In a candid interview this morning on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, Terry Chimes, the original drummer for punk legends The Clash and a former member of Black Sabbath, revealed the surprising reasons behind his dramatic career shift from rock and roll to chiropractic. Chimes, who famously anchored the rhythm section on The Clash's debut album, explained that after 15 years immersed in the "craziness" of the music industry, he'd simply "had enough."
Chimes, now a successful chiropractor, told Chris Moyles that his journey into music was almost accidental, initially pursuing a childhood fascination with health and disease. "When I was a kid, I loved health and disease. I wanted to be a vet, actually," he shared, before listing the less appealing aspects of veterinary work. A brief consideration of medicine followed, but it was the perceived "fun" of bands like The Rolling Stones that ultimately drew him in. "So I joined a band, which in time became The Clash," he recounted.
However, the allure of the music scene eventually faded. Chimes described the industry as "full of crazy people," quipping that he was "the only normal person there!" The constant touring and chaotic lifestyle ultimately led him to seek a different path. By the time he decided on a new career, Chimes had embraced a disciplined, healthy lifestyle, becoming a "non-drug taking, non-smoking, non-drinking, vegetarian, health nut." Given this, chiropractic emerged as the natural fit. "Chiropractic made much more sense. Healthy. So, I went that way," he explained, noting he "jumped in with both feet."
When Moyles expressed his own reluctance to give up the spotlight, Chimes offered a philosophical take on fame, calling it "a drug" that's "very hard to walk away from." Yet, he concluded with an intriguing paradox: "If you walk away, it'll come running after you. If you chase it, it runs away."
Terry Chimes' journey offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a musician who found peace and purpose far from the mosh pit.
