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Born and raised in London, Simon landed a gig with a group called the Black Cat Bones. The drummer befriended the group's talented guitarist, Paul Kossoff, who in turn convinced Simon to leave the group with him and begin a new outfit with singer Paul Rodgers. Soon ex-John Mayall's Bluesbreakers bassist Andy Fraser signed on and Free was officially formed in 1968. Mixing blues with hard rock, the group would prove to be quite influential, especially on the strength of their classic Fire and Water, "All Right Now." When the band broke up, it didn't take Simon long to find another gig, joining Paul Rodgers in a new band, Bad Company. Joined by ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell and ex-Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs, Bad Company was the first group signed to Led Zeppelin's record label, Swan Song. Their debut album, 1974's Bad Company, would go on to become one of hard rock's all-time classics, as it birthed such long-standing rock radio standards as "Can't Get Enough," "Ready for Love," and the title tr