It was with the heaviest of hearts I heard the news of passing of the great Andy Fraser, whom I called a friend. A fighter to the end, he survived AIDS and cancer and had to keep to a strict daily routine to stay fit – yet there’s only so far one could go.
These pages were the first to welcome former FREE bassist with an interview, when he’d come out of a long retirement and went back into action. A little later, we discussed not music but lifestyle, and it was fun to talk to Andy about his preference of e-books to paper ones. A warm, kind, open man, many knew Fraser as Mr. Big after a song with his most famous solo on, while in fact he was small in stature, although really enormous personality-wise. It would be impossible to forget his infectious laughter or smile.
There were plans Andy told me of, including his part in a tribute to his friend Frankie Miller, there would be more moves for Rock Against Trafficking, a charity project I introduced him to, and there would have been a great rendition of “All Right Now,” a smash Fraser co-wrote, this summer when the veteran was to share the stage with another FREE alumnus, Simon Kirke, yet it’s not to be. Rest in peace, Andy!
