Having interviewed Paul Rodgers 4 times, I can tell you he's a class act. A rock-n-roll legend who's so down to Earth you could just go have a beer with him and feel that you're with "one of the guys". God Bless Paul and Cynthia.
The band I was in APPLE SPICE BAND supported FREE back in the day at Spa Royal Hall Bridlington. We were in awe of playing with our favourite band and were so pleased they were great guys speaking to them in the adjoining dressing room. Still have a promo photo (army background) that the boys signed. Great times,great memories.
In my opinion Paul Rodgers has the best octave range in rock history next to Freddy Mercury. I mean why else do you think he works with Queen. His vioce is very bluesy for a white man and he's got a lot of soul hence the nickname- "White man with soul". Simon Kirke is one of the best straight ahead strikers next to Charlie Watts and Phil Rudd. As for Paul Kossoff he never received the recognition for his talent, and was snatched away from his fans with what seems like all the good musicians.
Well, my initial reaction to this series was: what a great documentary. The commentators certainly helped crystalise my own thoughts that Free were special together - more than the sum of the parts. Yet, the longer it went on, the more I kept thinking: hey, this is only two-dimensional. Yes, I learned a few things - some of these guys are music pros - I'm not, so I've got to give them - or their thoughts - a dose of respect. Maybe "Heartbreaker" was a song for Koss. BUT, more or less every single song the choose to analyse is of the same rock-blues genre centering on eg The Stealer, All right Now, Fire and Water, Wishing Well etc. Nobody, not one, comments on the ballads. Why not? Songs like Monday Morning, Be My Friend - for goodness sake, these are essential pillars of Free, songs that made the albums the great icons of rock that they are, songs that are simply unavoidable if you want to assess the band properly. It's like a documentary on the Stones that doesn't mention "Ruby Tuesday" or "Angie" because they are not stomping rock tracks in the "Satisfaction" mould. Sorry, Mr Producer - you get just 3/5 - good start, but please go back over it again. It's not an insult to the band, but it's certainly not the last word - it could, and should, have been so much better.
The two guitarists demonstrating also played The Stealer different to each other, and, much more importantly, the n a section that highlighted Koss’s use of 6 string chords completely missed the most important part of the song, where 6 string chords actually do feature. That being the chorus.
There was a band that could match there rawness and energy in there songwriting and playing that was the powerhouse southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd imagine free and Skynyrd playing in 1977 headlining
I went to see Bruce in his post Cream days with Chris Spedding who had a minor hit with ‘Motorbiking’. I had no interest in Spedding who must have known by the size of the audience who they’d come to see. Fraser has to be given credit for his outstanding ability at just 15 years old when he became part of Free. But the revolutionary has to be Bruce who brought bass playing out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
You prefer the stuff nearest to the blues...they became more progressive in their rock later. Depends what you like...the gritty, gut wrenching, core blues ethnicity or the dynamics and more original songwriting that came later on. I used to like the later stuff but now like both equally, depending on the way I feel.
Tommy was the Dio of D.J's...weedy chap who sounds like a big chap and 'bloody loved' a lot of things..."How were those potatoes Tommy and Ronnie?"...in unison,"BLOODY LOVED 'EM!!!".
I know fans have always put Fire & Water as Free's best album... but my favorites have always been the first two... Tons Of Sobs & Free... I feel in my opinion that pound for pound the first two albums are better albums as whole... I think because of the massive hit All Right Now - fans automatically assume that it's their best album & I don't think it is... don't get me wrong it's still a good album.... Just not their best... only my opinion...
what happened to music? Are we condemmed to listen to the likes of justinbeiber for all eternity. No.little girl listen to this little girl av a guitar little girl you gonna go far little girl.
