Paul Kossoff
Paul Francis Kossoff ( born September 14, 1950 in London, † March 19, 1976 in Los Angeles ) was an English rock and blues guitarist.
Generally
Paul Kossoff became known as the guitarist of the English rock group Free, which in 1970 had her biggest hit single with " All Right Now ". He is the son of the British character actor David Kossoff.
Early years
Mid-1960s, he co-founded with the late drummer Simon Kirke Free- Group Black Cat Bones, named after a quote from the Muddy Waters blues " Hoochie Coochie Man". In the spring of 1968 they came to the touring band of blues performers Champion Jack Dupree. On his 1969 album When You Feel The Feeling You Feeling What then were both involved. This Kossoff learned the English blues musician Alexis Korner know, which in turn led him along with bassist Andy Fraser and singer Paul Rodgers. This finally did the group Free, of which he was a permanent member until 1972 and their farewell album " Heartbreaker", he still participated as guest musician. When the band broke up temporarily in 1971, he took with Free drummer Simon Kirke and the subsequent free- musicians to the American keyboard player and singer John Bundrick and Japanese bass player Tetsu Yamauchi the album Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit on.
After Free
In 1973, Kossoff his first solo LP " Back Street Crawler" on. The album was stylistically built and staffed a bit inconsistent in itself. Instead of a solid backing band he worked with various session musicians such as the occasional free- sideman John "Rabbit " Bundrick (keyboards), the drummer Alan White Yes plus the well known Brian Auger and bassist Clive Chaman Jeff Beck. The predominantly instrumental pieces held mostly consist of simple riffs and hooks, on the Kossoff builds extravagant improvisations. Of note is the participation of folk jazz guitarist John Martyn on the jointly composed " Time Away" is about the electronically distorted acoustic guitar Martyn builds Kossoff expressive long-drawn melody lines. Only the song " Molten Gold " is a song in the true sense. For this purpose led Kossoff together again the complete free- occupation. Based on the title of his debut album, he formed shortly thereafter with keyboard player Mike Montgomery, bassist Terry Wilson, singer Terry Wilson - Slesser and drummer Tony Braunagel ( previously a studio musician John Martyn ) the band Backstreet Crawler. Kossoffs poor health was drawn in the last years of his life greatly from his drug addiction ( Mandrax ). He died in 1976 at the age of 25 years on a flight from Los Angeles to New York because of heart problems that had caused his drug addiction. His son in honor of his father founded the David Kossoff Paul Kossoff Foundation, with which he actively fought the drug problem.
A tribute to the special nature of the late Paul Kossoff gave it on 24 March 1976 in Santa Monica / USA. The Sweet were just on a U.S. tour, were originally intended to play as a support for the Backstreet Crawler. They played in honor of Paul the Free song All Right Now, and as a surprise guest came Ritchie Blackmore on stage and played with since he was very impressed by this gesture.
The guitarist
Kossoffs playing style was closely related to the early Eric Clapton. Unlike other guitarists in the British Blue Rocks of the late sixties field Kossoff gave up a long and applied to pure Virtuositäts demonstration solos. His melodic, atmospheric and lyrical guitar style is characterized at least in the context of a song by Free useful way of playing out, often with few notes outlining the basic mood of a song. A particular specialty is his soulful vibrato that gives his guitar solos an almost vocal expressiveness.
Instruments
Paul Kossoffs main instrument was initially a certificate from the 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard with " flametop " grain. Other " bursts " of 1958 and 1959 were used.
Later he also played Les Paul Deluxe ( with mini " humbucker " pickups ), a Les Paul Custom and an ES 335 by Gibson. In conjunction with the contemporary Marshall Plexi amps, this amounted to its typical bluesy and more sustained guitar sound. It is in these Marshalls basically to "clean " amplifier, which begin to distort at very high volume. It is striking that Kossoff often seen on old video recordings of performances with bass cabinets under the tops. Also Orange Matamps frequently were used.
He also used Fender Stratocaster guitars ( one of which is depicted on the cover of his first solo album ), including listening to the song "The Stealer " or on the whole " Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit " album.
Discography
Free
Solo
- Backstreet 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 of Backstreet Crawler under Kossoffs name )
- Live At Croydon Fairfield Halls 06.15.75 (1983 ) ( posthumously published live album )
Paul Kossoff with Black Cat Bones
- Paul 's Blues ( 2008) ( posthumously released recordings)
Backstreet Crawler
- The Band Plays On ( 1975)
- 2nd Street (1976 )
Guest Posts
- Fiends and Angels by Martha Velez (1969 )
- Bring It Back Home by Mike Vernon (1971 )
- Old Hat by Uncle Dog ( 1972)
- Oh How We Danced by Jim Capaldi (1972 )
- Mulgrave Street by Amazing Blondel ( 1974)