Paul Kossoff

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Free in Amsterdam (1970). V. l. No. : Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser , Simon Kirke , Paul Rodgers & Steve Winwood

Paul Francis Kossoff (born September 14, 1950 in London , † March 19, 1976 in Los Angeles ) was an English rock and blues guitarist. He became known as the guitarist of the English rock group Free , which had their biggest single hit in 1970 with "All Right Now". He was the son of British character actor David Kossoff .

biography

Early years

In the mid- 1960s he founded the group Black Cat Bones together with the later free drummer Simon Kirke , named after a quote from the Muddy Waters blues " Hoochie Coochie Man ". In the spring of 1968 they joined the touring band of blues interpreter Champion Jack Dupree . On his 1969 album When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling both were involved. Through this, Kossoff met the English blues musician Alexis Korner , who in turn brought him together with bassist Andy Fraser and singer Paul Rodgers . This finally resulted in the group Free, of which he was a permanent member until 1972 and on whose farewell album "Heartbreaker" he was still a guest musician. When the band separated temporarily in 1971, he recorded the album Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit with free drummer Simon Kirke and the later free musicians, the American keyboardist and singer John Bundrick and the Japanese bassist Tetsu Yamauchi .

After Free

In 1973 Kossoff recorded his first solo LP "Back Street Crawler". The album was a bit inconsistent in terms of style and personalities. Instead of a permanent backing band, he worked with various session musicians such as the occasional free sideman John "Rabbit" Bundrick ( keyboard ), the Yes drummer Alan White and the bassist Clive Chaman, known from Brian Auger and Jeff Beck . The mostly instrumental pieces consist mostly of simple riffs and hooklines, over which Kossoff builds up extravagant improvisations. The participation of folk jazz guitarist John Martyn on the jointly composed “Time Away” is remarkable : Kossoff builds expressive, long melody lines using Martyn's electronically alienated acoustic guitar. Only the song "Molten Gold" is actually a song. For this purpose, Kossoff brought together the entire free line-up again. Based on the title of his debut album, he soon formed the band Back Street Crawler with keyboardist Mike Montgomery, bassist Terry Wilson, singer Terry Wilson-Slesser and drummer Tony Braunagel (previously a studio musician with John Martyn) .

Kossoff's ill health was marked by his drug addiction ( Mandrax ) in the last few years of his life . He died in 1976 at the age of 25 on a flight from Los Angeles to New York of heart problems caused by his drug addiction. He was in the Golders Green Crematorium in London cremated , where his ashes is located. In his son's honor, his father David Kossoff founded the Paul Kossoff Foundation, with which he actively combated the drug problem.

There was a tribute to the late Kossoff on March 24, 1976 in Santa Monica . The Sweet were on a US tour, where Back Street Crawler should originally appear as support. They played together with Ritchie Blackmore , who had been in the audience, the free song All Right Now in honor of Kossoff .

Working as a guitarist

Style of play

Kossoff's style of playing was closely related to the early Eric Clapton . In contrast to comparable guitarists in the field of English blues rock of the late sixties, Kossoff refrained from excessively long solo interludes that were purely aimed at demonstrating virtuosity. His melodic, atmospheric and lyrical guitar style is characterized, at least in the context of Free, by a way of playing that is useful for the song, which often outlines the basic mood of a song with just a few notes. A particular specialty is his soulful vibrato, which gives his guitar solos an almost vocal expressiveness.

Instruments

Paul Kossoff's main instrument was initially a 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard with "Flametop" grain. Other “bursts” from 1958 and 1959 were also used.

Later he also played Les Paul Deluxes (with mini "humbucker" pickups), a Les Paul Custom, and a Gibson ES 335 . In connection with the contemporary Marshall Plexi amplifiers, this made up his typical, bluesy and sustain-rich guitar sound. These Marshalls are basically “clean” amplifiers that only start to distort at very high volume. It is noticeable that Kossoff can often be seen on old video recordings of performances with bass cabinets under the tops. Orange Matamps were also used quite often.

He also used Fender Stratocaster guitars (one of which is also shown on the cover of his first solo album), among others. a. heard in the song "The Stealer" or on the entire "Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit" album.

Discography

Free

solo

  • Back Street Crawler (1973)
  • Koss (1977) (DoLP)
  • Koss (1982), Rare studio recordings with Free and 4 Live Tracks
  • Leaves in the Wind (1982) ( posthumously released studio and live recordings with musicians from Back Street Crawler under Kossoff's name)
  • Live At Croydon Fairfield Halls 15/6/75, (1983) (posthumously released live album)

Paul Kossoff with Black Cat Bones

  • Paul's Blues (2008) (posthumously released recordings)

Back Street Crawler

  • The Band Plays On (1975)
  • 2nd Street (1976)

Guest Posts

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Paul Kossoff at allmusic.com
  2. ↑ When You Feel The Feeling You Was Feeling at allmusic.com
  3. ^ Report to the Guardian about David Kossoff
personal data
SURNAME Kossoff, Paul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kossoff, Paul Francis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English rock and blues guitarist
DATE OF BIRTH September 14, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH March 19, 1976
Place of death los Angeles