Interview: Kim Simmonds

Guitar legend Kim Simmonds founded British blues rock band Savoy Brown 50 years ago, and has been the only continuous member throughout the band’s notable career and frequent line-up changes.

The first Savoy Brown album Shake Down came out in 1967, and is credited with helping to spark the British Blues Boom with its covers of songs by the likes of Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker. The band’s later releases mixed up covers with smokin’ originals, with classic albums including 1970’s Raw Sienna and Looking In, and 1971’s Street Corner Talking. Their most recent release is 2014’s Goin’ to the Delta, which shows that in Simmonds’ hands the blues are still alive and well.

This interview was for the Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown shows at the Ventura Beach Club in Ventura on 1/16/15 and at SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo on 1/22/15. It was done by email, with answers received on 1/13/15.