An interview with Simon Kirke

AN INTERVIEW WITH LEGENDARY DRUMMER SIMON KIRKE

BY RICKY BYRD

Not only is Simon Kirke a pal of mine, but I must admit he’s also one of my favorite Rock ‘n’ Roll Drummers. I was a huge fan of the bands he played with (Free and Bad Company). Way back when I was a young lad just starting my musical journey. I spent many a garage rehearsal trying to get the drummer to play the song “like “Kirke” would play it!”

Simon always played to the song and kept it simple, throwing in an occasional full to accent a Paul Rodgers lyric or as an off ramp to guide us listeners into the next section.

My kind of drummer!

I’ve been lucky enough to share a stage with him more than a few times. Back in the 90’s he was kind enough to join up with me and Kasim Sulton for the semi acoustic trio I put together after I left the Blackhearts. Boston treatment center run by our mutual friend Woody Giessman.

I called Simon last week and asked if he would let me interview him for Rockers In Recovery magazine and without missin’ a beat (he never does) he said, “Sure Ricky.” My kind of pal!

Ricky Byrd: You were only in your late teens when you were a part of the band Free. That’s pretty young to have the kind of success you guys had. Money in the pocket, everybody wants to be your friend, night after night on stage in front of thousands of fans. Let’s just say the ego gets quite the boost. Tough enough to deal with if you have some life experience under your belt, but in your teens it seems like a recipe for bad choices [laughs].

How did that experience tie in with your drug and alcohol use in those early days?

Simon Kirke: Well in the beginning blind ambition kept me on the straight and narrow. I left home at 18 determine to give my dream a shot. I was drinking a little bit here and there, just beer and wine occasionally. I didn’t smoke dope until I was 19 and even then, it never got the better of me.

Free was pretty much a beer and dope band until Paul Kossoff got into downers; Mandrax which were the English equivalent of Quaaludes.

But in his defense, he only started that after Free had split up for the first time.

RB: Tell ya a bit about the downward progression of addiction and when you first thought things were getting out of hand.

SK: Things got really bad for me when I started doing coke. My drinking went through the roof and I had to take downers to take the edge off and sleep.

disbanded in 1980 and after my wife walked out I went into my first rehab. By then I was doing a lot of coke most days and drinking hard liquor. I was a complete mess. My liver had swollen up and I had prescriptions from three doctors for downers.

RB: I know I wore my addiction like a R&R badge of honor. Never thought it was a problem, just part of the lifestyle. At 30 I decided to leave the party. Problem was, it took until I was just about to turn 31 before I made it to the door [laughs] and I might add it wasn’t a very pretty year.

How long between that first thought of, “maybe I should slow down” go “OK, I might need some help here?”

SK: I thought my problem was a phase I was going through and once I got my career back on track things would straighten out. I knew nothing about addiction in those days. Didn’t know I was a full-blown addict. That came after 4 more rehabs and 15 years, plus an awful lot of money!

In terms of years, I guess around 2 years before I cottoned on, plus a lot of help from my long suffering wife.

RB: How has your sober journey changed your life?

SK: My sober journey has restored my self-confidence and respect. I don’t have to worry about strange vehicles in my rear-view mirror anymore, or if I have enough money in the ATM to cop. I don’t sneak around and live life in the shadows. I only wish I had gotten it sooner in my life. I applaud (and am secretly envious) of the youngsters I see in AA and particularly NA who are getting a handle on it. I firmly believe addiction is genetically passed down. One of my kids had the gene and is in NA, courtesy of me, and is coming up on 3 years clean.

RB: Would you like to say anything to the people reading this right now who are on the line about asking for help?

SK: I would say to anyone who is wrestling with this, get help now.

It takes courage to ask for help and I guarantee that you will find an outpouring of help and love like never before when you get in touch. It’s never too late.

RB: You’re a good guy Simon and I’m so glad we have music and recovery in common, “one day at a time pally, one day at a time!”

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY STARTS HERE.

# IAMRECOVERED

Discover the Original ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of our Addiction Recovery

“The Steps are like a medicine capsule with 12 ingredients —you take them ALL when you want to get well. How long do you want to stay sick?” Clarence Snyder, one of the first 40 members of A.A.

Experience the Twelve Steps as the A.A. Founders practiced and taught -- in a matter of hours!

Early members of AA, such as Dr Bob and Clarence S, took people through the 12 Steps as early in their recovery as possible and in a matter of hours, and that’s what you can experience at this retreat. Clarence’s story is in the first three editions of the Big Book (#11, “The Home Brewmeister”).

OCT. 8TH-10th

Schooley’s Mountain, NJ CTBR Retreat

80 Pleasant Grove Rd. Long Valley NJ, 07853 https://www.liebenzellretreat.org/

• Be inspired: Speakers with wisdom and years of experience to share. • 6 Meals included • Fees: $195 Double or Bunk dorm style rooms • NO linens provided, must bring your own • Reservations: $75 nonrefundable deposit • No refunds after September 15th

Need a Spiritual Awakening? Take your Steps as the A.A. founders taught!

For more information or to request a scholarship contact:

Tom Williams 973-879-9522. tomw@cametobelieverecovery.org Or

John Z. (973) 538 6869 john.zamrok@gmail.com

TO REGISTER VISIT:

WWW.CAMETOBELIEVERECOVERY.ORG/EVENTS/SCHOOLEYS-MOUNTAIN-NJ-RETREAT