Free Appreciation Society - Magazine Issue #133

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #133

November 2014 

 

Now Available...

Hot off the press is FAS issue #133. The final issue of 2014 this will hopefully keep you busy on these long dark, cold (& wet!) winter nights.

 

In the news section we have the hints of some ongoing Free related activity but its a waiting game to see what that actually is! Reviewed are Spike's Frankie Miller Tribute album, and a really strange Free tribute album from Humboogie, a band from Finland.

There is also information on the pre-Free Roadrunners, including where to find recordings of the band with Paul Rodgers, Micky Moody and Bruce Thomas along with a review of the recent Bad Company 'Collector's Pack' from Classic Rock that included the DVD documentary by Jon Brewer.

There's some guitar stuff including a book featuring the instrument history of Paul Kossoff within its pages and even a DVD with the guitar now owned by Arthur Ramm being played. This comes along with readers letters and a fair bit of press from the last year. Something for everyone.

44 pages all in full colour -  Don't miss it.

Free Convention 2014

CONVENTION ITINERARY 

 7.30  Freeway Acoustic Set
 

8.30  The Deborah Bonham Band
 

10.00  Auction of items donated by Deborah Bonham and Paul & Cynthia Rodgers in aid of the Willows Animal Sanctuary
 

10.30  Freeway Electric Set

Ticket prices are £15. 

SIMON KIRKE 
NOW ANNOUNCED 
AS 'SPECIAL GUEST' 

PAUL RODGERS 'Royal Sessions' In The UK

Singer-songwriter Paul Rodgers returns to the Royal Albert Hall for one night only on Monday, November 3rd for a special show to present work from his latest album, The Royal Sessions, alongside classic hits from his vast back-catalogue of Free and Bad Company.

All proceeds from the show will go to the Willows Animal Sanctuary & Animal Assisted Therapy Unit in Aberdeenshire. Learn more at www.willowsanimals.com

Live Nation pre-sale starts Thurs. August 14 at 9:00 AM. General On Sale starts Fri. August 15 at 9:00 AM. For more information and tickets visit LiveNation.com

The Royal Sessions consists of covers of blues, R&B and soul records that inspired Rodgers as a young singer in the mid-’60s. Recorded at Memphis’ Royal Studios and produced by friend and collaborator Perry A. Margouleff, the album features many of the same players who had graced the original tracks.

Paul will be joined by Reverend Charles Hodges Sr. on the Hammond B3, bassist Leroy Hodges Jr., guitarist Michael Toles, Archie “Hubby” Turner on the Wurlitzer, drummer Steve Potts, the talented Shontelle and Sharlisse Norman of The Royal Singers and The Royal Horns (Marc Franklin on Trumpet, James L. Spake on Baritone Sax, Gary Topper and Lannie “The Party” McMillan Jr. on Tenor Sax).

EPISODE #31: Paul Kossoff: All Right Now

http://thepickupradio.com

EPISODE #31: Paul Kossoff: All Right Now 

Paul Kossoff isn't exactly a household name, but he's a real legend among guitar freaks. Best known as the guitarist from the band Free, Kossoff died tragically young at age 25. In his short time with us, though, Kossoff gave us some amazing music and today Joe and Matt select five of his best tracks. You'll hear about his blooming tone, the stripped-down gear and the vibrato that had Eric Clapton asking for lessons! 

You can hear the full show here (not sure for how long) or download it (with edited songs)

https://s3.amazonaws.com/pickup-radio/audio/PaulKossoff.mp3 

The ‘Missing’ Black Cat Bones Songs

The ‘Missing’ Black Cat Bones Songs

The production process of the Paul Kossoff with Black Cat Bones 2CD 'Paul’s Blues' (September 2008) resulted in the duplication of some tracks. For some songs, instead of the different versions listed, the same take appears twice. More than unfortunate, this is disappointing and confusing for the listener.

To remedy this, Black Cat Bones drummer Frank Perry has kindly made available for fans the following ‘missing’ tracks: ‘Bad Blood #1’, ‘Bad Blood #2’, ‘The Sky Is Cryin’ (Version 2)’ and ‘Help Me (Unreleased Version 2)’. These can now be found, together with ‘Rock Me Baby (Version 1)’ from the 'Paul’s Blues' 2CD, on YouTube, at 

Bad Blood #1

Bad Blood #2

The Sky Is Cryin' #2

Help Me (Unreleased Version #2)

Free Appreciation Society - Magazine Issue #132

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #132

April 2014

COMING SOON...

Hot off the press is FAS issue #132. The first issue of 2014 and plenty for reading to keep you happy while the weather sorts itself out!

In the news section we have some information on what's happening with the Free boxed set that's been held up by the band for two years while everyone else gets their fan bonanza packages out. There are reviews of the new Paul Rodgers album 'The Royal Sessions' and the excellent Dave Lewis Led Zeppelin book about the Knebworth shows in 1979. There's also a review of Andy Fraser and Tobi in Japan (Andy's first show there in 42 years!)

