Joe Bonamassa: The influence of the great Paul Kossoff

[@alexguitar841]

Paul Kossoff is a legend and Free are criminally underrated in general...

[@haloskater24]

i think they were were the most soulful rock band of the 60s and 70s.

[@donjohn2695]

Free are considered one of the greatest blues rock band's EVER and kossoff is a guitar hero

[@markn4526]

I was just talking with the vocalist of my band earlier today and I said that when I think of THE classic Classic Rock band, I think of Free.

[@tobiascrow2792]

Kossoff pretty much kicked all the pretty boy's ass... Clapton, Page, etc...

[@Guitarplayer724]

@@tobiascrow2792😂

[@googoogjoobgoogoogjoob]

Paul Kossoff & Peter Green - doesn't get any better

[@robmarchese]

I couldn't agree more!

[@anthonywilliams6764]

In 1969 I went to an all nighter which featured the Keef Hartley Big Band top of the bill, and this was at the London Colloseum, a venue usually associated with the English National Opera. The warm up band came on, and this little guy with massive hair, and a Les Paul stood on stage alongside a drummer and bass player, with the singer doing what was at that time very slow but sensuous gyrations with the mike and stand, whilst singing their own compositions, which were slow and sensuous. The bass and guitar interlocked at times, each with their own voice on their instrument, and the overall effect was profoundly mesmerising, the singers voice was the best blues voice that I had ever heard, the guitarist was obviously slightly out of it, standing on the spot with his head thrown back eyes closed, and mouth wide open, but his sound and his simple blues phrasing was unforgettable, in the same way that I had witnessed Hendrix a few weeks earlier at the Royal Albert Hall, I knew that I would never hear anyone play that way ever again. It was a cathartic moment, listening and watching the band which was called "Free", and I was in my mid twenties, already playing in bands myself in London, and I knew who was good and who was not. Now, almost eighty years old, I know that my judgement was right, the guitarist Paul Kossof, was a genius, which I define as an artist who changes everything that comes after their lifetime, during their lifetime.

[@malcolmbliss777]

I’d love to buy u a drink sometime. Of course, it’ll have to be when her in the States, since I’m a felon.

[@chrisshaw6451]

OMG! First time I've seen someone actually recognise Paul Kossoff as a GREAT guitar player! I saw him and Free four times in their hayday, absolutely fantastic player, and an amazing band. Paul was taken way too soon, I would have so loved to see the the player he would have become over all these passing years. I even met him and got an autograph, but it sadly went missing somewhere down the line. Continue to rest in peace Mr. Kossoff, you are still very much appreciated by some of us, and very much missed.

[@jerrypinner1671]

In early 1970, I bunked off school because Free were playing in town. I didn't have the money for a ticket but hung around outside the stage door at the venue. Late afternoon Koss and Andy Frazer pulled up in a white Rover car: Koss asked if I was coming to the show- I said I didn't have a ticket. He said that if I carried his guitar in for him I'd be part of the road crew. Which is how I got to see Free.

[@edwardbaxendale1489]

Kossoff a genius a true one of a kind artist there will never be a guitarist to equal his genius and the truth is that only a certain amount of guitar people appreciate what he delivered,hopefully one day the rest will wake up.

[@stratmagic6893]

Free is one of my all time favorite bands. I was listening to them as a teenager in the late 60's and early 70's.

[@barriem5318]

Fire and Water Deluxe Edition is amazing. It's more like a restoration than a remaster. Wonderful wonderful stuff.

[@frontman62]

Yes Kossoff was a perfect example of “not how many notes you play, but how you play em”

[@starmanoretorno]

2:51

[@brownsfan7753]

Always love to hear about Kossoff!!

[@jamessator5564]

FREE has really rocked my world in 2021 & 2022 !!

[@martintaper7997]

and Paul Kossoff's solo album also called Back Street Crawler featuring "Time Spent Time Away" and "Tuesday Morning" - brilliant.

[@stephenwhiting6475]

Koss was and is a true legend. Joe is likewise. Stunning playing as always

[@NSPIREGuru]

Thanks to Joe for explaining the greatness of a guitarist (and a band) who have always been among my favorites. I think Kossoff's greatness goes over most people's heads, and I know, being a non-musician, I've never been able to explain what made him special. Listening to Joe explain and play some of Koss's bits, I saw watching this, saying "Yeah, that's it..."

