Free thought about Paul Kossoff hologram

Invitation: Kossoff, Rodgers, Fraser and Kirke in Free

Free bassist Andy Fraser has revealed the band considered using a hologram of guitarist Paul Kossoff if they’d reformed for the Olympic Games.

Singer Paul Rodgers told Classic Rock they were invited to perform at the opening ceremony in London this summer, but after some discussion the idea appeared to be going nowhere.

It would have been the first time Rodgers, Fraser and drummer Simon Kirke had hit the stage together since the bassist quit in 1972. He’d grown tired of the problems related to attempting to save Kossoff from his addiction issues, which split the band a year later then led to the guitarist’s death in 1976.

The concept of holograms of dead celebrities – termed “delebs” – appearing on stage with their former colleagues has exploded into public discussion since rapper Tupac Shakur was brought back to life for last month’s Coachella festival. Queen guitarist Brian May has said an “optical illusion” of frontman Freddie Mercury will appear during their musical We Will Rock You next week.

In the next edition of Classic Rock, due out on May 23, Rodgers reports: “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.”

Now Fraser says of Free’s invitation: “I always figured we would re-marry our ex-wives before getting back together. But the event was such that I felt I should put aside my personal demons.

“We considered many guitarists. I suggested Mark Knopfler, Ron Wood, Dave Gilmour. I was looking into a Kossoff hologram by the Tupac people, so we would actually be playing with his track.

“The million-dollar price tag didn’t go down too well with others – or suggestions about guitarists.”

The bassist adds he’s considering playing the event with pop-blues singer-songwriter Tobi, who’s signed to McTrax International, the music delivery firm of which Fraser is CEO.