Along with his sister, Shelly, and brother, Barry, Kim was taught music from an early age. It was Kim’s Aunt Isabella who taught him classical piano. When Kim turned five he began to study the piano and spent hours daily practicing. He demonstrated a natural gift and could play music from memory. Kim was educated at Lawson Brown High School in Port Elizabeth. Family vacations were spent on his grandmother’s farm. Kim was rebellious from an early age and started smoking marijuana in his early teens. At age 12, Kim, along with his brother Barry, formed a band called Mark 4, which played at dances and other small local events. Over the next few years, the brothers played with various other bands gaining recognition in the local scene. Kim showed his versatility by playing various instruments, which caught the attention of a band called Cosmic Blues. They toured South Africa with Kim playing keyboard. By age 17, Kim was addicted to heroin and was suffering from depression.