The Late Great Paul Kossoff

[38thBeatle]

Saw this on the 'tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL5DfQVSzcI&feature=related

In case you don't know, the narrator is Paul's father David Kossoff.

[Denim n Leather]

Kossoff is a legend. I'm ashamed to say I only got into him about 3 years ago. Took a while for me to grow up! :)

[shobet]

Thanks for sharing that. It took a lot of balls for his dad to do that. I'm going to have to go and play some of the Free back catalogue today whilst I work now. It's been a while since I've listened. Give me Kossof's  feel over technical shredding any day of the week.

Unfortunately I made the mistake of watching one of the linked videos of Bonamassa playing one of Kossof's guitars after watching the original video. Was it me or was it terrible and really compared badly with Paul's playing. 

[tomjackson]

"A broad muscular child, a bit overweight and not tall"

Yeah it's his dad alright :D

Kossoff was amazing, watching Free clips on youtube should be lesson #1 for beginner guitarists IMO.
A lesson in low gain and a big tone. 

I think Andy Fraser was just as good though and his busy melodic bass really worked well with Kossoff's guitar.

Bonamassa pah!

Good post :D

[horsehead]

Damn he was too good, really is a shame he didn't make it through the bad times

[Tellboy]

Always has been one of my favourite guitarists. Was lucky enough (and old enough!) to see him live once. He could say more in one note than many guitarists could in ten. (and could probably beat even the late Gary Moore in "gurning") Very moving tribute from David his father.

[gordiji]

good post.like hendrix, it would have been great to have heard him as a mature guitarist in his 30's.it's tone all the way with koss,' time away' spooks me out.'hole in the head' too.poor paul, poor david.

[38thBeatle]

I am glad that you all appreciated it. I too was very moved by Mr Kossoff Senior's acting the role of his son and I thought that it was worth posting and your comments justify this.
Koss was truly a great player and if his fell could be bottled it would be a priceless commodity. Free were a band that I loved as soon as I heard them many years ago. It is amazing to think that they played with an assurance and maturity when they were all so young. As a band they punched above their weight. I always respected David Kossoff as an actor and also for his dignity given the overwhelming sadness that he felt. This film sent my respect and admiration for him even higher. It is a tragic story of a great artist who had his demons and it would have been so good if he'd have made it through.

[gordiji]

his father david was using paul's music and trajic death as a way of reaching young people and to warn them of the dangers of drug use even when i was at school 30 yrs ago.he toured schools doing this.brave and creative father
trying to get some benefit from trajedy.
as others have said for a young group 'free' where incredible.not only developing rock music as a musical style but
developing a new sound with the modern amps of the day. 

[Ian Price]

Just watched the first few minutes - I don't have time to stay up tonight watching it all but will be sure to have an extended view over the next few days. It looks like a very very good video indeed. Even after a few words I could feel myself getting a bit emotional about it all.

I admit to not having any Free albums and I only really know their better known songs. This video is going to inspire me to buy some CDs over the next few days. I'm sure I'll love it.

Thanks for the post - a really good one and one that will hopefully open up some more musical influences for me.

[Afghan Dave]

Very interesting and moving.

Heroin has just claimed another... ex-Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr  :(

[keith]

My favourite guitar player and favourite band. In my opinion no guitar player has come close to the raw power, feel and emotion of this guy. I was lucky enough to see him live albeit with Backstreet Crawler but by then his playing was very erratic it was so sad to see. But I will remember him for all the Free stuff when he was fit and well. Les Paul into a Marshall and nowt in between............R.I.P. still sadly missed

[gwEm]

great post

[keith]

Just watched the first few minutes - I don't have time to stay up tonight watching it all but will be sure to have an extended view over the next few days. It looks like a very very good video indeed. Even after a few words I could feel myself getting a bit emotional about it all.

I admit to not having any Free albums and I only really know their better known songs. This video is going to inspire me to buy some CDs over the next few days. I'm sure I'll love it.

Thanks for the post - a really good one and one that will hopefully open up some more musical influences for me.