When announcing the newest inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on American Idol, Simon Kirke learned that he was gaining entry thanks to helping create the supergroup Bad Company. Joining the ranks of icons like The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Presley, and numerous others, Kirke was excited to celebrate the accomplishment. But at the same time, the drummer wondered if the other band he helped form, Free, would ever be inducted.
Videos by American Songwriter
Formed during the late 1960s, Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser, and Kirke joined forces to create Free. The band went on to produce hits including “All Right Now” and “Wishing Well.” Although never forgetting his time with Free, Kirke worried if the Rock Hall even remembered the band.
Speaking with UCR, Kirke said, “My worry is that Free is so back in the past now, you know ‘68 to ‘73, that I’m wondering if it will ever happen. Because the majority of the committee, the voting committee, and I don’t know how many there are of them, but you know you got to be in your 70s to remember Free. And I just hope we don’t get left in the dust.”
[RELATED: What Were the 5 Biggest US Hits by Bad Company?]
Simon Kirke Remembers Free Hit Song “All Right Now”
Recalling some of the memorable moments of Free, Kirke pointed to the song “All Right Now.” Taking fans on a trip into the past, he explained how the band couldn’t help but share the hit even at one in the morning. “When we finished, we finished around probably one in the morning, and it was in Island records in London. And Chris Blackwell, who was the CEO of Island records, had an apartment above the studio, and we went and got him out of bed and said, ‘You got to hear this song, Chris.’ And he came down, sort of rubbing his eyes. He said, ‘This better be good.’ And yeah, it was, it was great.”
While Kirke understood each singer or band weighed their songs in a different way, he offered a tip on how to tell if a song was timeless. “The caliber of the song is measured by how many times you can play it without getting sick of it. And we just loved it every time we hit that. It just propelled us, and even though we had a few breakdowns, we had to start again, it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the song.”
Although Kirke worried that Free might be forgotten, Chubby Checker was announced as a member of the 2025 Rock Hall class. His entry came almost 40 years after becoming eligible. So, while the future is uncertain, Free’s legacy is sure to carry on.
(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.