Tynemouth Free Convention 2016

Free Convention 2016 – Park Hotel, Tynemouth  

Saturday 19th March.

Tickets £17

For more information

Email; freeconvention@aol.com

Tynemouth FREE Convention 2015

Saturday 14th November.

Tickets £17

For more information

Email; freeconvention@aol.com

FREE - 'Fire And Water' Vinyl Half-Speed Master Coming In 2016

The Sound Of Vinyl are thrilled to present a superior listening experience with Half Speed Mastering from Abbey Road .Six iconic album releases have been exclusively re-mastered for vinyl at the world famous Abbey Road Studios to bring you a new level of depth and clarity. These records have never sounded so good!

The limited edition launch range come in deluxe packaging and includes a certificate of authenticity from Abbey Road.The initial releases are from

The Rolling Stones, The Police, Cream, John Martyn, Simple Minds and Free.  

Make sure to order yours now as we are sure they will go fast!

 

PRE ORDER NOW & HEAR THESE ALBUMS LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

 

 https://thesoundofvinyl.com/*/Mastered-At-Half-Speed/Fire-And-Water/4ZB7063N000

Fire And Water

Free

• £25.00  

• Release Date 25 March 2016

Product code

ARHSLP002

Format

Vinyl LP

Label

UMC-Island

180gm vinyl, replica VERY LIMITED first pressing packaging with additional ‘obi strip’.

This artisan process results in cuts that have superior high frequency response (treble) and very solid and stable stereo images. In Short, a very high quality master that helps to create a very high quality record.

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Its worth noting that this pre-order information gives absolutely NO INDICATION of how 'limited' an edition this actually is. The albums don't appear to be numbered and the 'Certificate Of Autheniticity' doesn't appear to feature any number either -  nor even which album it actually pertains to! Limited to how many they can sell perhaps? However if you hanker after vinyl this should be considered for your shopping list.

'Free Forever' 2DVD Set - Hidden Content.

FREE FOREVER 2DVD Set (2006)

'Hidden Footage'.

Andy Fraser promo films.

A number of people have asked me exactly where these tracks are hidden on the ‘Free Forever’ DVD, so, here goes… I know this works on the original 2DVD set but I'm not sure about any re-issues.

Load disc one of the set.

Go to ‘The Freelist’ from the first menu, then press ‘Play All’ from the ‘Freelist’ menu. You’ll find the promotional film for ‘Healing Hands’ and concert footage of ‘Standing At Your Window’ both from Andy’s ‘Naked… And Finally Free’ album right at the end. These can only be accessed from this ‘Play all’ menu. You will also find the complete Ealing College footage here unedited and uncut. A joyous 20 minutes even without sound! Hope you enjoy them.

This information was originally printed on page 2 of FAS issue #113.

BONHAMS OFFER GUITAR OF LEGENDARY FREE ROCKER, PAUL KOSSOFF

http://www.bonhams.com/press_release/20207/

"ALL RIGHT NOW": BONHAMS OFFER GUITAR OF LEGENDARY FREE ROCKER, PAUL KOSSOFF

Entertainment Memorabilia

10 Dec 2015

London, Knightsbridge

"There she stood in the street, smilin' from her head to her feet," the famous opening lyrics to one of the most well-known tracks of the 1970s, 'All Right Now'. Penned by Free, the song launched the band straight into the rock and roll legend hall of fame.

Paul Kossoff was their guitarist, his axe a 1959 Gibson Les Paul. Thirty years on, Kossoff's personal guitar is now offered at auction for the first time as part Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia sale, taking place 10 December at Bonhams Knightsbridge.

Kossoff owned the Gibson Les Paul from 1970-1976. This was the height of the band's success, with their classic rock anthem, All Right Now, soaring to number one in music charts across 20 territories.

Hampstead-born Kossoff was an immensely skilled musician. His signature talent was the ability to unleash an incredible vibrato on his guitar, a skill that so impressed fellow musician, Eric Clapton, that it prompted him to ask Kossoff, "How do you do that?".

Kossoff performed with vigour, so much so that during one performance he threw his Gibson Les Paul guitar in the air, snapping the neck. Arthur Ramm, guitarist of support group, Beckett, lent his instrument to Kossoff after he broke his guitar. Later offering a trade, Kossoff declined to barter the guitar he held dear, despite it being broken.

In 1973 Free disbanded, sending Kossoff in a downward spiral. In 1975 he formed the band Back Street Crawler, but in March 1976, at the age of 25, he died from what's believed to have been a drug-related heart-attack whilst on board a flight from Los Angeles to New York.

Several years after Kossoff's tragic death, Ramm acquired the guitar from the late-musician's family. Some thirty years on, the guitar will now feature at auction for the first time.

Natalie Downing, Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia Specialist, said: "Kossoff is one of the generation of rock stars who lost their life to the excesses of the industry. His incredible musical talent continues to be recognised, heralded by Rolling Stone magazine in their top 100 list of the greatest guitarists of all time.

"Musical instruments with celebrity provenance can often reach a higher premium at auction, bolstered by fans and musicians keen to take home instruments that bore witness to some of rock and roll's greatest moments. Bonhams has conducted several highly successful auctions throughout the year, including the sale of Eric Clapton and Chris Martin's guitars at our June sale."

 

Free Appreciation Society - Magazine Issue #135

Free Appreciation Society

Magazine Issue #135

August 2015 

 

Now Available...

Andy Fraser Obituary and large article about Andy -  his involvement with the FAS, Heavy Load and the Free re-issues... 

Large feature on BB King 'Live At The Regal' and The Band 'Music From Big Pink'. Two albums often mentioned by Free as a major influence are examined and clues to their impact revealed! 

Press round up with pieces about King King, Chris Spedding and Kossoff's 1975 Kidnapping!
Yup, really.... Suspects included promoter Geoff Docherty and Terry Wilson-Slesser. They tell all. Read all about it.

For subscribers this will be in the post early next week. If you don't subscribe you can get a copy via the email on this site (See the 'Welcome' section in the right margin). Just let me know which issue you want and where you are and I'll send a Paypal invoice. This issue can also be found on Ebay along with some older ones where they can be purchased from anywhere in the world.

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

Paul Kossoff / Arthur Ramm Les Paul Std.

Paul Kossoff Les Paul Guitar Feature.

Lovely article on Paul Kossoff's old Les Paul in the August 2015 edition of 'Guitar And Bass' (Vol26. No. 11) £4.99. Written by the excellent Steve Clarke, himself a Kossoff fan, it goes deep into the specifications and technical aspects as the guitars current owner Arthur Ramm let Steve have a really good look at the instrument. For the guitar collector / fan there are plenty of close up pictures and a quite revealing text. Thanks to Steve and 'Guitar And Bass' magazine for letting me include a link to the feature below. Check it out!!

Paul Right Now: Paul Kossoff’s 1959 Gibson Les Paul up close

Additional...
Steve has told me there was actually a small piece of information about the guitar edited out of the article so for blogspot readers here's the exclusive...

The neck pickup is 8.52k and the bridge 7.43k. For better balance they should be swapped around but that's how Koss had it and that's okay by me!!