3 Guys ? I must add The Jam , Motörhead, Rush - I didn’t listen to or understand the Sabbath or The Who “ three of them “ comment in the video though. Some of my fave bands have only 3 anyway - the above plus britpop stars Supergrass too 😁 I’ve a Tommy Vance Show with Frees’ 1969 BBC studio session aired on 05 May 1980 - also was Purples’ and Yes’ first sessions. All better than the LP versions in my humble opinion ❤️from Wessex
Great band, but shitty documentary.. for months I've played All Right Now wrong thanks to the fuck-wit on the acoustic guitar. Last time I checked, 3 of the 4 members of Free are still alive and well.. they can bloody well speak for themselves about their own music, and how or why they wrote it and performed it in their own particular way.
Andy Fraser was an excellent bass player BUT to say he was a revolutionary bassist is rubbish.... He was doing what Jack Bruce had done a few years earlier, and added his own signature to it... Most rock bassists from the late 60's to the mid-70's were copping the Bruce style... Geezer, John Paul, Andy, etc... They all owe their "style" to Jack Bruce.. Having said that, I am not a Jack Bruce fan boy, but I appreciate his contribution of (excuse the pun here) "freeing" up the role of the electric bass in a blues rock setting... They all cited Jack as an inspiration, role model, and mentor as musicians as well... It was an exciting time to be a bass player in a rock n roll band!
Brain Scar Old Skool shuffle? Pfffffft! Not even close. JB pioneered that rock style. AF wasn’t a bass player by trade, he was a guy who could play bass (and other instruments) well.
That is not true. His father & the band members tried but drug addiction help was not as available as it is today & it still needs improvement. Read the book Free at last, it has a lot of information in from people who knew him. His story is tragic but you cannot blame other people for his addiction.
I always liked Paul Rogers voice, However Plant is an icon and deserves to be! And vibrato is bad because.....?"one of the first guys to work the microphone stand" "didn't over egg the pudding"? It's too bad Free didn't have somebody else to speak in their favour apart from these wankers. And what the fuck is a tommy vance any way ? thanks for the post however!
Crappest guitar players since the nineties? -- Free was in the era of the 70's, and broke up during the late 70's. So how can they be "stuck in the eighties"? Silly.
Having interviewed Paul Rodgers 4 times, I can tell you he's a class act. A rock-n-roll legend who's so down to Earth you could just go have a beer with him and feel that you're with "one of the guys". God Bless Paul and Cynthia.
Cant believe I'm the only one whose liked this ledge comment
@Mojojojo Juniper yeah must be true
Koss 🙏🥰
Our finest 🎼
It's the bassline of Andy Fraser - incredible!
Will never be another to touch them! Pure class!
I love Free, such an underrated band.
Overrated, really
'He didn't over-egg the pudding.' The best description of Paul's playing I've heard yet. And how wonderfully British.
The band I was in APPLE SPICE BAND supported FREE back in the day at Spa Royal Hall Bridlington. We were in awe of playing with our favourite band and were so pleased they were great guys speaking to them in the adjoining dressing room. Still have a promo photo (army background) that the boys signed. Great times,great memories.
Roger,s was a great singer That,s why RONNIE LOVED him.He had those ad lib,s that were killer.
If Paul Kossoff stills in this world, this band might be the biggest.
Of course I love Free for ever
All Right Now literally just came on my radio
Free is a band that is one of kind.
Tommy Vance lifts the coffin lid. "Bloody loved them!"
totally agree with you when i played bass in the 70's my heroes were andy fraser and not forgetting jack bruce
Agreed. And they both used a Gibson EB3.
ACDC built their whole career based on that intro .😄😄RIP P. kossoff.
In my opinion Paul Rodgers has the best octave range in rock history next to Freddy Mercury. I mean why else do you think he works with Queen. His vioce is very bluesy for a white man and he's got a lot of soul hence the nickname- "White man with soul". Simon Kirke is one of the best straight ahead strikers next to Charlie Watts and Phil Rudd. As for Paul Kossoff he never received the recognition for his talent, and was snatched away from his fans with what seems like all the good musicians.
And yet Paul Rodgers is NOT in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!!!!!!! He well deserves it.
What a band.
Paul Rodgers Jeans are the best part of the video to me!!!
The best band ever
Well, my initial reaction to this series was: what a great documentary. The commentators certainly helped crystalise my own thoughts that Free were special together - more than the sum of the parts.