Other features include a look at the Free appearance in US TV show 'Dexter' (You missed it huh!) and a forty year anniversary appraisal of the debut Bad Company album 'Bad Co'. Wow, its really is THAT long ago. There is also some press clips of a 16 year old Paul Kossoff out touring with his father, US Free press ads and other snippets.

The main feature in this issue is a look at the original seven Free albums and five things you should love about then along with a few things that aren't quite so good! So drag your albums out and listen to them one by one as you read along. Its 21 pages and should give everyone something to think about as they enjoy the music of our favourite band.

Finally the back page has a previously unpublished shot of Free at The Marquee in 1968 by Simon Kossoff. Its all good...

44 pages all in full colour -  Don't miss it. 

Bad Company 'Classic Rock' Special Edition

OUT TODAY...

Classic Rock Presents: Bad Company - Official DVD Collector's Pack

One of the most acclaimed bands in rock, Bad Company celebrate an incredible 40 years of rock ‘n’ roll with the release of their official 40th anniversary DVD documentary as an exclusive Classic Rock Collector’s Pack.

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This limited edition pack includes a brand new DVD documentary movie - Bad Company: The Band. The Music. The Story.

“This film is honest, this film is inspiring, and personal grievances are addressed with class and dignity by musicians of class and dignity. A must for any fan of Free, Mott the Hoople and of course Bad Co.” 9/10 - Joe Bonamassa, Classic Rock

The collector’s pack will also come with a 132 page magazine which has been produced with the full cooperation of the band and offers an insightful retrospective look through the bands incredibly vibrant and successful past.


The collector’s pack includes:

•     100% official DVD documentary
•     132 page magazine
•     Collectable art cards

The 132-page magazine includes:

•     Brand new exclusive interviews with all three surviving original Bad Company members: singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, and drummer Simon Kirke
•     An exclusive celebratory memorial to their late bass player, Boz Burrell, including interviews with his wife, Cathy, godson, Mike Patto Junior and those musicians and friends that knew Boz best
•     Hundreds of rare and previously unseen pictures from the bands 1970’s heyday
•     Exclusive inside features on their legendary manager Peter Grant
•     Every album reviewed
•     The ultimate Bad Company Jukebox!
•     Eye-witness accounts of their major US tours
•     Inside the studio with the band

The DVD contains subtitles in 5 languages; English, French, German, Spanish (Castillian) and Portuguese (Brazilian)

 

Kelly Holland Dies

Kelly Holland, former vocalist for Cry Of Love and personal friend passed away in the early hours of Monday February 24th. He was 52 and died in hospital from a severe abdominal infection. Kelly was well known and loved among Free Appreciation Society readers who followed the career of the band in the FAS magazine over 1993 and 1994 when we featured them quite a lot and many readers went to the shows.

I was fortunate enough to travel with the band over a couple of UK tours and watched many excellent shows. It was a great time and they were all fabulous people to be around. The final show I saw with Kelly was in Denmark where we shared a room for a couple of days and had a really good time. Kelly wore my leather bikers jacket onstage and after the show he gave me his favourite Betty Page T-Shirt as a parting gift. I still have it. These were happy times and everyone who came into contact with the band loved them. They were my friends and I miss those days.

I always kept in touch with Kelly and tried to help with the Sun Dog project that sadly never really found its feet. He was a great singer, a really good drummer and I loved him. I'll never forget sitting on the bus travelling between shows overnight on the 1994 UK tour and playing Elton John's 'Captain Fantastic', which we both loved. We'd be drinking and talking and the last to bed. He had a great love of music and a comprehensive knowledge. I'm so sad he's gone. 

I'll miss you brother.

If you've never heard the 'Brother' album you should. Its one of the best albums of 1993 and a stunning debut. It was a band that had it all and it didn't pass unnoticed that they had more than a little of the 'Free' groove about them. That's because they were all Free fans. 

 

Listen and enjoy 'Shade Tree' a non-album cut from the 'Peace Pipe' CD Single. Beautiful song and a great vocal from Kelly.

Free - Isle Of Wight 1969

Colour home movie of the August 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, showing Free, Marsha Hunt, The Who landing by helicopter, and the arena the day after.

This footage comes courtesy of Jon Blake who says, “This was filmed by my dad, the electrical contractor for the festival - he died on the 40th anniversary of the event.”

Its short but very sweet and the only footage I've ever seen from Free's brief three song performance. In the fourteen minutes they were given they played 'The Hunter', 'Trouble On Double Time' and 'Songs Of Yesterday'. Check out Paul Rodgers' awesome pink pants!

Jon also has a site about the festival and a novel he's written about it. You can find that at

http://www.dylan69.com