• From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Topic: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

Interesting item in Classic Rock this month. Paul Rodgers indicated he, Andy Fraser and Simon Kirke looked at doing something in connection with or for the Olympics, but it won't now happen, but the idea is out there................

Paul states he is still not entirely comfortable with the idea of finding someone to fill in for the irreplaceable Paul Kossoff. He cited Debbie Bonham's guitarist Peter Bullick as being someone who has the right 'feel'. That may be so, but I think 'our guy' could also bring the necessary 'gravitas' to the role, but Paul has played with Joe so he is in the best position to judge of course.

I just hope they do it. Free is still an itch that needs to be scratched. Rodgers knows from his own experiences with Queen how important it can be to bring a bands music up to date, even when a key member is no longer available. If it's done honestly and with integrity it will work. The music is the thing.

Not enough people today know about Paul Kossoff and a revived Free, however brief, would bring their music and his playing to be appreciated anew.

So here's hoping...........

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • Kenny
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  • From: Aberdeen, Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-09-04
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Re: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

As I've stated before, I am with Rodgers on this. They shouldn't even contemplate reforming without Koss. This invitation was considered because of the money involved, I believe. Can you imagine the genuine amount of Free fans who wouldn't have been able to see the show? Not worth thinking about. It would have been done for the wrong reasons.

  • BBJ
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  • From: Edinburgh
  • Registered: 2006-09-25
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Re: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

Totally agree with Kenny on this one.

Also, PR's already brought Free's music to a new audience through his own shows. Doesn't need to reform Free to do that.

'Try as you might to keep a lid on a good time, you can't do it. When people want to have a good time....' - Billy Gibbons
  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Re: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

Kenny wrote:

As I've stated before, I am with Rodgers on this. They shouldn't even contemplate reforming without Koss. This invitation was considered because of the money involved, I believe. Can you imagine the genuine amount of Free fans who wouldn't have been able to see the show? Not worth thinking about. It would have been done for the wrong reasons.

Then if you are "with Rodgers on this", then you are just not currently comfortable with the feeling of doing without him (Kossoff). Thats if Rodgers was being correctly quoted anyway. It doesn't mean it shouldn't be done or couldn't be done. Free's heritage isn't just PR or PK, it is also Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser.

I wouldn't want a one off tribute show either. I would like them to get together and see what new material could come out of it. After all Rodgers and Fraser were primarily responsible for the writing especially after the first couple of albums. These were and are creative musicians. Free ended pematurely through being overworked and badly managed/handled. They attempted to keep it going effectively to give Kossoff a purpose to get up in the mornings (if he could) but even that wasn't enough.

For me, they should do it if they have something as a group still to say, musically. If they also believed it was a bad end to something that had been very good.

I think they would have, but if PR thinks it would be tinkering with a memory and a heritage that is best left 'untinkered' with then he won't do it. He's a busy guy with a lot of projects and commitments. The day he, or one of the other two comes out and says categorically, once and for all, that he will never be in a reformation of Free because they couldn't do justice to it without Kossoff is the day I'll leave it alone.

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

hansamike wrote:
Kenny wrote:

As I've stated before, I am with Rodgers on this. They shouldn't even contemplate reforming without Koss. This invitation was considered because of the money involved, I believe. Can you imagine the genuine amount of Free fans who wouldn't have been able to see the show? Not worth thinking about. It would have been done for the wrong reasons.

Then if you are "with Rodgers on this", then you are just not currently comfortable with the feeling of doing without him (Kossoff). Thats if Rodgers was being correctly quoted anyway. It doesn't mean it shouldn't be done or couldn't be done. Free's heritage isn't just PR or PK, it is also Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser.

I wouldn't want a one off tribute show either. I would like them to get together and see what new material could come out of it. After all Rodgers and Fraser were primarily responsible for the writing especially after the first couple of albums. These were and are creative musicians. Free ended pematurely through being overworked and badly managed/handled. They attempted to keep it going effectively to give Kossoff a purpose to get up in the mornings (if he could) but even that wasn't enough.

For me, they should do it if they have something as a group still to say, musically. If they also believed it was a bad end to something that had been very good.

I think they would have, but if PR thinks it would be tinkering with a memory and a heritage that is best left 'untinkered' with then he won't do it. He's a busy guy with a lot of projects and commitments. The day he, or one of the other two comes out and says categorically, once and for all, that he will never be in a reformation of Free because they couldn't do justice to it without Kossoff is the day I'll leave it alone.

From a self comfessed Free nut myself, it shouldn't and can't happen. The odd appearance as with the Beacon is fine, and obviously that all concerned loved every minute of it, but Koss was Koss. No replacement is possible. He was a complete individual on stage and unfortunately not enough live film and material survives.

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)
  • Registered: 2006-07-11
  • Posts: 1,247

Re: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

PSmith1946 wrote:
hansamike wrote:
Kenny wrote:

As I've stated before, I am with Rodgers on this. They shouldn't even contemplate reforming without Koss. This invitation was considered because of the money involved, I believe. Can you imagine the genuine amount of Free fans who wouldn't have been able to see the show? Not worth thinking about. It would have been done for the wrong reasons.

Then if you are "with Rodgers on this", then you are just not currently comfortable with the feeling of doing without him (Kossoff). Thats if Rodgers was being correctly quoted anyway. It doesn't mean it shouldn't be done or couldn't be done. Free's heritage isn't just PR or PK, it is also Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser.

I wouldn't want a one off tribute show either. I would like them to get together and see what new material could come out of it. After all Rodgers and Fraser were primarily responsible for the writing especially after the first couple of albums. These were and are creative musicians. Free ended pematurely through being overworked and badly managed/handled. They attempted to keep it going effectively to give Kossoff a purpose to get up in the mornings (if he could) but even that wasn't enough.

For me, they should do it if they have something as a group still to say, musically. If they also believed it was a bad end to something that had been very good.

I think they would have, but if PR thinks it would be tinkering with a memory and a heritage that is best left 'untinkered' with then he won't do it. He's a busy guy with a lot of projects and commitments. The day he, or one of the other two comes out and says categorically, once and for all, that he will never be in a reformation of Free because they couldn't do justice to it without Kossoff is the day I'll leave it alone.

From a self comfessed Free nut myself, it shouldn't and can't happen. The odd appearance as with the Beacon is fine, and obviously that all concerned loved every minute of it, but Koss was Koss. No replacement is possible. He was a complete individual on stage and unfortunately not enough live film and material survives.

I think there is more to it than just Koss.

I really think it's about the remaining 3 members first reaching a place where they all would feel comfortable in doing it. Andy and Paul would have to see about working with each other again.
I was so pleased to see them up at Woodstock together.  Seeing them together there, yes, would make me want a Free reunion.

They could make it a celebration of Koss, instead of just replacing him.  Introducing the world to a very unknown musician and band.

It would be interesting to see if they did get together, what creative juices might be flowing between them again.

I'm not sure it would ever happen, but I want to be there if it ever does smile

"Holy Toledo"  -  Bill King   "Just Win Baby" - Al Davis  "The Autumn Wind" - Steve Sabol
  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: FREE - close, but no cigar yet...

I have heard seriously close imitations of Page, Hendrix and Clapton...I have heard no one come within a thousand light-years of Paul's playing.
Beck is another one that mortals cannot come close...