Paul Kossoff

Paul Kossoff (September 14 1950 - March 19 1976) was a British rock guitarist well-known and respected for his restrained yet intensely emotive playing style. He is best known as the guitarist of the band Free.

Paul Kossoff (September 14 1950 - March 19 1976) was a British rock guitarist well-known and respected for his restrained yet intensely emotive playing style. He is best known as the guitarist of the band Free.

Kossoff started playing in the mid '60s and his first professional gig was with Black Cat Bones (alongside drummer Simon Kirke, who also went on to be part of Free). Did many gigs supporting Fleetwood Mac and both Peter Green (Mac's guitarist ) and Kossoff would jam and spend hours discussing blues playing and players. Black Cat Bones played behind the touring blues piano player Champion Jack Dupree and Kossoff even played on the Dupree album When You Feel the Feeling.... In April 1968 Kossoff and Kirke teamed up with Paul Rodgers (vocals) and Andy Fraser (bass) to form Free. They did the 'transit' circuit for 2 years and recorded two albums: Tons Of Sobs and Free; both developing their sparse blues/rock- and soul-edged sound, which was a welcome contrast to most of the "over-playing" of their progressive and heavier counterparts at the time.