[@ericwarrington6650]

Thanks again for the pieces of history Joe...can't wait to see u live ..you've Eric gales is magic...🤘😜🎸❤️🔥🎶🙏

[@philsheridan1454]

I followed them everywhere,from the Marquee to the Isle of Wight and remember telling eanyone who asked 25 years later during the Brit boom of the mid nineties that I went to the Isle of Wight for Hendrix and Rory but mainly for Kossoff.... Yes! They all said Who? I remember saying that if I play for 50 years I'll never have that touch. .... I was right Lol ... A great case for nurture or nature. Happy days .... At least I'm on the same wavelength as another of my heroes. !

[@philibowey4809]

Paul kossoff was one of the Kings of the blues in my opinion very underrated guitarist he was unreal for the age He was when he did the stuff with free they were all teenagers ...... my next guitar is gonna be kossoff inspired 🤘

[@SIHLoffical]

Nobody here mentioned black cat bones. Paul Kossoff was also in that band. They had one record, barbed wire sandwich (1970). I think they are overlooked in Paul Kossoff’s career. He made the sound amazing.

[@freeconvention]

Hi sorry to say that Paul didn't play on that album but there is a lp/cd release of Paul with black cat bones titled Paul's blues

[@SIHLoffical]

I know that but he formed that band in the first place and he built them up to that and left to play with free

[@colinmooney9052]

Kos was in the band but it was actually Rod Price later of foghat playing lead on that record as Paul had left by that point

[@mad24r45]

Got into Free and Kossoff a while ago and besides his god like burst tone I was able to connect their aesthetic to so many bands that came afterwards, be it the "UK" Whitesnake, be it the White Stripes. Learned a lot from their "sparse" arrangements.

[@Superjet113]

When Joe speaks, I listen...

[@TheMiddleAgedMusician-mc6xo]

What a lot of folks miss is Kossoff's chord voicing. Simple yet ended up sounding more complex than the shapes would suggest.

[@pjfdourley4998]

I love the simplicity of the vibrato.......ok, I've never heard anyone who can emulate it

[@taffyjones281]

Funnily enough, some years ago, I thought a Free reunion with Joe standing in for the sadly long lost Koss, would have been a great idea. Now obviously impossible, it's still nice to hear such an appreciation of a magnificent, hugely underrated band. ( anyone never listened to Free, check them out!)

[@chrisdowey1360]

The very first time I heard JoBo sing and play I instantly knew he'd been partly influenced by Free - especially the intonation and vibrato of the sadly missed Koss. I find that JoBo is very gracious in his tribute to the effect that Koss had on his technique. One of my musical regrets is never having seen Free play live, but their back catalogue stands as a testament to what four very young men achieved in such a short timescale; we'll never see such a musically complementary band again in the simple rawness of those early days of British rock.

[@FF-so3su]

Love Joe's true love of other players and willingness to tell the world 😊👍❤️

[@markhill9275]

Not a well known fact, but the story goes that Clapton "asked" (read pleaded) Koss to show him how he did his vibrato.

[@digitalimager4946]

Thanks for reminding us of your name.

[@bluesbubba7429]

Joe, I got into Free and Paul Kossoff. He was great. He left this earth too early. I saw you back at the Indian Casino in Cabazon, CA opening for BB King many moons ago. I heard one riff and I was sold. My wife and I then saw you at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Keep on keeping on Joe.

[@MarkBailey-hn7uv]

thanks joe just heard this .what a player !

[@ddsdss256]

The loss of Koss (especially at such a ridiculously young age) was tragic not only for his family (especially his dad), but for the art of guitar. I can't think of another player with more soul/feel (oh, that vibrato). I'll take musicality over thrashing any day. Another mark of the great artist he was is that he never played the same song the same way twice. That's something I really admired about Zappa--another phenomenal guitarist, who obviously played (and got his band to play) much more complex compositions than the meat-and-potatoes (not at all a bad thing) material form Free and BCS. Both are sublime but in different ways. I love the interplay between Koss and Andy (another tragic to-soon loss), especially on Mr. Big. What an incredibly full sound with Simon's bare-bones drumming. Add The Voice's incredible voice, and you really wish Free were still going!

