 When asked what he would play, Ritchie decided to play electric organ, much to the bemusement of his friends.Organs were not in common use in guitar-orientated bands of that time.In 1964, a band called The Premiers, based in Edinburgh, whose members were Ian Ellis (vocals), James 'Shammy' Lafferty (rhythm guitar), Derek Stark (lead guitar), Bill Lawrence (bass), and Harry Hughes(drums), decided to recruit an organist to augment their sound, and Ritchie joined.