Paul Kossoff
b. 14 September 1950, Hampstead, London, England, d. 19 March 1976. The son of English actor David Kossoff, Paul was an inventive, impassioned guitar player who was initially a member of Black Cat Bones, a nascent late-60s blues band which included drummer Simon Kirke. In 1968, both musicians became founder members of Free and later worked together in Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu And Rabbit, a spin-off project which completed a lone album in 1971 during a hiatus in the parent group's career. Free was reconstituted in 1972, but Kossoff's tenure during this second phase was blighted by recurring drug and related health problems. Absent on portions of several tours, Kossoff finally left the group to pursue a solo career. BACK STREET CRAWLER contained several excellent performances, notably Molten Gold, but it was two years before the guitarist was well enough to resume live work. He accompanied John Martyn on a 1975 tour before assembling a new group, also entitled Back Street Crawler. The quintet completed one album but projected concerts were cancelled when Kossoff suffered a near-fatal heart attack. Specialists forbade an immediate return, but plans were hatched for a series of concerts the following year. However, in March 1976, Paul Kossoff died in his sleep during a flight to America. On Jim Capaldi's 1975 solo SHORT CUT DRAW BLOOD, two songs were reputedly written about Kossof; Seagull and Boy With A Problem. Kossof played lead guitar on the latter, presumably oblivious to the poignant lyrics.