Yet, the longer it went on, the more I kept thinking: hey, this is only two-dimensional. Yes, I learned a few things - some of these guys are music pros - I'm not, so I've got to give them - or their thoughts - a dose of respect. Maybe "Heartbreaker" was a song for Koss.
BUT, more or less every single song the choose to analyse is of the same rock-blues genre centering on eg The Stealer, All right Now, Fire and Water, Wishing Well etc.
Nobody, not one, comments on the ballads. Why not? Songs like Monday Morning, Be My Friend - for goodness sake, these are essential pillars of Free, songs that made the albums the great icons of rock that they are, songs that are simply unavoidable if you want to assess the band properly.
It's like a documentary on the Stones that doesn't mention "Ruby Tuesday" or "Angie" because they are not stomping rock tracks in the "Satisfaction" mould.
Sorry, Mr Producer - you get just 3/5 - good start, but please go back over it again. It's not an insult to the band, but it's certainly not the last word - it could, and should, have been so much better.
Exactly.
The two guitarists demonstrating also played The Stealer different to each other, and, much more importantly, the n a section that highlighted Koss’s use of 6 string chords completely missed the most important part of the song, where 6 string chords actually do feature. That being the chorus.
Did you mean mourning sad morning because free never had a song called monday morning to my knowledge
@@benjack8477 Yeah - apologies - thanks for the correction
They should have included woman walk in my shadow and I'm a mover
thanks for posting this documentary on youtube
Rock and roll at it's best
Love❤free
Andy Edwards brought me here. Good band! 👍
One of my first junk songs. Love it
Wonderful band love them ✨
Paul Rodgers sounds and movements exudes such a force of raw desire and sex
Wowers!!
There was a band that could match there rawness and energy in there songwriting and playing that was the powerhouse southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd imagine free and Skynyrd playing in 1977 headlining
I went to see Bruce in his post Cream days with Chris Spedding who had a minor hit with ‘Motorbiking’. I had no interest in Spedding who must have known by the size of the audience who they’d come to see. Fraser has to be given credit for his outstanding ability at just 15 years old when he became part of Free. But the revolutionary has to be Bruce who brought bass playing out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
You prefer the stuff nearest to the blues...they became more progressive in their rock later. Depends what you like...the gritty, gut wrenching, core blues ethnicity or the dynamics and more original songwriting that came later on. I used to like the later stuff but now like both equally, depending on the way I feel.
Epitome of an ass kickin' hard rock band!
For me far away better than Bad Company , outstanding band ❤
Tommy was the Dio of D.J's...weedy chap who sounds like a big chap and 'bloody loved' a lot of things..."How were those potatoes Tommy and Ronnie?"...in unison,"BLOODY LOVED 'EM!!!".
Well said! I agree with you, there is no such thing as a "formula" for rock 'n' roll music.
ANDY!!!!!!
I love zeppelin , but I adore free . Now I'm under attack . So be it
Check out 'Weepin' Mama Blues' by Felt (the US band of the 70's, not the other one). They have that certain bluesy something like Free, I think. :)
I know fans have always put Fire & Water as Free's best album... but my favorites have always been the first two... Tons Of Sobs & Free... I feel in my opinion that pound for pound the first two albums are better albums as whole... I think because of the massive hit All Right Now - fans automatically assume that it's their best album & I don't think it is... don't get me wrong it's still a good album.... Just not their best... only my opinion...
I'm with you the first two albums were superb I loved the picture of mickey mouse in the glass coffin on the cover of tons of sobs
Fraser!!!!!
Think you can make the volume a little lower?
where can i find a copy of the free box set that doesnt cost a million bucks?love this band to death but man that thing costs a lot
Plant's got nothing on Paul though. Plant always was a bit squeaky and not as distinct. Ofc you can like that more but imo Rodgers destroys Plant.
Adam Sjöberg not at all..Plants power was immense. If Plant had any distinguishing feature it was his superior power, especially in the early days
I agree 100%
point made !!
