Along with LED ZEPPELIN and CREAM Blues Rockers FREE is one of a mere handful of truly groundbreaking Hard Rock acts. Marrying Blues with hard edged guitar, FREE paved the way for a succession of quality British bands and have inspired countless others. FREE's influence is still felt today as ASCAP recently gave recognition to the band's signature song 'All Right Now' which surpassed one million radio plays in America alone.

Frontman PAUL RODGERS, blessed with a rich blues toned vocal ability, had travelled down to London seeking fame and fortune from his native Middlesbrough, with his then act THE ROADRUNNERS, an act which also included in the ranks guitarist MICKY MOODY later of SNAFU and WHITESNAKE. Once in London a name change ensued to THE WILDFLOWERS. Fate intervened when, travelling to a gig, the band's van suffered a seized engine. While the rest of his colleagues hitch hiked back home Rodgers journeyed back the opposite direction to London subsequently founding BROWN SUGAR.

During 1968, Rodgers' unique talents were recognized by BLACK CAT BONES guitarist PAUL KOSSOFF. After an impromptu jam at the Finsbury Park pub, the Fickle Pickle, the duo forged a union that, together with Kossoff's BLACK CAT BONES drummer Simon Kirke and JOHN MAYALL'S BLUES BREAKERS bassist ANDY FRASER, would evolve into a Rock legend. This despite all the participants of the fledgling FREE being under 20 when the band convened, Fraser being the youngest at just sixteen years old.

Having adopted the title FREE following a name suggestion by Blues great ALEXIS KORNER, who took on a mentoring role for the band and in turn introduced the band to Chris Blackwell's Island record label, the quartet first toured America as support to BLIND FAITH in 1969.

The band's debut album, 'Tons Of Sobs', failed to chart but gained valuable attention for the group Indeed, the original recordings included a track titled 'Visions of Hell', although this was removed just prior to the album's release. Whilst the band's second, eponymously titled, album failed to ignite FREE's career. The group's third release, 'Fire And Water' did and an edited cut of the track 'All Right Now' gave the band a huge international hit, the song reaching number 2 in Britain and number 4 in America. The number has proved such an enduring favourite it has regularly re-entered the British charts throughout the years and has even found further fame in an advertising campaign during the 90s for Wrigley's Spearmint Gum!

following 'Highway' album portrayed a more refined side to the band's nature, emphasizing more mellow use of piano than aggressive guitar although the band's next single, 'The Stealer', failed to emulate the success of it's predecessor and tensions within the band were becoming obvious.

Despite attaining another massive hit with 'My Brother Jake' by 1971 FREE had tired of the success and all it's trappings and split. Rodgers quickly formed a new act titled PEACE managing to record an album. Although PEACE had a deal with Island Records the recordings remain unreleased to this day although PEACE toured Britain alongside MOTT THE HOOPLE.

The singer was then invited to join a potential, bona fide supergroup assembled briefly during 1972 by a disgruntled DEEP PURPLE guitarist RITCHIE BLACKMORE. Titled BABY FACE, the projected band also included THIN LIZZY bassist PHIL LYNOTT and DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice. BABY FACE never got beyond a few jam sessions and both Lynott and Blackmore persevered with their own bands.

The other FREE members tried their hands at solo projects, including KOSSOF, KIRKE, TETSU & RABBIT and Fraser's TOBY with guitarist Adrian Fisher, but reunited once more. By this time it was apparent that Kossoff was extremely ill with a severe drug dependency.

Japanese bassist Tetsu Yamauchi and drummer John Bundrick joined the group in 1973 although Kossoff left to join Fraser's post FREE outfit SHARKS for a spell, but returned for a British tour. In October 1972 Kossoff departed once more and promptly formed BACKSTREET CRAWLER but tragically died of drug induced heart failure in 1976 aged just 25. Ex-OSIBISA guitarist Wendel Richardson saw out the last days of FREE.

In the wake of the final FREE split PAUL RODGERS and Simon Kirke, together with MOTT THE HOOPLE guitarist MICK RALPHS and KING CRIMSON bassist Boz Burrell, formed the hugely successful BAD COMPANY in 1974. In 1984 Rodgers teamed up with erstwhile LED ZEPPELIN guitarist JIMMY PAGE, bassist TONY FRANKLIN and drummer Chris Slade to form THE FIRM. Seemingly a marriage made in heaven the Rodgers/Page partnership only produced two below par albums before splitting.

Rodgers performed the OTIS REDDING track 'Dock Of The Bay' in New York for the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert. In 1990 the singer returned to form with THE LAW, a project combining the vocalist with ex-THE WHO and FACES drummer Kenny Jones. The album release was a fine clutch of Rodgers own material alongside that of tunes donated by BRYAN ADAMS and DEF LEPPARD's Phil Collen.

Rogers next move was to assemble a multitude of high profile name guests for the 'Muddy Waters Blues' album including JOURNEY guitarist NEAL SCHON, QUEEN guitarist BRIAN MAY, BON JOVI's RICHIE SAMBORA, Slash of GUNS N' ROSES, YES guitarist TREVOR RABIN, JEFF BECK, PINK FLOYD's DAVE GILMOUR, STRAY CATS Brian Setzer and STEVE MILLER. Also featured were bassist Pino Palladino and BONHAM's Jason Bonham on drums. The album paid tribute to the Blues greats and succeeded in putting Rodgers back into the limelight.

Rodgers rejoined BAD COMPANY for a 'classic' band line up tour of America in 1999. By 2001 Rodgers had assembled a new solo band including HEART guitarist Howard Leese for gigs opening for ALICE COOPER in Australia. The vocalist's band for an April 2004 performance at the 'Brandon BBQFest' in Brandon, Florida saw the inclusion of Howard Leese once again plus former ALICE IN CHAINS man JERRY CANTRELL.

The singer, alongside DAVID GILMOUR and GARY MOORE, would be included on the special guest roll call for the 'Miller Strat Pack' concert on 24th September 2004 at London's Wembley Arena. Held in aid of the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy the concert celebrated 50 years of the famous Fender Stratocaster guitar. In December BRIAN MAY made the surprising announcement that QUEEN was set to reform, the new band being fronted by PAUL RODGERS. The musicians had jammed FREE's 'All Right Now' at the Fender 50th anniversary concert, this show apparently providing the catalyst for the new group, simply billed QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS.

FREE's 'I'll Be Creepin' was given a new treatment by ex-OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist JAKE E. LEE on his 2005 album of seventies cover versions.