Vintage Rock Presents - The Beatles - UK (2021-02 & 2021-03)

ON THE

RADAR

W

hen a young man sits down
at a piano at a rock’n’roll gig,
it’s hard not to be reminded
of Jerry Lee Lewis – especially when he
boogies into High School Confidential
and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
But although Dylan Kirk is happy to list
Lewis as an idol – and there’s a nod to his
nickname in the identity of Dylan’s band,
The Killers – the 20-year-old keysman from
Kent is determined to establish himself as an
artist in his own right.
On his debut album, Introducing Dylan
Kirk And The Killers, he blends ivory-infused
covers of Johnny Kidd and “Groovey”
Joe Poovey songs with his own original
material – and when he switches to guitar
for Down The Line, it’s not the expected

Jerry Lee number, but a song by London

psychobilly band Guana Batz.

How did you get into rock’n’roll?

I was about five when it came on the radio

in my dad’s car. The beat hooked me straight

away, and from then on I didn’t really like

any other music. My first influence was

Elvis, then I delved deeper and found Jerry

Lee. As the years have gone by, I’ve found

artists that not many people have heard of.

When I discover a track I haven’t heard, it’s

like a new song to me, even though it was

recorded 60 years ago.

Did you have friends who were into the

same music?

I was on my own with it, really. At school,

I was kind of the outcast. I dressed

differently and did my hair differently.

I never knew there were other people like

me until I went to my first weekender, the

Shakedown, in 2015. Everyone was listening

to the same music as me. I just fell in love

with the scene.

When did you start singing and playing

the piano?

I used to sing along with the tracks, but

wouldn’t perform in front of people. I was

kind of a shower singer. That changed when

I started playing piano at the age of 15. My

dad said, ‘You need to start showing people

what you can do’. He took me to a pub with

a piano in it and said, ‘I want you to play

and sing’. I was nervous, but I played Whole

The young piano pumper from Kent tells us about first discovering

music, his love of Jerry Lee Lewis and recording a rockin’ debut LP

“I’m a rock’n’roll

junkie and I need

it in my life to

keep me going”

WORDS BY DOUGLAS MCPHERSON

Dylan Kirk & The Killers

Jerry Lee Lewis is a big influence,

but Dylan Kirk is a rockin’ singer

with his own distinct voice