Andy Fraser Memorial Donations Information

Andy Fraser's family has announced that his funeral and memorial services will be privately held in California, where he had been living for over 30 years. An organized tribute celebration for his loyal fans is being considered for later this year in his homeland of England.

Andy's family has requested that anyone who wishes to show their appreciation for him can donate to a cause that he was passionate about. Please choose something that touches your heart. You can honor Andy and his legacy by following his example, which was to choose to live your life in service, to the best of your ability, in the care and love of one another.

The following is a list of charities that Andy Fraser was actively involved with.

Rock Against Trafficking
http://rockagainsttrafficking.org/
Andy Fraser was a Board Member and Partner of this non profit whose purpose is to abolish sex slavery and human trafficking. He had donated his song “Every Kind of People” to the cause in 2014 and was a huge part of the music project "Set Them Free", a compilation album of Sting and Police songs, along with many of his musician friends. His cover song “Every Breath You Take” is set for posthumous release this year.

Blue Sphere Foundation
http://www.bluespherefoundation.org
BlueSphere Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and production of artistic projects that raise awareness, foster education, and inspire action to address pressing conservation issues in the global marine environment. Andy was outspoken about his concern for the environment and had a deep love of the ocean. He was passionate about supporting his daughter Hannah 'Mermaid' Fraser’s ocean conservation activism.

Avaaz – The World In Action
http://www.avaaz.org
Avaaz empowers millions of people from all walks of life to take action on pressing global, regional and national issues, from corruption and poverty to conflict and climate change. Andy Fraser wrote his song “This is the Big One” after being inspired from communication reports he had received from Avazz regarding global warming.

Discovery Arts
http://www.discoveryarts.org
Andy Fraser was an official “Celebrity Ambassador” of this non-profit that brings music, art and dance to children who are in the hospital undergoing treatment for cancer or life threatening illness. He had donated his song “Healing Hands” to the charity in 2008. http://www.discoveryarts.org/celebrity-ambassadors.html

Operation of Hope
http://operationofhope.org/
Operation of Hope provides life-changing surgical care, healthcare & medical training programs in under-served areas of the world through international collaboration among medical & non-medical volunteers. Andy Fraser had met 16 year old Blessing Makwera and was deeply touched by his circumstance. He had a personal friendship with President Jennifer Trubenbach, whom he had great admiration for. Read Blessing’s story here > http://operationofhope.org/transformations/blessing/

Legacy of Hope
http://legacyofhope.org/
Nelson Mandela's last wish was to build a children's hospital in Zimbabwe. Legacy of Hope Concert Events supports the building of children's hospitals in South Africa. Andy Fraser had tremendous respect for Nelson Mandela, and felt compassion for Mandela’s grief, who had lost his son to AIDS.

Elton John's Aids Foundation
http://london.ejaf.org/
EJAF funds frontline programmes that help to alleviate the pain - whether physical, emotional or financial - of those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS, and to continue the fight against this worldwide pandemic so that no one is left behind. Andy Fraser was very transparent about his having to live with AIDS, he knew first hand the debilitating effects of this disease.

International Justice Mission
https://www.ijm.org/
Rescuing Thousands & Protecting Millions Worldwide. IJM is a global organization that protects people from violence.

Andy Fraser Dies Aged 62

It is with deep regret I have to report the passing of Andy Fraser.
July 3rd 1952 - March 16, 2015

Our condolences go to daughters Hannah, Jasmine 

and Andy's brothers and sister.

Andy fought both AIDS and cancer and in recent years showed a strong spirit and uncomplaining resilience to his ongoing health problems. What a sad, sad day it is today  
"I’ve never really thought of myself as a bass player. It’s just, okay, it needs that low end and I’ll do that part, that’s easy. But, you know, I would write a lot of the guitar riffs or lyrics, or if you needed me to play tambourine, I was just as happy. My job was to make it work, to bring unity. Okay, this space is yours to work in, do whatever you like in this space, this space is yours. Do anything you like in that space. And in such, I sort of become an arranger. And if it was appropriate for me not to play bass, say for example most of “All Right Now” doesn’t have any bass in it. The bass comes in the chorus a little bit but that was appropriate cause that was all that was needed. So my job was just to be appropriate and when people talk to me as a bass player, I find it strange because, well, actually it was one of the things I do, and luckily enough it’s one of the things I could do sort of in my sleep, and people have spoken of 
me as a bass player ever since." 
Andy Fraser March 5th, 2015

That's because Andy, you were a superb bassist. 
Just stunning. Sail On my brother.

