Tetsu Yamauchi

[E-Z]

Tetsu Yamauchi a Japanese bass player born October 21 1946 & died December 4 2025 age 79 is probably best remembered in Britain as being the 'Japanese guy' who replaced Andy Fraser founding bass player in FREE in 1972 and appearing on Free's last studio album Heartbreaker in 1973 and the hit single off the album 'Wishing Well' although prior to appearing on the Heartbreaker album Tetsu was one part of the four man band KOSSOFF, KIRKE, TETSU & RABBIT and of the album of the same name released in 1972 before finally joining THE FACES after Free disbanded with Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan & Kenny Jones in 1973/74.

 

[dr wu]

All Free members got writing credit on this on Heartbreaker including Tetsu
Wishing Well

 

[E-Z]

Wishing Well a all time favourite Free track of mine and I recall hearing it at the time that it was in the UK singles chart back in early 1973 and it's always been a favourite of mine since.

Also I am sad to hear of Tetsu passing because I liked that later Free line up and the Heartbreaker album as well as the original line up with Andy Fraser on bass anyway the later Free line up with Tetsu also included John 'Rabbit' Bundrick from the USA on Hammond/keys & vocals along with Paul Rogers and when they toured the USA in 1973 Wendell Richardson from Osibisa replaced the unwell Paul Kossoff on guitar.

With regards to the song Wishing Well the USA had a different mix to the British mix cos the British mix as opposed to the US mix which included some different guitar overdubs and some conga playing was added to the track courtesy of Rebop Kwaku Baah and often known as 'Rocky' a African percussionist who was around in the late 1960s & early 1970s mainly playing with Stevie Winwood, Chris Wood & Jim Capaldi in Traffic.