Ridley Bent is an entertainer, a crooner, a guitar player, and a songwriter with a knack for detail and has mastered the art of telling a story. Love and betrayal, cowboy songs, songs of hope and glory, tales of the old west and pop culture, this is Ridley’s addiction.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ridley Bent spent his youth as an army brat traversing the vast expanses of Canada and listened to his father play Johnny Cash and Hank Williams on his beat-up old guitar. At the time, he never did dig that old country and western. He preferred rock and pop but those old tunes must have sunk into his subconscious because that southern twang is evident in his songs. Ridley recently completed a new album titled Buckles and Boots.
We harrassed him with our Ten Questions and then gave him the “you can’t just jump to the top of the ladder” speech.
#1 What’s the last CD/Download you bought with your own money? Was it worth the dough?
I bought Little Feat’s Dixie Chicken and it is so worth the dough.
#2 Best/Worst part about being a professional musician?
Best part is Rockin’ especially to packed houses that love you. The worst part is getting stopped by every cop on the Trans Canada. Our van is such a heat score.
#3 Worst “real job” you’ve ever had?
Worst job I ever had was a janitor. When I got fired my boss gave me the “you cant just jump to the top of the ladder” speech. I laughed.
#4 Who is the worst band member to sit next to on the van/bus?
I think it’s the worst when we’re traveling with mirrors and I have to sit next to myself.
#5 Most embarrassing music purchase?
I loved the song “Umbrella,” a little embarrassing when I’m singing it to myself in the supermarket, but I still love it.
#6 Build the perfect musician:
Voice of: George Jones
Songwriting of: Elliott Smith
Musicianship of: Pete Anderson
Personality/Image of: Johnny Cash
#7 Biggest twat in the music biz?
Simon Cowell, bar none.
#8 When I hear ____________ I want to stick a hanger in my ear.
Kalan Porter play violin (former winner of Canadian Idol).
#9 The greatest Founding Father is…
Jimmy Hendrix, because of all the acid he took, and the barriers he broke down because of it.
#10 I love Glorious Noise because…
They remind me of that song “Sex and Candy” when it first came out. Fuck that was awesome.
MP3: Ridley Bent – “Nine Inch Nails”