Bad Company Deluxe Editions 2015 - Press Release & Track Listings

BAD NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD

Bad Company Release Rare And Previously Unreleased Tracks As Part Of  Remastered Deluxe Editions Of Their First Two Multi-Platinum Albums

Available On April 7 From Rhino

LOS ANGELES – Bad Company has influenced bands from Bon Jovi to Five Finger Death Punch, who recently had a #1 hit with their cover of the song “Bad Company.”  They have also helped shape the sound of an entire rock era with iconic powerhouse rock anthems  “Can’t Get Enough,” “Rock Steady,” along with the ever popular ballads “Ready for Love,” “Seagull,” and Grammy^®-nominated “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” The British rockers  recently unearthed the original multi-track tapes from their first two albums and discovered  previously unreleased tracks, takes, and mixes from those sessions.

For the first time ever, the band has remastered Bad Company (1974) and Straight  Shooter (1975)  using the original tapes to create new Deluxe Editions. It was paramount to founding member Paul Rodgers that the CD and LP be copied from the original tapes to guarantee the best sound possible.  Each set includes a newly remastered version of the original album, along with a number of rare and unreleased recordings. The CD versions of these Deluxe Editions include all of the newly discovered  bonus tracks, while their 180-gram vinyl counterparts offer a selection of the bonus material.

Deluxe Editions of BAD COMPANY and STRAIGHT SHOOTER will be available on April 7 at retail outlets for a suggested list price of $19.98 (2CD) and $38.98 (2LP). The titles will also be available digitally.

Singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist Rodgers, along with guitarist/songwriter Mick Ralphs,  bassist Boz Burrell, and drummer Simon Kirke recorded the band’s eponymous debut in November 1973 using Ronnie Lane’s mobile studio at Headley Grange, the former poorhouse where Led Zeppelin recorded frequently. When Bad Company was released the following year, the album went to #1 in America during the band’s first U.S. tour and was eventually certified 5x platinum thanks to hits like “Can’t Get Enough,” “Bad Company,” “Ready for Love,” and “Movin’ On.”

The second disc of the Deluxe Edition features 12 tracks, including eight previously unreleased  recordings such as the demo for the ballad “The Way I Choose,” a take of “Bad Company” recorded right before the album version, and an unedited version of “Superstar Woman,” a song that Rodgers later recorded in 1983 for his solo album Cut Loose. Also featured is the single edit of “Can’t Get Enough,” and the b-sides “Little Miss Fortune” and “Easy On My Soul.”

The band released its second album Straight Shooter in April 1975,40 years to the month of the new deluxe edition. The album rose to #3 on the U.S. album chart and was certified 3x platinum behind the hit singles “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” as well as the rock radio staple “Shooting Star.”

Of the 14 bonus tracks, all are previously unreleased except the b-side “Whiskey Bottle.” Among the standouts is a stripped-down version of “Shooting Star,” a remix of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” with alternative guitar and vocals tracks, as well as two lost gems, never released before: “See The Sunlight” and “All Night Long.”

