10 Underrated Hard Rock Bands Of The 70's
6. Free
Though the 70's rock scene was progressing by leaps and bounds, there was still a healthy music scene when it came to the bluesier side of rock. With Led Zeppelin quickly ditching conventional 12-bar patterns for more lofty ambitions, Free were one of the few bands that picked the torch for more blues-soaked rock and roll.
Formed in the mind of guitarist Paul Kossof, the group was pivotal in launching the hard rock scene into high gear. Kossof's blistering guitar on the band's smash single "All Right Now" made the band an instant draw for all stripes of rock fans. The group also featured the fantastic vocals of Paul Rodgers, who would go on to form Bad Company with drummer Simon Kirke. Across cuts like "Fire and Water," Free were writing the rulebook on how to play hard rock music with the right amount of swagger.
When the band were poised to become rock's next heavy-hitters, the band quickly imploded due to the downward spiral of Kossof, who eventually died of heart failure due to years of drug addiction. While Free may not have been around long enough to achieve massive rock stardom, the songs they have created live on forever in rock history.