Formed in the late 1960s, Free quickly rose to prominence with their unique mix of blues rock and soul, gaining immense popularity with their hit All Right Now. Yet, despite their talent and early success, the band struggled to maintain their momentum.
An Explosive Start
Free’s third album, Fire And Water, released in June 1970, was a commercial success. The album’s cover, featuring an image of a man underwater engulfed in flames, symbolized the band’s fiery yet fluid music style. The album cover for Fire And Water features a striking image of a man underwater in flames, symbolizing the juxtaposition of elements accentuated by Free’s music.
Rocking the Isle of Wight
Their performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in August 1970 was legendary. The band’s on-stage energy was palpable as captured in this iconic image:
The crowd reception was overwhelming. Andy Fraser recalled his feelings about their sudden rise to fame: We’d only just broken through, in terms of having hits… Suddenly we were on the same bill as all these superstar acts. But we knew how good we were. That on our day we needn’t be afraid of anybody.
The Climb and Decline
Their most iconic single, All Right Now, reached No. 1 in over 20 countries. With its catchy riff and powerful vocals by Paul Rodgers— known for his strong voice— the track became synonymous with Free’s brief but intense popularity.
However, behind this success lay internal struggles and mounting pressures. Simon Kirke reflected on this period: We had the whole world in the palm of our hands in 1970. That’s what it felt like… And we let it blow away.
The Struggles Within
Despite their achievements, Free faced significant challenges. Their fourth album Highway, released soon after, failed to recapture the magic of its predecessor. Kirke noted The pressure was on to come up with a follow-up to All Right Now, and we just couldn’t… The Stealer died a death and Highway went the same way.
The band’s internal dynamics also took a toll. Paul Rodgers struggled with balancing his desire for commercial success with artistic integrity. Meanwhile, guitarist Paul Kossoff’s deteriorating health and increasing substance abuse issues further strained their relationships.
A Legacy Overshadowed
While Free’s time at the top was short-lived, their influence endures through tracks like All Right Now. To many fans, these songs represent a gateway to an era of musical freedom that still resonates today.
Andy Fraser once said, It’s a crying shame what happened to Free after Fire And Water… But the music will always be out there. It was made to be that way.
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