Simon Kirke has recently celebrated his induction into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bad Company. However, the talented drummer hasn’t held back from expressing his views about his previous band, Free. During an engaging discussion with UCR's Matt Wardlaw, Kirke passionately argued that Free deserves equal recognition and should also be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame.

“People have always asked me about Free, you know, ‘Why aren’t Free inducted?’ And I honestly don’t know,” the drummer shared. “My concern is that Free has become a relic of the past, with its peak years from ‘68 to ‘73. I wonder if there will ever be a moment when we are recognized. Most of the committee members who vote appear to be in their 70s, which means they likely have memories of Free. I just hope we don’t fade into obscurity.”

READ MORE: 135 Artists Not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Kirke pointed out that Chubby Checker will join the 2025 class, nearly four decades after being eligible. This example serves as a reminder that time doesn’t necessarily diminish an artist’s chances for induction.

Behind the Creation of Free’s Iconic Hit ‘All Right Now’

The most famous single from Free is undoubtedly “All Right Now,” a timeless track that achieved global success in 1970. During his insightful conversation with UCR, Kirke reflected on the creative process that brought this hit to life.

“The story goes that ‘All Right Now’ was inspired by a less-than-stellar live performance, and we recognized the need for a lively song that audiences could dance to. It may sound somewhat outdated today, but ‘All Right Now’ was crafted to fill that void,” he explained.

READ MORE: Why Paul Rodgers Didn’t Perform ‘All Right Now’ for 18 Years

Kirke confessed that he and the rest of Free sensed they had created something extraordinary, even during the recording of “All Right Now.”

“The true worth of a song is reflected in how many times you can listen to it without growing tired of it. We were genuinely excited every time we played it,” the drummer recounted. “Despite encountering a few technical difficulties and having to restart the recording, our enthusiasm for the song never waned. When we finally completed it around 1 AM at Island Records in London, we felt accomplished. Chris Blackwell, the CEO of Island Records, had an apartment above the studio. We excitedly woke him up to share our creation, and he came down, bleary-eyed, saying, ‘This better be good,’ and indeed, it was fantastic.”