Free considered Olympic Games reunion

Concerns: Paul Rodgers (pic Kevin Nixon)

Free considered reuniting for the London Olympic Games this summer, Paul Rodgers has confirmed.

If they’d regrouped for the opening ceremony it would have been the first time he, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Andy Fraser shared a stage since 1972.

But the singer doesn’t believe it will take place because of difficulties replacing guitarist Paul Kossoff, who died in 1976.

In the next edition of Classic Rock, due out on May 23, Rodgers says: “There was talk of possibly something connected with the Olympics, but I don’t see it coming together now.

“One of the things that is difficult in my mind is that Paul was the soul of the band in many respects, and I hesitate to mess with that.

“If I was going to even think about it, it would mean getting someone who had a really great feel for that particular way in which Paul Kossoff played. The person I think comes closest is Peter Bullick from Debbie Bonham’s band.

“But as I said, there are no actual plans just now.”

Olympic bosses have struggled to settle on a big rock act to represent that aspect of British culture during the over-budget extravaganza. The Sex Pistols refused to appear over unspecified censorship pressure while Who manager Bill Curbishley was forced to explain that drummer Keith Moon couldn’t perform as he’d been dead since 1978.

Singer Roger Daltrey recently explained: “Our manager sent an email back saying, ‘He currently resides at Golders Green Crematorium, where he’s been for the last 34 years. But maybe if you got a round table, some candles and some glasses, you might be able to get him back.’”

Rodgers plays a one-off gig at The Venue in Chichester on May 31 in aid of the Racehorse Sanctuary charity. Classic Rock No.173 hits newsstands on May 23.