Introduction
Paul Francis Kossoff (14 September 1950 – 19 March 1976) was an English guitarist best known as a member of Free. He was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
Early days
Kossoff was the son of Margaret (Jenkins) and the English actor David Kossoff. His father was of Russian-Jewish descent. Kossoff started playing the guitar in the mid-1960s, being taught by session guitarist Colin Falconer, and at age 15 helped to found the band Black Cat Bones. The band played with touring blues piano player Champion Jack Dupree, did many supporting shows for Fleetwood Mac and other gigs with Fleetwood Mac cofounder Peter Green. Kossoff jammed and spent hours discussing blues playing and players. Kossoff's bandmate in Black Cat Bones was drummer Simon Kirke, and the two went on to play on Champion Jack Dupree's April 1968 album When You Feel the Feeling You Was Feeling.
Death
Kossoff's unhappiness with the end of Free and his drug addictions contributed to a drastic decline in the guitarist's health. On a flight from Los Angeles to New York on 19 March 1976, Kossoff died from a pulmonary embolism, after a blood clot in his leg shifted to his lung. The day before, he had a jam session with keyboard player Dennis Provisor. He was cremated and interred at the Golders Green Crematorium. His epitaph reads "All Right Now".
One of his guitars, a 1957 Fender Stratocaster, was purchased after his death by Dave Murray, who is a member of Iron Maiden and used it between 1978 and 1990.
Selective discography
Free
- Tons of Sobs (1969)
- Free (1969)
- Fire and Water (1970)
- Highway (1970)
- Free Live! (1971) (live)
- Free at Last (1972)
- Heartbreaker (1973)
Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit
- Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu and Rabbit (1971)
Solo
- Back Street Crawler (1973)
- Koss (1977)
- Blue Soul (1986)
Back Street Crawler
- The Band Plays On (1975)
- 2nd Street (1976)
- Live at Croydon Fairfield Halls 15/6/75
- (After Kossoff's death the band made further albums)