12:00pm Friday 11th December 2009
A MUSICIAN is hoping to break the world record for the longest ever acoustic gig...by playing virtually non-stop for more than 32 hours.
Stefan Redgraves, 45, wants to make the Guinness Book of World Records by performing a show of endurance at the King’s Head, Rochford Square, Rochford.
Stefan, who will be playing guitar and singing, said: “It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
“I reckon I must know more than 500 songs which is good, as I don’t want to repeat any during the record attempt.
“I’m mildly autistic, but I’m not sure if that will help me remember all the words!”
Stefan’s son Adam, 12, is also mildly autistic, and he has decided to donate all sponsorship for the record attempt to the National Autistic Society.
Stefan of Colchester Road, Southend, said: “I have already started preparing, by staying awake as long as possible and playing songs.
“It’s all about stamina. I can have a break every three hours, for 15 minutes only, and can have 30 seconds between each song.
“If you take the breaks into account, I’ve worked out I’ll actually be going for 40 hours.
“I’ve been advised there’s no point taking drugs or drinking lots of coffee, they just give you a huge buzz, but then leave you exhausted when the effects wear off.
“I need to keep steady. I’ll be best off drinking water.”
Stefan plays his guitar and sings folk songs every Wednesday night at the King’s Head – and it was there he got his inspiration to become a record breaker.
He added: “One night, a regular down there said ‘he might play all night if you don’t stop him’, and that put the idea in my head and now I’m doing it.
“I’ll be playing requests, and a variety of covers from the Fifties through to the Noughties, in folk, pop, and rock styles. I even play some children’s songs.”
The record-breaking attempt will begin at the pub at 9am on February 16.
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