Free
Appreciation Society
Magazine Issue #177
April
2025
Well, it's always nice to be a little way in front,
and like the last issue this one is really a bit earlier than expected. But, as
it's ready to go, and I don't see any rational reason to hold on to it, when I
could get it into the mail and out to you (before the postage prices go up
again on April 7th!). So, overseas issues have gone out today, and UK issues
will go out early next week - most probably on Monday.
Free Appreciation Society
Magazine - Issue #177
In this issue we start in
February 1973, and the final three weeks of the Traffic, Free & John Martyn
tour of America. This is really the last 17 days in the life of Free as a
working unit. Things here in the US seem to be unravelling somewhat. Paul Rodgers manages
to knacker his ankle, and Free have to miss two shows. Then Wendell decides he
wants more money to do the extra shows that are being added (some places now
have two shows a day, due to ticket demand), and Rabbit opts to destroy a
dressing room, to add along with the hotel room he wrecked during a sword fight
with Chris Wood earlier in the tour!
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In New York, Wendell has his
favourite guitar stolen, along with some others, from the gear trailer, and he's getting
tired of the pranks that are being played on him by others. It's all becoming a
bit of a mess, not helped by the fact that they just haven't pulled together to
crack it on-stage every night. It's been a long tour. There's been a lot of
drunken partying, and everyone is ready to go home. They just haven't realised
yet that Free is over. 'Heartbreaker' and 'Wishing Well' are
doing fine, but this isn't the same group that made those recordings!
In other news, as Free go
quiet after their return to the UK, Andy Fraser has decided to jump overboard,
and abandon Sharks literally as their debut album comes out. Meanwhile Paul
Kossoff is pulled up by the police on Hammersmith Broadway, and gets busted for 'driving
under the influence of drink or drugs', eventually finding himself in
court. Paul Rodgers meanwhile is being named as the replacement for Ian Gillan
in Deep Purple...
Really, you just couldn't
make this up! FAS #177 covers it all, blow by blow. 48 pages dealing with the
end of the tour, the end of Free, Fraser splitting Sharks, and Kossoff
appearing in court, while Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke keep quiet. Complete
with reviews, press articles, interviews, tickets, gig adverts, chart positions
and photographs. Phew! Dig in, and hang on, as it's a very bumpy ride.
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It is cheaper to buy directly here (from the FAS
itself) than it will be on Ebay, where there are other fees involved for both
UK and overseas buyers. ALL payments are via Paypal, so it's all very easy and
secure.
Casual buyer? Want the magazine cheaper? Get a
subscription!
A subscription is the cheapest way to get the FAS
magazine.
For subscription information email:
fasarticle@aol.com
You can buy this individual issue from the email
address above.
Total is £7.50 via Paypal for the UK, a three issue
subscription is £19.10
Overseas it's £26 (via Paypal). Buying from the FAS
directly should save you on customs charges, and fees, now levelled directly
via Ebay, which will not be added here as items will be sent as 'letters'.
Drop me a mail giving your location and a Paypal
money request will be sent to you. It's cheaper than buying them on Ebay where
the fees add 12.5% + 30p making this issue £8 in the UK
A subscription for three issues (UK) is £18 (£19.10
via Paypal)
A subscription for three issues overseas is £26 (via Paypal).
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