We asked Richie a few questions about his music career, here's what he said.
1. Where were you born ?
Richie:
Mount Isa in Queensland was my birthplace. My dad worked in the copper mine and powerstation there. I attended Townview State School for a couple of years and this is where I played my first musical instrument in a band - a triangle ... because at the age of 5 I wasn't quite cutting it on the piano, recorder or glockenspiel. State Governments need to learn what is really relevant for kids in our state schools. What a choice of instruments! Haven't they heard of a guitar or drums?
2. When did you become interested in becoming a musician ?
Richie:
As a 7 and 8 year old, living on a farm in southern Queensland, I used to sit in front of an old radiogram that our family had and us kids would take turns sweeping the AM bands for stations playing our favourite country songs. I think that staple diet of music early on, helped fuel my desire to learn to play something better than a Triangle. Dad was a big fan of symphonies and I had a great grounding in classics from Beethovan, Strauss, Pachelbel, Goethe and Bach and many others that he would play from the old vinyl records in his collection. I remember hearing for the first time, the Carpenters sing 'Top of the World' as part of a music class in school and I realised that it sounded so good and wondered how on earth they managed to do that. I thought at the time it was an unattainable gift just given to a select few.
3. When did you start playing instruments and what type was it ?
Richie:
I graduated up to playing a Recorder at around age 8 and would drive my family mad playing the song 'When the Saints Come Marching In' for hours in the afternoons after school because it was the only thing I could play. Fortunately, the farm, near Murgon in the South Burnett had plenty of space so I could head up the paddock by myself and play the instrument without annoying anyone. Around that time my Mum started learning to play an old portable organ and she showed me some basic old tunes on it, like 'Daisy' and 'When I Grow Too Old to Dream' . At around age 10, we had moved to Rockhampton, on the Queensland coast and a family friend who was already a musician helped my dad buy me a secondhand, nylon-stringed, acoustic guitar. He drew up a chord chart with 3 chords on it and told me to start practicing. That was tough. The guitar was not well set up and hard work to play. My little hands used to ache from holding those strings down with my fingers and they would end up with grooves etched in the tips. But I persevered and when I entered High School, instead of playing sport each week, there was an option to select music as an alternative and I took this. Regular playing with other kids and teachers helped improve my stamina and speed. My dad bought me a book of Neil Diamond songs with chord charts and I set about learning those and ventured into a bit of singing as well. Around the same time an adult friend who was already an accomplished musician, and had just been through a messy family breakup, was looking for some musical company and would regularly come over with his electric guitar and 100 watt Peavey amplifier and rattle the louvres in the old house we lived in. I fell in love with it and saved like mad to buy my own guitar and amplifier. My first guitar was a Coronet - a cheap guitar that sounded terrible but I didn't care. It was an electric guitar and I had just gone to heaven! Then he turned up one day with a bass guitar and showed me some basic runs. I was hooked. The bass guitar is the most boring instrument to play by itself, but with other instruments, it really provides the soul to a song.
4. When was your first gig and how did it go ?
Richie:
I played with a band who needed a bass player at short notice, at a dance in a little place out in the bush, north of Rockhampton, called Ogmore. Wow! I had never experienced anything like that. Julie, the singer was the same age as I was, a 17 year old. Man! What a set of pipes. She did Suzi Quartro and Linda Ronstadt with ease - massive range and pitch perfect. The guitarist was Dave, the family friend who introduced me to the bass guitar and 'Pappy' was the drummer. He would hit his drums so hard that he would regularly break sticks and hydraulic skins. But the sound was fantastic. And it was LOUD. I was totally sold on this. All of a sudden, I knew where I wanted to be. That job led to others and the hobby started to pay for itself.
5. What are some of the highlights of your career as a musician ?
Richie:
I got to play with some great bands - Vince Jeffries "Country Breeze" in Cairns and the hinterland areas. We ended up on National Geographic channel as part of a documentary of a pastoral family who engaged us to play for their wedding, "Downtime" - A Weipa based band who would play a lot of the local events and festivals, "Stray Dogs" in the South Burnett - A pub rock band, along with a host of others in Queensland and NSW. A big highlight for me was in 2004, purchasing the Stuart Spector 6 string bass guitar that I still use. What an amazing instrument! It's got that unique Spector sound, the enormous range that's only possible with a 6 stringed instrument and is an absolute pleasure to play.
6. What type of music has influenced you, and why ?
Richie:
I've always loved Country music from an early age. That, along with growing up in the '70s and being exposed to Countdown and the rock scene of that era - I loved hearing 'The Angels, Ted Mulry Gang, ACDC, Rose Tattoo, the 'Chisels' as well as international acts such as Slade, Status Quo, Suzi Quartro, the Eagles, and Led Zepplin. In later years, I 'discovered' Southern Rock, from the deep south of the United States and that's influenced my songwriting and music styles a lot.
7. So why country music ?
Richie:
I find there is a truth and simplicity in the country lifestyle. Having been raised on a farm and now living on a farm, that lifestyle is reflected in the music. It is raw, unique, cuts to the chase and is generally upbeat. I'm not a fan of 'cry in your beer and slash wrists because she left' kind of songs. I go for the stuff with rhythm and power. Country life tends to be positive, has a rhythm in it and I think the music taps into that. It has universal appeal.
8. Who are a few of your favorite country artists ?
Richie:
I love some of Australia's home grown talent. The Wolfe Brothers from Tasmania, I think those guys march to a similar drum. They are very talented musicians and singer/ songwriters. I'm also a fan of Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell and some of the American performers such as Luke Combs, Georgia Satellites, Toby Keith, Willy Nelson, Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Linda Ronstadt, Reba McEntire, and Rascal Flats to name a few.
9. What do you enjoy about playing with Kick Arse Country ?
Richie:
These guys are a pleasure to work with. Their experience in the industry shows in their demeanor, song choices and dedication to the craft. Our practice sessions are a lot of fun and you can see that they actually enjoy what they're doing when they perform. So many bands I have come across are fractured by internal division, egos, and impossible expectations. There's none of that here.
10. What's your vision for the future ?
Richie:
When we set out on this journey as a band a few short years ago, I didn't really expect to end up where we are. I pictured us doing the occasional Pub gig and private party and jamming every now and again. But it's just taken off and surprised me. I'm not sure why it's happened but sometimes trying to figure out why, ends up taking away from being in the moment now and we end up missing it. I'm loving where it's going and am enjoying the ride immensely. I guess I'm up to riding the wave and see where it takes us. I'm open to it all.