During a recent interview with NME, Richard Hammond discussed various songs throughout his life. The first song he remembers hearing is “Love Me Do” by The Beatles. He recalls attempting to make a record player out of cardboard and playing the vinyl, to the dismay of his father. The first album he bought was “Kings of the Wild Frontier” by Adam and the Ants, which he purchased at Woolworths. He describes their style as unique, as no one had ever dressed or acted like them before. His first concert was in 1987, when he saw Blues legend B.B. King perform at Leeds University. Hammond was not unfamiliar with live music, as his parents are folk singers and he played in bands with his brothers. But seeing B.B. King on stage was a life-changing experience for him.
Hammond’s song that reminds him of home is “La Grange” by ZZ Top. He recalls listening to the band’s album “Tres Hombres” through a secondhand cassette player while on vacation in France with his family. It was a pivotal moment in his life, and the song takes him back to a time when he felt like a grown-up. He is currently obsessed with “Pimp Wars” by Black Grape, finding the music’s artist, Shaun Ryder “an artist who would change his story about five times in 12 months.” The one song he can’t listen to is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” citing concerns over it being “bloody predatory.” Finally, Hammond chose “Call Me The Breeze” by J.J. Cale as the song he wants played at his funeral because it represents the peaceful life he wants his loved ones to know he had.
Hammond’s interview with NME offers a glimpse into his musical history, from his childhood to the present day. Though his musical tastes have evolved, each song remains a snapshot of the memories and emotions surrounding specific moments in his life. Whether he’s reminiscing about listening to ZZ Top in a foreign country or dancing horribly to Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music in recent years,” each song holds a special place in his heart
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