Simon Kirke | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
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What moment sparked Simon Kirke's passion for drumming?
So we got a TV, a black and white TV. And the very first thing that I saw when the thing, you turn it on and that little white dot opened up, was this thing called, a program called All That Jazz. And it featured big bands, all in black and white. So I'm riveted by this... Back... And the drummer and the lights were shining off the cymbals. And then he did... He said, well, it's funny you should say that because he's getting a sack tonight. It's his last night. And we are auditioning tomorrow at this same place. So I tossed a coin. I did, I swear to God. We came off stage to the sound of our own footsteps. A lot of space in that band. A lot of space, a lot of hash. We swung a lot of hash.
Congratulations, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Thank you. Well deserved.
Thank you.
Mr. Simon Kirk.
Billy Colvin.
Thank you for being here. What's the best drummer joke you ever heard?
Oh, it's kind of long, but, you know, it's worth it. We have time. It's worth it. So there's a drummer sitting in the rehearsal room waiting for the others in the band. And it goes on, and no one's arrived. He's sort of playing, practicing. And after about 35 minutes, he says, fuck it. And he throws down his sticks. He said, I'm fed up with being a drummer, waiting for the others. So he rushes down to the mall and goes into the music store. And he goes up to the counter, he says, I want to be a guitarist like that bloke from Foo Fighters. I want a custom gold Les Paul gold top. I want diamond encrusted picks and the best leather strap and the best strings.
How did a coin flip change Simon Kirke's career?
And the guy at the counter says, you're a drummer, aren't you? He says, why? Is it because I'm doing this on the counter? He says, no, no. This is the music store is next door.
This is a Dunkin Donuts. Ta-da!
We'll overdub the symbol craft. All right. In your illustrious musical life, I need to start here. Tell me about Mr. Lane. Oh, my Lord. Mr. Lane.
Wow, what a great question. Mr. Lane was a bus driver in my high school when I was brought up on the border of Wales. And our school was about six miles from where I lived in the country. And this bus driver, after about a year... I was about 14, and as I was getting off the bus, he said, oh, I want a word with you. I thought, oh, what have I done? Caught me smoking in the back or whatever. He says, I hear you play drums. I said, well, I do, yeah. And he said, well, I have, this was before disco, but he had a stack of 45s, a couple of turntables, and he used to go around all the village halls playing, you know, the songs of the day. And he said, I think it would be a good idea if you brought your little drum kit and played alongside.
And I was like, whoa, whoa, I'll have to ask my parents. And they agreed as long as it didn't affect my homework. And I did that for about two and a half years, Billy. Wow. And that's where I've got what I consider to be a pretty good sense of time. Because in one minute you'd be playing Can't Buy Me Love by the Beatles and Baby Love by the Supremes and then Waltz. Yeah. With Jim Reeves, he'll have to go. And then a velita, which is, you know, some kind of weird tuba pumping oompa oompa. So I did that for two hours a night for nearly two years.
It seems, I mean, maybe it's a stretch what you tell me, but it seems like it's so in the foundational root of your playing. You know, because the great and I mean, this is the ultimate compliment, the great pocket drummers, they have such a love of rhythm. They don't necessarily have a love of the drums. They have a love of rhythm and it's shown up in their playing.
That's a good distinction, yeah.
Well, I think it's important because people get lost on what drummers are good at. Most of the popular records historically are played by guys who are really great rhythm players. They may not be the most flashy chop guys, but they've got the backbeat that makes the kids want to dance, to sort of paraphrase. Right.
Well, that brings me to the three biggest influences in my career were Al Jackson Jr., the number one from the Stax Band, Booker T and the MGs. Of course, Ringo, who I had the pleasure with touring alongside in the All-Star Band.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What moment sparked Simon Kirke's passion for drumming?
0:00–1:48
2
How did a coin flip change Simon Kirke's career?
1:48–15:43
3
What are the differences between Stax and Motown music?
15:43–15:50
4
Who were the biggest influences on Simon Kirke's drumming style?
15:50–1:06:37
5
What led to the formation of the band Free?
1:06:37–1:18:25
Speakers
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