Podcast Summary: The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Episode: Simon Kirke | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Billy Corgan
Guest: Simon Kirke (Drummer for Free & Bad Company)

Overview

In this rich, candid, and musically enlightening episode, Billy Corgan sits down with Simon Kirke, legendary drummer of Free and Bad Company, to chart the journey from humble beginnings in rural England to the heights of rock stardom and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The conversation explores formative experiences, musical influences, the ins and outs of iconic bands, substance abuse and recovery, and the lasting magic and legacy of classic rock music. The episode is informal, full of humor, and loaded with honest reflections on fame, artistry, and the ups and downs of a life in music.

Major Themes

• The roots and evolution of a master drummer
• The magic of rhythm and the distinction between flash and feel
• Musical influences: from Stax to Motown and blues to rock
• Stories behind Free and Bad Company: formation, success, and challenges
• The impact of addiction on bands and relationships
• The endurance and evolution of classic rock legacy
• Reflections on personality, creativity, band chemistry, and musical technology

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Childhood, Early Influences, and the Spark of Drumming

[00:00–04:30]

• Simon shares his first exposure to music through a black-and-white TV and a big band program (“All That Jazz”), which inspired his desire to become a drummer.
• Tribute to his high school bus driver, Mr. Lane, who invited him to play drums at local dances, forming the basis for Kirke’s “good sense of time.”
  Simon Kirke: "And I did that for about two and a half years...That's where I got what I consider to be a pretty good sense of time." (02:35)
• Billy distinguishes drummers with a love of "rhythm" over "drums," highlighting the magical feel of “pocket drummers”.

The Roots of Rhythm: Stax, Motown, and Influences

[04:30–08:30]

• Simon’s “holy trinity” of drummers: Al Jackson Jr., Ringo Starr, and Charlie Watts.
  Kirke: "Those three guys laid down a rhythmic foundation." (05:01)
• Discussion of the difference between Stax (muscular, few artists) and Motown (glamorous, bigger roster, pop), with Stax being a deeper influence on Kirke’s playing.

Family, Upbringing, and Musical Foundations

[09:30–12:30]

• Simon’s family background: Mother, an unrecognized pianist, and record collector; father, a bus driver and closet poet.
• Story of transitioning from rural poverty to electricity—and the arrival of the TV that would spark his passion for music.
• Simon’s DIY drumming education through books as drums and listening to American R&B on Radio Luxembourg.

Journey to London and the Birth of Free

[14:00–19:45]

• Simon’s struggle to break into music in London, supported by his mother’s faith in music. Kirke: "The two saddest words in music are 'if only'." (15:01)
• Decision driven by a coin toss to see Black Cat Bones—meets guitarist Paul Kossoff.
• Auditioning and joining that band, which leads to the formation of Free with Paul Rodgers.

Guitar Heroes and Stories from the Road

[19:46–26:00]

• Billy praises Kossoff’s unique blues playing; Simon reflects on only realizing Kossoff's genius in hindsight.
• Memorable moment: Eric Clapton approaches Kossoff backstage, asking, “How do you do that vibrato?” (22:26)
• Recording stories: Splicing solos for “All Right Now,” with producer Roy Thomas Baker’s anecdote about a less-than-perfect punch-in on the solo (24:53).

The Rise of Free and "All Right Now"

[26:00–31:00]

• Touring the “Transit circuit” and cultivating a club fanbase.
• The creation of “All Right Now” out of necessity for a danceable hit after a flop gig. Kirke: "Another lightning bolt hit Andy Fraser in that dressing room: 'All right now, baby,'...That's good." (27:10)
• The unexpected pressure of a massive hit and the challenge of following up.

Free’s Musical Identity and Internal Struggles

[31:01–34:36]

• "All Right Now" as a pop hit that didn't define Free; the band identified as "progressive blues rock".
• The problems of addiction (notably Paul Kossoff's), the band’s breakups and reformations, and industry indifference to addiction at the time.
• Simon’s own later recovery and reflection on the stigma around addiction in the '70s.