Bad Company Deluxe Editions

Track Listings

Bad Company (1974)

Disc One

1.   “Can’t Get Enough”

2.    “Rock Steady”

3.   “Ready For Love”

4.   “Don’t Let Me Down”

5.   “Bad Company”

6.   “The Way I Choose”

7.   “Movin’ On”

8.   “Seagull”

 Disc Two

1.   “Can’t Get Enough” (Take 1)*

2.   “Little Miss Fortune” (Demo Reel 1)*

3.   “The Way I Choose” (Demo Reel 1)*

4.   “Bad Company” (LMS Studio Reel 2-73 Session)*

5.   “The Way I Choose” (Version 1 Inc. F/S)

6.   “Easy On My Soul” (Long Version)

7.   “Bad Company” (LMS Studio Reel 8-73 Session)*

8.   Studio Chat/Dialogue

9.   “Superstar Woman” (Long Version)*

10.  “Can’t Get Enough” (Single Edit)

11.  “Little Miss Fortune” (B-side of “Can’t Get Enough”)*

12.   “Easy On My Soul” (B-side of “Movin’ On”)*

Straight Shooter (1975)

Disc One

1.   “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad”

2.   “Feel Like Makin’ Love”

3.   “Weep No More”

4.   “Shooting Star”

5.   “Deal With The Preacher”

6.   “Wild Fire Woman”

7.   “Anna”

8.   “Call On Me”

   Disc Two

1.   “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” (Alternate Vocal & Guitar)*

2.   “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Take Before Master)*

3.   “Weep No More” (Early Slow Version)*

4.   “Shooting Star” (Alternate Take)*

5.   “Deal With The Preacher” (Early Version)*

6.   “Anna” (Alternate Vocal)*

7.   “Call On Me” (Alternate Take)*

8.   “Easy On My Soul” (Slow Version)

9.   “Whiskey Bottle” (Early Slow Version)

10.  “See the Sunlight”

11.  “All Night Long”

12.  “Wild Fire Woman” (Alternate Vocal & Guitar)*

13.  “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Harmonica Version)

14.   “Whiskey Bottle” (B-side of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” )

* Tracks featured on Deluxe Edition LPs

UK CDs should be around £12. I've seen them on Pre-order for £10.99 including delivery.
Best advice as always is shop around.

Bad Company Remastered 2CD Sets 2015

Coming Soon To A Store Near You!!

(Unless you buy from the internet!)

Bad Company -  Bad Co (1974)
2CD Remaster with Previously Unreleased Material

Bad Company - Straight Shooter (1975)
2CD Remaster with Previously Unreleased Material

Deluxe Edition 2CD Sets with expanded artwork and new sleeve notes
CD1 newly remastered audio of the original album, 
CD2 completely new, recently discovered alternate takes and mixes and new mixes based on recently unearthed original multi-track tapes.

Projected Release: April 3rd, 2015
Released In Japan:  April 8th, 2015

Pre-order is already available from places like Spincds.com & cdjapan.co.jp

More info once the official press release is made with track listings.

Interactive Guitar PAUL KOSSOFF TRIBUTE EDITION #31

Interactive Guitar #31

Wonderful to see this. You can read it online or download it.
Fabulous magazine. Check it out here http://www.iguitarmag.com/
Check out the Kossoff issue here Interactive Guitar #31 (Paul Kossoff)

Spike Live with Andy Fraser & Simon Kirke

SPIKE'S FREE HOUSE UK

featuring Simon Kirke & Andy Fraser from Free!

S.R.F are privileged to play host to a very special appearance. The face and founder of The Quireboys, Spike, delivers the first ever live performance of his eagerly anticipated '100% Frankie Miller album.

This lauded release is comprised of previously unissued material by legendary Scot Frankie.

Following an episode of serious ill health, Frankie retired in 1994 leaving a wealth of original recorded but unpublished demos. At Frankie's request, Spike became the voice of these unheard gems, recording with collaborations from such industry stalwarts as Ronnie Wood, Bonnie Tyler, Ian Hunter, Luke Morley, Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser.

We are delighted to announce that alongside Spike, guest artists feature Free's own Simon Kirke and Andy Fraser. This landmark show at S.R.F 2015 marks the first time in 40 years that the original Free rhythm section have collaborated live .The set will incorporate Free classics plus both new and timeless Frankie Miller material as a tribute to a songwriting genius spanning four decades.

Further exciting guest artists will be added to the band lineup, so watch this space for continuous updates.

This impressive collective is sure to deliver. Could this be THE classic rock event of the year? Don't miss out!

More info and tickets: www.swedenrock.com

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.