastle upon Tyne, and influenced by the likes of Oasis, Culture Club and Bananarama, the seeds of world domination and a musical re-alignment not seen since the days of the Bay City Rollers had clearly be sown. But a guitarist and vocalist do not an excellent band make. They make Everything But The Girl, in fact. Fortunately, in 2003 the tectonic movements of the rock'n'roll lithosphere were about to deliver an absolutely smashing Himalayan uplift in the form of Simon Miller and Rob Kidd, who were obviously recognised as the Ringo and Paul of the fledgeling band (Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, two members of a band from way back called the Beatles). With the new rhythm powerhouse now fully constructed, and such burning topical issues as the imminent extinctionary meltdown of the red squirrel tormenting James' feverish mind, the band of four henceforth agreed upon total commitment to the founding principles of the newly formed Rigg, most notably the one involving interfering with any suitable female groupies, sexually. With the team now complete, the talent accounted for and a full sack of material, the band now began the painstaking work of writing and practising, day after day and month after month, waiting for the appointed moment, in readiness to burst forth upon the local music scene, like a testosterone-driven rock'n'roll butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Except with a slightly greater capital investment in equipment. |