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Simon Kirke was born in Lambeth, South London, England on July 28, 1949 and spent his first seventeen years living with his parents and two brothers in a primitive cottage, in the very small village of Clun in Shropshire, England, which had no electricity or running water. As a child, Simon sang the solo lead in his church’s Christmas performance of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ each year, which gave him an introduction to music, and fostered his interest in playing the drums.
For his 13th birthday Simon got his 1st small kit and his first full drum kit at the age of 15. He began performing in local clubs and pubs around the area in a homespun disco playing to the records of current and past rock and roll hits, and soon joined a band called The Maniacs. The band played throughout the area, won a talent contest, and experienced their first taste of publicity. He eventually left The Maniacs and formed a trio called Heatwave where he sang and played drums – long before Phil Collins, as he loves to say!
Determined to be a full-time drummer, Simon left school at the age of 17 and moved to London. He held down a several menial jobs and in early 1968, Simon Kirke joined Paul Kossoff of the blues band Black Cat Bones as their drummer. Simon and Paul Kossoff left the band a few months later, and soon formed the group Free with Paul Rodgers and [a= Andy Fraser].
In the four years Free were together they had an enormous influence on many bands on both sides of the Atlantic. Their biggest hit, "All Right Now", was a number one in more than 20 territories and was acknowledged by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) in 1990 as having received more than 1,000,000 radio plays in the US by late 1989. In 2000 an award was given to Paul Rodgers by the British music industry when "All Right Now" passed 2,000,000 radio plays in the UK. Free eventually disbanded in 1973.
Simon Kirke and Paul Rodgers soon joined the group Bad Company with ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell and ex-Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs. Bad Company was also one of the first groups signed to Led Zeppelin’s record label, Swan Song. Bad Company enjoyed far more commercial success than Free and five of the six albums Bad Company released with Paul Rodgers are multi-platinum or gold.
Over the years, Simon Kirke has appeared on countless recordings by other artists, including albums by Wildlife, [a= Jim Capaldi], Mick Jones, Mick Ralphs, Ringo Starr, John Wetton, Wilson Pickett and Ron Wood. Simon also sang and played drums on three tours with Ringo Starr And His All-Starr Band.
Although mainly known for his drumming, Simon is a songwriter and he is also singing, plays guitar, piano and saxophone and has recorded three solo albums.
Father of actress Jemima Kirke and actresses and singers Domino Kirke and Lola Kirke.
2016
2015
Not On Label
DVD-V, Ltd, S/Edition
2011
1972
2000
1993
ATCO Records
CD, Single, Promo
1993
1986
1973
2024
BGO Records
2xCD, Comp, Mono, RM
2024
2024
2022
Swan Song, Rhino Records (2)
2xLP, Album, RSD, Ltd, Ora
2022
Esoteric Recordings
4xCD, Comp + Box
2022
Grapefruit Records
3xCD, Comp + Box
2022
2021
Grapefruit Records
3xCD, Comp + Box
2021
Esoteric Recordings
3xCD, Comp + Box
2021
Remix Centre
50xFile, MP3, Comp, P/Mixed, App
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
2021
2020
runningmoose.fi
CDr, Album
2020
BMG, Green Mirror Corp.
CD, Album, Tri
2020
Cover Charge
25xFile, FLAC, Album
2020
2020
2019
Cherry Red, Cherry Red
CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + Bo
2019
Liberation Hall
CD, Album
2019
2019
2019
2018
2017
Universal UMC, Union Square Music
5xCD, Comp
2017
Not On Label
CD, Album
2017
2017
2016
Island Records, Universal Music Catalogue
Box, Comp, RM + LP, Album, RE, Gat + LP, Album, RE
2016
Rhino Records (2)
3xCD, Comp
2016
2016
2016
2016
2016
2016
2015
Primary Purpose
2xCD, Comp, RM
2015
Wowow Entertainment, Inc.
2xCD, Album
2015
2015
2015
2014
Prospect Park
12", RSD, Ltd, Pic
2014
Moonjune Records
CD, Album
2014
Ear Music
14xCD, Album, RM, Dig + DVD-V + Box, Comp, Ltd, Nu
2014
Universal Music TV
3xCD, Comp
2014
2014
2013
Handmade Music (5)
CD, Album, Comp
2013
2013
2013
2013
2012
Not On Label (Starej Most Self-released)
CDr, Album, Promo
2012
Armadillo Music Ltd.
CD, Album
2012
EMI, Real News
2xCD, Comp
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2011
2011
2011
2010
Prospect Park
CD, Single
2010
BBC, Universal Music TV
2xCD, Comp
2010
Scatter Records, Universal Music
CD, Album
2010
2010
2010
2009
Universal
4xCD, Comp
2009
Blues Time Records
CD, Album
2009
2009
2008
Mercury, Universal Music Catalogue
3xCD, Comp + Box
2008
Capitol Records
2xCD, Comp
2008
Elements Music (2), YLE
2xCD, Comp
2008
Handmade Music (5)
CD, Album
2008
Roy Boy Records
CD, Album
2008
2008
2008
2008
2007
EMI TV, EMI TV
2xCD, Comp
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