Gimme 5 - Adam Rigg of modern rock'n'rollers The Bad Day gets down to business

Adam Rigg is the vocalist and bassist with modern bluesy rockers The Bad Day (formerly The Bad Day Blues Band), whose eponymous second album The Bad Day has been shaking the British rock'n'roll tree since landing at the start of June.  So here he is serving up a Gimme 5 menu of songs that have been on his radar recently, artists who have been a big influence on him, and the guests he'd like to invite to his ideal long lunch.  Strap yourselves in, folks!

Gimme 5 songs, old or new, that have been on your radar recently.  [Check out the links to listen to all Adam's selections.]

The Bad Day posing somewhere posh, including the be-hatted Adam Rigg

'In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning' by Frank Sinatra:  "Stumbled across this when researching concept albums, apparently one of the first. Although I think the album has more of a running vibe than a concept, I love this opening track. Full of memories and smooth swagger. Nobody could do it quite like Frank."
 
'Moonlight Sonata' by Beethoven (various versions):  "I became a little obsessed with this. It’s one of the most ‘alive’ pieces of music I’ve ever heard. The flow, the tempo changes in the fingers are hypnotic. There’s a reason this piece of music is still so well known to this day. Beethoven was indeed a genius."
 
'Don’t Answer The Door' by BB King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland:  "This is the live version and I’m not sure there is a studio version. The chemistry between these two blues legends is brilliant to listen to. Humour and friendship filters through the painful bluesy lyrics. The band are great, really tight. BB is the conductor perhaps but Bobby is the soul of the piece."
 
'Stars' by Simply Red:  "This passed me by when I was younger, despite being a huge hit. The vocals are obviously world class and actually delivered with a nonchalant ease rarely mastered as well as this. The song itself is extremely well crafted and holds up well to repeat listening."
 
'Good Year For The Roses' by Elvis Costello:  "I am just discovering Mr Costello after resisting his songs for a number of years, mainly because I didn’t think he was a great singer. I was wrong. The unique voice is one of the things that gives great character to this song, as well as being very lyrically clever. I’m not sure if I’m taking the title hook as sarcasm and that’s why I like it."
 
 
Gimme 5 artists or bands who have had a big influence on your work. 
 
Steve Marriott:  "I first came across him on an old episode of The Old Grey Whistle Test. Loved his version of 'Black Coffee'.  The Humble pie era, just outstanding. Often people say he was underrated, and that is probably true in respect of the public (probably due to poor management from what I have read) but not by others musicians as his talent is undeniable. One of the coolest voices ever. A natural gravel that others have tried to replicate ever since. Allegedly

The small but perfectly formed Steve Marriott

nearly joining the stones but Mick knew he was the better singer. Humble Pie were amazing, and obviously The Small Faces had some great hits. Had the pleasure of interviewing his daughter Mollie for a radio show once and she is also a great singer, keeping the Marriott legacy rolling."
 
Cream/Jack Bruce:  "I learnt to play the bass by copying Jack Bruce bass lines. Love all the classics like 'Sunshine Of Your Love', 'Crossroads', 'Badge' etc. But I also appreciate some of the less well known songs like 'Tales Of Brave Ulysses' and 'Strange Brew'.  Great band, wish they could have stayed together longer."
 
The Beatles:  "I know, I know. But they are simply the greatest band ever. The band that got me into music in the first place. My first ever record was a vinyl single of 'Long Tall Sally' and I never looked back from there. Paul McCartney needs special mention, although recently I think people are realising he was the driving force in the band, I think in a hundred years time people will look back on him as one of the greatest songwriters to have ever lived. Abbey Road is my number 1 album of all time and a massive inspiration for our recent concept album."
 
BB King:  "He makes it seem so easy, his guitar playing is sublime, and along with Gary Moore I think the best at making the guitar sound like it’s talking. Nothing crazy flash but mesmerising. So many of his tracks are blues standards and we often play some at gigs and jams. For me he was the King of the Blues."
 
Eric Clapton:  "I know I mentioned him already as part of Cream, but I feel he deserves his own mention for his solo work. From blues to pop to rock and back to the blues, he has done it all and you have to say been successful in all of these genres. Not many people have achieved

Tom Waits - "I'm sitting next to who?"

that. That is down to his guitar skills, and just as importantly his songwriting and arranging ability. I adore Back To The Cradle as an album, and can appreciate his rockier stuff like 'Layla' which is beautifully written."
 
 
Gimme 5 guests you’d love to invite to your ideal long lunch.
 
Jack Nicholson:  "He would be great at a dinner party, some great stories and actually I could just watch him and be entertained, so charismatic and interesting."

Bob Mortimer:  "He makes me laugh even when he doesn’t say anything. Imagine him with Jack Nicholson. We need to make this happen."

 Cerys Matthews:  "She loves the blues and seems like a laugh, I imagine good chats."

Tom Waits:  "So talented and so unique. Legendary stories and also could chat with him about acting as well as music. I’d probably sit next to him."

Carol Kaye:  "Legendary bassist. I could listen to her stories for hours about the countless number of hits and musicians she has played with."
 
 
Just one track – pick one of your tracks that you’d share with a new listener to introduce your music.
 
"For my pick lets go with ‘Devil’s Lullaby’. It feels like it captures where we are at the moment musically and also I’m very proud of the writing element to it. This was the track that started off our idea of The Bad Day as a concept album, and originally it was written as a duet between two arguing musician lovers. So it has a very definite image in my head when I sing it or hear it. Also the arrangement of the version on the album is very nice, all the instruments give each other just the right amount of space and the guys really knocked it out of the park with the vibe."

Check out forthcoming festival appearances and shows by The Bad Day here.