BAD COMPANY & FREE – DRUMMER SIMON KIRKE

STEPS UP TO THE MIC FOR First VOCAL ALBUM

Filling the Void

Released on MEGAFORCE RECORDS – june 21ST 

Having spent over four decades kicking out the jams with the likes of English blues rockers Free (“All Right Now,” “Wishing Well”) and their hard rock successors Bad Company (“Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Shooting Star”), Simon Kirke is stepping out from behind the skins for his first proper studio album, the straightforward and polished Filling the Void.

While Kirke plays drums, piano, bass, and guitar throughout this contemporary rock set, the New York-based, south London-bred musician showcases his sharp guitar skills as well as his honest and heartfelt vocal prowess. Such an endeavor has been a long time coming, as Kirke reveals that a stint in rehab for substance abuse just under a decade ago truly inspired him to pen the small indie release, Seven Rays of Hope, in 2005, and ultimately encouraged him to get his singing out there.

“I’ve been writing songs for many, many years and I just wanted to get them out, like an exorcism,” Kirke says. “That was the primary reason for doing it and on the way [these songs] started to become something more than I thought they would.”

From the sunny tones of “One Day Closer to You” and “Talk to the Hand” to the insightful “Message From the Lost,” Filling the Void falls in the same vein as Gerry Rafferty, Jackson Browne, and James Taylor. Kirke’s fellow Bad Company bandmate, guitarist Mick Ralphs, makes an appearance on the rollicking “Make Up Your Mind.” Guitarist Howard Leese (Heart, Paul Rodgers) appears on the soul-searching title track, as does Kirke’s daughter Domino. She also lends her earthy harmonies to “Over There,” Kirke’s touching homage to the fallen soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Filling the Void was engineered and produced by Kirke in his Long Island cottage and in studios in Manhattan and Brooklyn during November 2010 and March 2011. Chris Muth of Taloowa Music mastered the collection. A host of seasoned musicians also provided a rich sonic backdrop their wide-ranging talents, including organist Jeff Kazee of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes fame, guitarist G.E. Smith, saxophonist Art Hays, guitarist Steve Conte (New York Dolls, Maceo Parker) and bassist John Conte (Ian Hunter, Levon Helm). “I was very lucky to get them,” Kirke says of his Filling the Void ensemble.

Aside from his issuing six albums with Free and following those with 12 LPs with Bad Company, Kirke has gone on to collaborate with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band, Ronnie Wood, Bo Diddley and Wilson Pickett. Additionally, he previously participated in the popular Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, which allows aspiring musicians of all ages to play alongside some of the genre’s greatest. He currently serves as a consultant and board member.

Filling the Void

I was in rehab a couple of times and I don’t mind telling anyone that. This is an analogy for when I was in there.

I Want You Back

This song was written with Larry Dvoskin [produced several tracks on Bad Company’s “Fame and Fortune”], who visited me when I was living the UK. This is one of our best. I love the vocal performance by Audrey Martells, who did multi-tracking and ended up sounding like a choir.

Message From the Lost:

I was a driver for the Red Cross for about six weeks after 9/11. One day, I was delivering supplies to Ground Zero when a big siren went off. The whole place went quiet and then came the first wave of relatives, carrying photos, flowers, and toys for the missing. It was incredibly moving. My surmise here is, what if souls of the dead could speak to their loved ones, what could they say?

Angel in My Eyes

My vision here was one of sheer love and my look on a couple that’s been together for a long time. I also took a little slice of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” here.

Over There

I try not to get involved in politics, but this is my take on the Iraq War and the events in Afghanistan. I was haunted after seeing a newsreel of how young some of these soldiers who were getting blown up by roadside bombs. It wasn’t even a fair fight.

Jaunty Sarcasm

These are just two words that came to me. It’s a soliloquy on a bad relationship.

Melting On Madison

I was stuck up town late at night after a session, it was pouring rain and I couldn’t get a taxi. Some scaffolding provided some shelter and I saw a couple nearby that was sort of snuggling together, completely oblivious to the rain. The woman said “I want to melt into you,” which I thought was a lovely phrase.

Fly to Your Side

I wanted this to sound like Ry Cooder meets The Beatles. I also wanted an orchestra on the end, but budget restraints prevented that. Instead Jeff Kazee and I manned separate string synthesizers and did it that way.

Make Up Your Mind

My collaboration with the husband-and-wife team of Jon and Sally Tiven (Nick Lowe, Wilson Pickett). It came about after I read about the legendary country star George Jones driving into town to his local bar on a harvesting machine because his wife had hidden all of his car keys! An ode to drunkenness with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Talk to the Hand

I was a little bit nervous when I wrote this because the first part of the song is about this rather arrogant guy. But then I did a 180 and gave this male voice a chance to redeem himself. It’s a piss-take on guys who are a little misogynistic.

Going Home

This song draws from a situation where a guy’s wife or girlfriend has done something crazy and left the telephone hanging. The guy jumps into his car and drives all night until he gets to her.

One Day Closer to You

My companion to “Over There.” The setting could be a man counting the days off of a prison sentence or a tour of duty overseas… I imagined a guy singing this around a campfire one night.

Source: Doreen D’Agostino