Gay Rocker Andy Fraser Dies At Age 62

Openly gay and openly HIV+ bassist Andy Fraser has died at the age of 62. Fraser is best known as the author of his group Free's classic 1970 hit, All Right Now. Via the BBC:

The musician died on Monday and he had been fighting cancer and AIDS, according to an official statement regarding his death. The Riverside County coroner said the cause of death was not yet known and remains under investigation. The London-born musician became a founding member of the British group when he was just 15. He wrote most of the his material with Free lead singer Paul Rodgers, who went on to front bands Bad Company and The Firm. "A survivor of both cancer and AIDS, Andy was a strong social activist and defender of individual human rights," the statement read. "He leaves behind his daughters Hannah and Jasmine Fraser, and their mother Ri, his sister Gail, brothers Gavin and Alex, and many friends and associates in the industry."

All Right Now topped the charts in more than a dozen countries and peaked at #4 on Billboard's Hot 100. You might also know another famous Fraser composition, Robert Palmer's 1978 hit Every Kinda People, which has been covered by many artists.

In a 2005 interview, Fraser revealed what he considered to be his greatest achievement: "Coming to terms with being gay – not only personally, but publicly. Being able to share that with my daughters, which has enabled the most open, loving relationship imaginable. Family acceptance is important to everyone, and now having their incredible talents supporting, and working on my behalf really feels like a winner. Essentially being seen, and shown through their eyes, I couldn’t look any better."