Mini-Minx: Q1) What got you into music, and how did you do about getting there...?

Riggsy: I started playing keyboard when I was about 3 or 4 and carried on with that all through school until when I was 12 and I discovered the guitar. The keyboard took a bit of a back seat then for a while as I ploughed myself through many bands playing guitar , and even started on the drums. All though school I also played trumpet in my school band. Eventually in 1997 I got a set of decks and learned how to mix. The guitar , drums and keyboards were thrown in the cupboard then until I started producing in 2000. Now I try my best to keep my fingers in all the pies and play all of them as much as possible so I don’t get rusty and out of practice! ( Apart from the trumpet of course ! Not much call for that these days ! )

Mini-Minx: Q2) Where was your first clubbing experience? and what made it special?

Riggsy: My first clubbing experience was at Godskitchen on my 18th birthday. Id never seen anything like it before. The atmosphere of the place was awesome , the music , the lights , the crazy people . I was instantly hooked. It was a totally different vibe to the rock clubs like The Foundry and Eddies that I had gone to all through my teens

Mini-Minx: Q3) Who would you say influenced you and why?

Riggsy: First of all , The mighty Dimebag Darrell ( RIP ) of Pantera / Damageplan. Dimebag was probably the best guitarist of all time and is sadly missed! I heard Pantera on the radio when I was about 12 and decided instantly I wanted to play guitar after hearing one of Darrells solos! Amazing stuff !

Also Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters / Nirvana. He is an amazing musician / songwriter and can play pretty much every instrument there is.

On the dance music side , TDV , BK , Andy Farley , Carl Cox , Adam Beyer , Dynamic Intervetion , Alex Calver , Frank Farrell , Dave Owens , Lee Haslam , Ben Stevens , the list cud go on forever

Mini-Minx: Q4) What is your favorite tune you have done? and also what is your all time favorite tune?

Riggsy: To be honest , my favorite tune ive done isn’t even anything to do with dance music. Its one of the demos I did for my band called “ Out Of Time “. It totally defines what I’ve always been about musically. Hard , Dark , Fast and crazy but still melodic . It was quite an achievement for me , as I played all instruments on the demo , produced it , and even did the vocals! I’ve always wanted to do a track like that since I was a kid , so it is a real defining tune for me as a musician. See what u think for yourselves at www.myspace.com/abeautifulretribution

My all time favorite tune has to be Master of Puppets by Metallica but all time favorite hard house tune is TDV – Are You All Ready

Mini-Minx: Q5) Who is your favorite dj at the moment?

Riggsy: My favorite dj is defiantly Carl Cox. Ive always looked up to Carl Cox and after seeing him play almost a 6 hour set at Space in Ibiza last year, that really convinced me. Technically the guy is amazing , and the tunes he plays are unreal. Ive never seen anybody else who even comes close

Mini-Minx: Q6) If you could go back in time is there any thing you would do differently of change?

Riggsy: Ive made a lot of stooopid mistakes in my time , but id never change any of it , because if I did then I wouldn’t be the weirdo I am today ! In the wise words of Robbie Williams “ No regrets….they don’t work….. bla bla summat summat ”

Mini-Minx: Q7) Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

See question 10

Mini-Minx: Q8) You have done so much over the years, what would you say is your biggest achievement?

Riggsy: My biggest achievement has to be my live set. As I said earlier , I have always been in bands n stuff and then after that I started djing , so to be able to mix the 2 scenes together so I can play guitars , drum machines , synths n keyboards and stuff in the same set is perfect for me. For anybody who hasn’t been to one of the shows yet , theres a load of videos and photos at www.myspace.com/riggsylive and the first ever live set videos from E:volve are at www.myspace.com/djriggsy

Mini-Minx: Q9) There is so much talent out there at the minute, who in your opinion, is the one to keep eye out for?

Riggsy: The best tunes ive heard for years by far have come from a Birmingham trance producer called Bayleigh ( Receptive Records ). This bird is so talented and she should have been big a long time ago. You know me , im hard nrg all the way , and I fell out with trance a good few years ago , but Bayleighs tunes have put me right back in my place . Awesome stuff !! Whether u like trance or not , its proper music!! If u cant appreciate it , ur wrong in the head lol . trust me , watch this space……….

Mini-Minx: Q10) What is your idea of heaven?

Riggsy: Sitting on a beach in Ibiza with Michelle Marsh feeding me grapes all day

Mini-Minx: Q11) What is the weirdest situation you have ever been in?

Riggsy: Im Riggsy , Im always in a weird situation of some sort lol

Mini-Minx: Q12) What has really made you laugh in the last month?

Riggsy: Big Brother ! What a bunch of freaks !

Mini-Minx: Q13) And for everyone that is reading, im sure they are very interested in you future coming dates

Riggsy: Aug 2nd – Xtatic vs E:volve @ The Custard Factory , Birmingham ( DJ SET )
Aug 7th – The Bulldog Bash @ Long Marsten Airfield , Stratford ( DJ SET )
Aug 9th – The Bulldog Bash @ Long Marsten Airfield , Stratford ( LIVE SET )
Aug 16th – B2T @ Subway City , Birmingham ( LIVE SET )
Mini-Minx Sept 27th – Storm @ The Emporium , Leicester ( LIVE SET )
MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON ;-)
Also , the 9th release from my label XTENSION RECORDS will be out in a couple of weeks so watch out for that. The tracks include :

* Dave the elf , Shenton n Riggsy – Extreme Content
* Em Extreme n Riggsy – Unexpected
* Wayne Reid , Pocock n Riggsy – Carnage
* The Tom n Riggsy – No Substitutes

Mini-Minx: thank you Steve

Now here's A few quick fire questions...

Mini-Minx: Fav colour? Riggsy: Black

Mini-Minx: favorite drink? Riggsy: Beer!!!

Mini-Minx: Spice girls or girls aloud? Riggsy: Girls aloud deffo!!

Mini-Minx: Cabbage or sprouts? Riggsy: Cabbage

Mini-Minx: Football or cricket? Riggsy: Football

Mini-Minx: Cats or dogs? Riggsy: Dogs , cats are the most evil things on the planet !

Mini-Minx: Sweets or chocolate?Riggsy: Sweets

Mini-Minx: Starters or deserts? Riggsy: Starters

Mini-Minx: Chinese or curry? Riggsy: Chinese