[@RezaKhan2024]

Fire and Water is my favourite FREE song.

[@Rushscored4]

Free. Magic ❤

[@Pwecko]

Free were one of the top bands back in the early 70s. It's a shame that they went our of fashion. One of my favourite tracks, especially for the guitar sound, is Cone Together In The Morning. Really understated, but brilliant.

[@marcbehrend3470]

Cool that joe pays homage to koss❤

[@bobrat]

Hey Joe could you play Free's, 7 Angles or Heartbreaker 😍

[@toddgakk5783]

This is the first time I've ever heard someone sound like kossoff

[@crankjazz]

Andy Fraser used a Gibson EB3 not an SG bass as that model didn't come out until much later.

[@stephenhyder4659]

I have yet to recover from first hearing "All Right Now" by Free in 1972.

[@busterstutts9849]

So cool

[@davidlaman3935]

Check out his solo album. Its got a 19 min song that sends shivers up your spine

[@christianjimbomb8204]

I will buy it if it is Free

[@mikdenhaag5551]

Jupp. Paul Rodgers is that good and no mean guitar player himself. When Paul K couldn't manage a far East tour with Free due to his health probs Rodgers played lead guitar and sang on the tour. I was just too young to catch Free live, althgough actually on a family holiday on the Isle of Wight in 1970 when they played there. My older sister was going to take us but my Dad forbade it! Finally managed to see Paul Kossoff in Back Street Crawler. His best days were gone for sure, but there were still some moments when he was on it. There are actually some live cuts of that IOW gig in 1970 with Kossoff standing right up against his Marshall stack and his playing is fantastic. Check it out....here is Mr. Big kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6vOlploob2Kbpo

[@CoalvilleQuad]

That's a great shame you missed Free at the Isle of Wight, it was a most fantastic set by the band, as evidenced by the youtube video. I was lucky enough to see them again a few months later in our local concert hall, again absolutely brilliant live.

[@jimflanagan1948]

I’ve got the same collection of Les Pauls that Joe has…except they’re Chibson Les Pauls

[@andymullarx6365]

Well Joe has become a font of knowledge and it's better because he can demonstrate rather than just speak about this stuff.

[@josephesposito3499]

How do you get a tight fast vibrato? How should I practice? And pointers?

[@liamheuser6197]

Had no idea he tried out for UFO

[@DMSProduktions]

NEITHER did the aliens apparently!

[@ryanmcgrath9869]

"Fire and Water" at the Beat Club in 1970 that Joe referenced. By far the best version I've come across. This video started me down my Paul Kossoff & Free journey. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2KWdoiLqK6mfKc If you love this version as much as I do, especially the solo, then check out this tutorial. Very well done and note the rhythm guitar part. Almost everyone plays it wrong but granted it is hard to decifer on the studio album. kzbin.info/www/bejne/inXGnoKZrpd5a9U Lastly, Paul Rodgers sounds even better today than he did in 1970 and he sounded great then. Simply amazing.

[@oscardarrell]

hi Joe 🤘

[@mojobag01]

He's not wrong.

[@stevenorris4741]

Wonder if Joe has discovered Ollie Halsall. ?

[@malcolmbliss777]

Kossoff taught Clapton how to “sustain” single solo notes properly, or so I read.

[@pty8s]

I would never disagree with the great Bon but…. We didn’t have monitors in the ‘60s. When the money came PA s unfortunately was it. To have a monitor was to be a bit over the top with yourself and I’m presuming Rodgers did not want to change an Fn thang. I believe my boys had 1-2 effects on the floor an dat was it. I fd up but can say I had a band intermittently from 13.

[@massimosoddu5884]

angus yong form me have more to paul kossof, the touch is uguale

[@jonnybeck6723]

Even if it ain't pitch perfect it still "you"

[@matthewh.9544]

Biggest crime is that Free aren't even in the hall of fame.. That's ludicrous

[@DJBuglip]

No, Steve Marriott is the best rock singer of all time. But Rogers is right up there.

[@donjohn2695]

No Paul Rodgers is the greatest rock vocalist EVER the quintessential rock vocalist EVER