True, and how come vibrato in your voice is gimmicky, but playin with the mic stand is not? Interesting ideas there.
BASS!!!
what happened to music? Are we condemmed to listen to the likes of justinbeiber for all eternity.
No.little girl listen to this little girl av a guitar little girl you gonna go far little girl.
kaptainbastard it went to shit
3 Guys ? I must add The Jam , Motörhead, Rush - I didn’t listen to or understand the Sabbath or The Who “ three of them “ comment in the video though. Some of my fave bands have only 3 anyway - the above plus britpop stars Supergrass too 😁 I’ve a Tommy Vance Show with Frees’ 1969 BBC studio session aired on 05 May 1980 - also was Purples’ and Yes’ first sessions. All better than the LP versions in my humble opinion ❤️from Wessex
5:54 is he playing with Wishbone Ash?
True that, Andy, But, you must admit that the post-Led Zeppelin Robert Plant, is, himself, "a bit wanky"....
the people interviewed in this documentary are all chumps, and almost all miss the point of Free's music...
Progressive is just a term for rock that incorporates some other influences to the Blues....not better necessarily.
its hard to hear - low vol
from middlesbro fantasic!! and turned him down one night wHAT A FOOL XX
Great band, but shitty documentary.. for months I've played All Right Now wrong thanks to the fuck-wit on the acoustic guitar. Last time I checked, 3 of the 4 members of Free are still alive and well.. they can bloody well speak for themselves about their own music, and how or why they wrote it and performed it in their own particular way.
Won't ever cover that...
Progressive? I prefer the first two albums because they are more complete albums as a whole from beginning to end...
Ha ha two guitar players demonstrating the stealer ; both completely different !!
And, in the section that talks about 6 string chords, completely miss the chorus, which DOES use 6 string chords.
Andy Fraser was an excellent bass player BUT to say he was a revolutionary bassist is rubbish.... He was doing what Jack Bruce had done a few years earlier, and added his own signature to it... Most rock bassists from the late 60's to the mid-70's were copping the Bruce style... Geezer, John Paul, Andy, etc... They all owe their "style" to Jack Bruce.. Having said that, I am not a Jack Bruce fan boy, but I appreciate his contribution of (excuse the pun here) "freeing" up the role of the electric bass in a blues rock setting... They all cited Jack as an inspiration, role model, and mentor as musicians as well... It was an exciting time to be a bass player in a rock n roll band!
Jack Bruce; for me the best musician 'ever'.
+Pat Webb I only ever liked Clapton when Bruce was driving him
Have to agree, JB was the benchmark, the pioneer of that rock style.
Fraser had a funky groove; Bruce and Baker were old school shuffle.
Brain Scar Old Skool shuffle? Pfffffft! Not even close. JB pioneered that rock style.
AF wasn’t a bass player by trade, he was a guy who could play bass (and other instruments) well.
Where would Free been without Kossoff!!! They abandoned him and he died...a digrace!!
That is not true. His father & the band members tried but drug addiction help was not as available as it is today & it still needs improvement. Read the book Free at last, it has a lot of information in from people who knew him. His story is tragic but you cannot blame other people for his addiction.
Do they grab these people off the street? apart from Tommy Vance.
dont forget nazareth they were another wicked
I’m still waiting for that 22 minute Blue Oyster Cult track that Tommy Vance mentions.
Ended a little abruptly.
ewing using his words again "genre" "myriad" for petes sake get another career
Eh, it's the kind of opinionating that goes on in these biopics. Take it for what it means... not much.
I always liked Paul Rogers voice, However Plant is an icon and deserves to be! And vibrato is bad because.....?"one of the first guys to work the microphone stand" "didn't over egg the pudding"? It's too bad Free didn't have somebody else to speak in their favour apart from these wankers. And what the fuck is a tommy vance any way ? thanks for the post however!
Crappest guitar players since the nineties? -- Free was in the era of the 70's, and broke up during the late 70's. So how can they be "stuck in the eighties"? Silly.
Way to over analyze funky ass rock n roll.
Plant isn't vibrato singer at all