FREE Bassist ANDY FRASER: Rumors Of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

FREE bassist Andy Fraser, the man who penned the staggeringly successful rock anthem "All Right Now", has been out of the limelight now for so long that recently a flurry of almost believable Internet obituaries appeared. The truth was that Andy, although now totally recovered, has spent many years battling a succession of major illnesses, including both cancer and AIDS. Andy responded to news of his premature "death" by announcing the release of his first recordings in over two decades, "Naked…And Finally Free".

In a lengthy discussion with Rockdetector.com's Garry Sharpe-Young, the renowned songwriter discussed everything from penning "All Right Now", his relations with former FREE bandmembers, illness, sexuality and, most importantly, the new album. An excerpt follows:

Rockdetector.com: It has only been made recently public that one of the reasons you have been out of the public eye for so long is that you have battled a succession of major illnesses and, thankfully, won through. Was there ever a point you got to when you thought it was time to "do or die"?

Andy Fraser: "Well, I feel that now. It is all or nothing. Totally committed. There have been times during illnesses that I had to come up with a reason every day not to off myself, but thankfully, things have been smooth for a while. Things that were misdiagnosed before are now under control, and being forced to exercise three hours/day, eat, sleep with unfailing discipline, no non-prescribed drugs, I have never felt better, and I feel I am so on the right track. Life is very exciting."

Rockdetector.com: Not sure if you know, but a few months back you were latest on the premature Internet obituary listings. Were you aware you had "died"??!!

Andy Fraser: "Stuart Smith, a guitarist I know in Los Angeles, called first to say that he had just got off the phone with a British reporter who mentioned he was in the middle of writing my obituary, and Stuart told him he had received an e-mail from me that very morning, it was a petition to sign, regarding the Australian girl who had been accused of smuggling a bunch of pot into Indonesia, and had been convicted, so he was absolutely sure I was alive. The reporter sent me an e-mail containing copies of obituaries printed in other media and asked could he have a statement. By the time I had Googled it, and seen some of the stuff floating about, the phone starting ringing off the hook, and some of my friends and family were especially distraught. Bottom line, after reassuring everybody, it meant everything I had been kinda casually working on, had to be ready now. Had to get the web site up pronto, make a definitive statement, and suddenly we were in 'go' mode, ready or not. Everything has been full on since then. Just to get the CD to radio has been quite the adventure."

Read the entire interview at Rockdetector.com.