Drummer Simon Kirke kept the beat for two of the 70’s most popular bluesy hard rock bands - Free and Bad Company.

Born in London, the Beatles inspired him so he picked up the guitar and then the drums. He joined a local band called the Maniacs, in which Kirke played drums and lead vocals (something quite uncommon at the time).

Kirke worked out a deal with his parents after graduating high school, that if he couldn't "make it" as a drummer in a band within a two-year period, that he would begin a college career.

Just a few months before the deadline, Kirke landed a gig with a group called the Black Cat Bones. The drummer befriended the group's talented guitarist, Paul Kossoff, who in turn convinced Kirke to leave the group with him and begin a new outfit with singer Paul Rodgers. Soon ex-John Mayall's Bluesbreakers bassist Andy Fraser signed on and Free was officially formed in1968. Mixing blues with hard rock, the group would prove to be quite influential, especially on the strength of their classic 1970 release, Fire and Water, and its strutting, anthemic hit single, "All Right Now."

When the band broke up, it didn't take Kirke long to find another gig. Kirke and Rodgers started a new band, Bad Company, which was quite similar stylistically to Free. Joined by ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell and ex-Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs, Bad Company was one of the first groups signed to Led Zeppelin's record label, Swan Song. Their debut album, 1974's Bad Company, would go on to become one of hard rock's all-time classics, as it birthed such long-standing rock radio standards as "Can't Get Enough," "Ready for Love," and the title track, Bad Company, written by Rodgers and Kirke himself. The group hails as one of the all-time top rock outfits. Simon Kirke is the only member of Bad Company who’s been in every lineup of the band.

In addition to his work with Free and Bad Company, Kirke has guested on a long list of recordings by other artists over the years, including four years with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band.

Kirke just finished his latest solo album, "All Because of You", to be released on BMG Records in 2016 and he will also be going on the road with Bad Company for their upcoming world tour.