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Ben Richards was born in Kent but grew up in a sleepy town in the heart of Somerset. A natural flair for all things musical (coupled with very pushy parents!) led him to take up classical piano lessons at the age of eight, soon followed by the alto saxophone a few years later. He quickly excelled through his ABRSM grades and by the age of 14 was the shining star of his school’s music department, taking a pivotal role in all the extra curriculum orchestras and jazz bands. It was at this age that he discovered the guitar.
Ben’s parents were reluctant for him to start a new instrument, worrying that it would take priority over the others and so suggested that he teach himself using the old classical guitar that had been lying around the house for years. Over the course of the next year Ben transferred all the knowledge he had about chords, scales and music theory to this new instrument and with the help of a guitar techniques book quickly began showing great promise; enough to persuade his parents to find him a guitar tutor to help hone his skills. Within 3 months of lessons, Ben flew through his Grade 5 guitar exam and from this point on guitar was at the top of his agenda.
As with most teenage boys, his music of choice was rock and metal, namely Metallica, Nirvana, Slayer and Megadeth and every evening he would spend hours learning his favourite riffs and solos. He also started a metal band and began his first steps into songwriting.
After GCSEs, Ben went to college to do a course in contemporary music but dropped out after a year due to personal distractions and a lack of motivation. The next three years were spent drifting between part-time jobs and busking, until a sudden awakening to the path unravelling before him, spurred him to get back into higher education and move to Brighton to study a degree in music.
It was here in Brighton that Ben met Georgia; they formed Bitter Ruin and Ben’s new passion developed in the form of acoustic and flamenco guitar. Three years later, they both finished their degrees with first class honours and became the musicians you know and love today.
Follow Ben here...
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