From Free to Bad Company: Band Chemistry and Commercial Success

[40:00–47:13]

• The forging of Bad Company out of Free's ashes, with Paul Rodgers and Mick Ralphs at the core.
• Billy probes if Bad Company was designed to be “more commercial”—Simon denies, saying they just wanted to play what they liked, but FM radio and Zeppelin’s rise helped make them stars.
• Chemistry prized above genius: “I don’t like playing with geniuses. I like playing with people that I like, that I get on with.” (BB King quote, 46:00)

The Realities and Toll of Rock Stardom

[50:13–53:48]

• Life inside a top band: "Record, Tour. Record, Tour..."
  Corgan: "It’s a fun blur, but it’s a blur." (50:15)
• The relentless cycle leads to burnout, and the eventual splintering of the band, especially under the weight of addiction in the industry and the chaos after John Bonham’s death.

The Second Incarnation of Bad Company & the Evolution of the Band

[54:03–56:28]

• Reflecting on the decision to continue Bad Company with a new singer, Brian Howe, and the shift toward a more commercial sound.
• Acknowledgment that this move “tarnished” the band's reputation somewhat and wasn’t personally fulfilling.
• Simon’s thoughts on the legacy and how, “If you were to take the second incarnation of Bad Company and put it out with people never having known the first, I don’t think it would have sold a tenth of what it did.” (58:18)

Band Legacy, The Power of Tunes, and Today’s Music Culture

[59:08–73:06]

• Discussion of modern band line-ups and the persistence of classic songs over classic lineups.
• Simon’s surprise and openness regarding younger fans discovering classic rock through tribute albums and younger artists. Kirke: "Now it's really about the songs. If you have the songs, people want to see that brand play those songs." (59:08)
• Both reflect on the “magic” of music that survives technology and shifting tastes. Corgan: "It’s honestly, it’s faith in the magic of music, right?" (74:11)
• Simon expresses gratitude for being part of the era “with fire in our bellies…we had it good.” (73:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Simon Kirke, on drummers: "The great pocket drummers, they don't necessarily have a love of the drums. They have a love of rhythm." (04:00)
• Billy Corgan, on Free’s identity: "It’s a band that just said, hey, we want to do what we want to do, play, do it our way. And it holds up." (30:29)
• Kirke on All Right Now: "We came off stage to the sound of our own footsteps…We need a song that people can dance to. As simple as that." (26:07–27:10)
• On band addiction and the era: "Addiction was something you swept under the rug…you were a pariah." (32:36)
• Kirke on Bad Company’s rise: “What you're hearing on the first three albums is the four guys who are having fun. And if it was a hit, it was a hit.” (43:40)
• Billy Corgan, on the band dynamic: "It's almost like a siege mentality. I'm going to keep fighting or something." (55:31)
• Kirke on legacy: “He left his mark, which is all we can ask of ourselves.” (70:34)
• Corgan on musical magic: "Any musician could go now and play that riff, play it more in tune and more in time. Why are people still listening to a 60 year old recording? Because that musician that day played it the way that touches people." (74:20)
• Greatest drummer Kirke saw live: "Buddy Rich…what a player. And Bonzo…he floored me with what he did." (76:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Kirke’s Origin Story & Early Influences: [00:00–04:30]
• Drummer Influences & Rhythm vs. Flash: [04:30–05:50]
• Stax, Motown, & the Secret Language of Groove: [05:50–08:30]
• Parents, Childhood, and TV Epiphany: [09:30–13:56]
• London Bound: Coin Toss and the Creation of Free: [14:00–19:45]
• Eric Clapton & Paul Kossoff Story: [22:26–23:06]
• The Making and Impact of "All Right Now": [26:06–28:22]
• Addiction in Bands & Recovery Culture: [31:54–34:36]
• Bad Company’s Origin & Chemistry: [40:00–47:13]
• Recording Practices & Muscular Sound: [48:20–49:36]
• The Toll of Success: Record/Tour Grind: [50:13–53:48]
• Second Era Bad Company: Howe Years: [54:03–58:08]
• Legacy and Relevance of Classic Songs: [59:08–62:41]
• Passing of Mick Ralphs & Tribute: [69:45–70:34]
• Philosophy on Music’s Magic & Survival: [73:55–74:46]
• Drummer Heroes: Buddy Rich & John Bonham: [76:27–78:21]

Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in music history, rhythm, and rock storytelling—a conversation that vibrates with humility, humor, gratitude, and wisdom. Anyone curious about what turns talent into legacy, about the real lives behind the hits, or about the changing currents of rock and roll will find this an essential listen.

End of Summary