Free Bassist Andy Fraser Has Died

Andy Fraser, bassist of the classic English rock band, Free, passed away this week on Monday, March 16.

While a cause of death has yet to be confirmed, it has been known that he had been fighting AIDS and cancer up until his passing. He died in his home in Temecula, California. The British rock musician was 62.

Born in London in 1952, Andrew McLan Fraser began his career as a performer at the age of 15. He first started playing with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, the British rock band that Mick Taylor and Eric Clapton played in during the starts of their own careers. He was recommended by Alexis Korner to join a new project which he had named Fred. Fraser moved on to become one of the founders of the band along with Paul Kossoff, Paul Rodgers, and Simon Kirke.

Free is most well-known for the classic rock song “All Right Now,” which Fraser co-wrote in 1970. The hit has lasted the test of time and has surpassed over 2,000,000 plays in the UK alone. While the band existed for only a brief time from 1968-1973, they produced 6 studio albums and one live album.

In his later years, Fraser was active as a philanthropist within the Rock Against Trafficking charity group. He is survived by his daughters, Hannah and Jasmine, their mother, Ri, his brothers, Gavin and Alex, and his sister, Gail. His daughter, Hannah, said the following in remembrance of her father:

He was a mover and a shaker, and had unfathomable depths of optimism, even when faced with the biggest challenges. He saw everything as an opportunity to make a difference, turning issues into art and uncovering layers of himself to share bravely with the world

Andy Fraser will be greatly missed.

Read more in Classic Rock’s article.