1. Little RichardHere’s Little Richard
My brother’s ten years older than me so he was already a teenager at the time we were living in Munich. He had these rock & roll parties at home, where Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard were played, so I sort of came across that kind of music as a small boy. I keep coming back to Little Richard because he was such an impressive, dynamic character. I have friends who frown at me when I say I love Little Richard and they don’t get it because they grew up in a different time, but for me it’s all about Little Richard. You can see this in the way he sings ‘A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ in this footagefrom 1963. He’s so energetic and it’s so positive, the crowd goes wild after one and a half seconds when he starts belting away! There’s this kind of enthusiasm and excitement that I would like to generate, I’d like to have that kind of excitement when I play live! It’s maybe unfair to compare any other musician to him, but a character like Mick Jagger who’s considered so dynamic, he just doesn’t stand a chance! Little Richard didn’t have that many wonderful songs, but you should see this footage… either you get it there, or you don’t!
