Paul Rodgers performs at the Royal Albert Hall on May 28, 2017. (Image credit: Christie Goodwin)
Last year, legendary vocalist Paul Rodgers set out on a barnstorming U.K. tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Free, his pioneering, hit-making band with guitarist Paul Kossoff, bassist Andy Fraser and drummer Simon Kirke. The trek ended with a sold-out May 28, 2017, performance at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Well, if you happened to miss that show, you're in luck. On June 22, Rodgers and Quarto Valley Records will release the performance on CD/DVD, vinyl and Blu-ray as Free Spirit: Celebrating the Music of Free. The 16-song collection includes “All Right Now,” “Wishing Well” and “Fire and Water,” plus several deep tracks, some of which were never performed live by the original band. These include “Love You So” and “Catch a Train.”
You can check out the official preview clip below.
"When I went down to London in '67, I had three things in mind,” Rodgers says. “To survive, to find peace of mind and to make music doing it. When Free came together, there was a creative magic around us, something unique and different. I felt again the strength of that magic on the 2017 Free Spirit Tour. Playing the songs we wrote, I felt the love and recognition the fans have for this music. The band, the fans and I inspired each other to create and capture these moments in time.
“I've been making music for a long, long, long time, so to get super charged and re-inspired to perform was a revelation. I loved the Free Spirit Tour and the guys who helped create the magic—Pete Bullick, Rich Newman, Ian Rowley and Gerard ‘G’ Louis. I hope you feel it too; just lose yourself in the music and let it fuel your soul.”
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
