Who are you?
We’re Preacher Stone, playing high-octane, 200 proof, rock-n-roll guitar-driven songs about the common man with heart-wrenching smoky bar frequenting tales. We’re here to give one and all a good time listening to our records or watching us live, there is no BS about us and our accents are real so roll on up!
Roll Call?
Myself Ronnie Riddle (frontman), founding member Marty Hill (lead guitar), we’re brothers are steeped in musical heritage with Ben Robinson (guitar), Jim Bolt (bass) and Wyatt (drums). Our brother Johnny Webb (B3 & piano) sadly passed away before our new album ‘V’ was released in March, we’ve honoured him with his signature on the album cover.
Hailing from?
We’re kicking boots out of North Carolina USA in a van rolling down the highway full throttle on the way to a gig, playing to an ever growing legion of faithful fans known as “The Congregation”. They ain’t our fans, they’re our family and friends, come and join the fun!
Journey so far?
The journey has been a wild ride. My musical career began at the very back of the children’s church choir as far away from the microphone as the choir director could place me. I was not only bad, but I was loud! I knew all the words, though and I just wanted to be a singer! Fast forward through playing VFW halls, high school dances and countless miles on the road playing “God knows where” to sharing the stage with my idols. As a band it’s been a lot of hard work for a long time that is beginning to pay off. Every experience gives us a story and we’re proud of our accomplishments and our latest release.
Influences/sound?
Our varied influences and life experiences make the Preacher Stone sound. As for me I have a ton of influences. Phil Lynott, Paul Rodgers, Ronnie Van Zant, Dan McCafferty to name a few. The other guys would say Bad Company, Nazareth, ZZ Top, Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy and a heap of others.
Biggest gig/proudest moment to date?
Hard to pick, but Jim would say the first Skynyrd “Simple Man Cruise”. He’d just joined not long before and the Congregation couldn’t have been more welcoming. We were playing with bands like Blackberry Smoke, The Outlaws and Skynyrd, of course, on the ship it was amazing. Being welcomed as peers by some of our heroes was quite humbling. We just walked around the “Artist Only” areas like kids that snuck into the party through the back door! Having one of our songs ‘Not Today’ on two episodes of ‘Sons of Anarchy’ was also very cool.
What does the future hold for Preacher Stone?
We’ve come a long way since the band was formed in 2008. With the current line-up having been solidified eight or nine years ago when we added Wyatt, the music has grown. Having just released our new album ‘V’ 2024 is our busiest year to date. Tours and festivals here in the US and we’re coming to the UK in July for a co-headline tour which has shows with Tom Killner and Sons of Liberty, we also play the main stage at Maid of Stone festival. Ultimately, even through life’s hardships that we’ve experienced, we’ve grown tighter as a family and are going to keep writing, touring and recording until the train jumps the track!
Interview by Viki Ridley
Photo Credit: Press Provided
