Former Free Bassist Andy Fraser Passes

Andy Fraser

London-born ANDY FRASER, a child prodigy who played with JOHN MAYALL’S BLUESBREAKERS before his 16th birthday, then joined FREE as a bass player, where he created the famous riff in “All Right Now,” passed away in his TEMECULA, CA, home of unknown causes at the age of 62.

“We were brothers,” writes FRASER about his time in FREE with PAUL KOSSOFF, PAUL RODGERS and SIMON KIRKE, producing and co-writing the anthemic “All Right Now” with RODGERS.  “Like a gang, or a team of commandos, where we could be sure we were all watching each other’s backs. I still live by the values formulated at that time.”

The song was recognized by ASCAP in 1990 for accumulating one million airplays on U.S. radio by late 1999. BMI LONDON gave him an award in 2006 marking more than three million plays. It went to #1 in more than 20 territories.

FRASER went on to form SHARKS with guitarist CHRIS SPEDDING, leaving after just a single, critically acclaimed album. After moving to CALIFORNIA, he wrote hits for ROBERT PLAMER (“Every Kinda People”), JOE COCKER, CHAKA KHAN, ROD STEWART and PAUL YOUNG.

FRASER contracted a rare form of cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, in the ‘80s, and was diagnosed with AIDS shortly after coming out as a homosexual. Up until his passing, he was considered the “poster child” for living with AIDS and not have it be a death sentence.

In mid-2013, FRASER played a supporting role as bassist in the band of protege TOBI for a short series of U.K. dates. Accompanying EARNSHAW and FRASER, was CHRIS SPEDDING.  FRASER has produced and mentored EARNSHAW on a number of album releases.

Just last month, FRASER appeared at a GRAMMY party for ROCK AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, where he took pictures with PIERCE BROSNAN. He was planning on going out on tour with his old pal FRANKIE MILLER after the pair once tried to form a band together back in the ‘80s.

FRASER is survived by daughters HANNAH and JASMINE. Funeral arrangements are pending.

"We are shocked and heartbroken by the loss of our amazing father ANDY, who was a true force of nature," he daughter HANNAH said. "His endless passion for music has been an inspiration to the world for over half a decade. Using his creative talents to bring positive change to the world with a fearless commitment to honesty and justice has been a pivotal example for my life. He worked tirelessly on humanitarian projects such as Rock Against Trafficking, Gay Rights Issues, The Occupy Movement, Eco-activism, and he was producing a documentary on Ocean Conservation with me. Andy was a survivor who overcame some of the most challenging health issues in his life, and yet he left this earth healthy, happy and full of plans to make this world a better place for us all. It's alright now, and he's finally free."

“Andy was such a passionate musician, such a good man, such an unconditional support to me as a father," his daughter JASMINE, said. He fought long and hard through a lot of pain to survive cancer and AIDS so that he could share his music, and it was because he held on through those hard times that I was able to later know and love him. He was up early doing four hours of exercise every morning to keep his body healthy to keep going. He had a burning desire to do good in this world, and he single-mindedly dedicated himself to promoting the causes which he believed in. I will miss is boyish and irreverent sense of humor, his endless optimism, and the way he could sum up everything that needed to be said in one perfect line."

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