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Rock World Mourns Loss of Iconic Vocalist Marcie Free at 71
The music community is deeply saddened by the passing of legendary rock singer Marcie Free, who died at the age of 71. Free, previously known as Mark Free, was a powerful voice in the rock scene for decades, lending her incredible talent to bands such as Unruly Child, King Kobra, and Signal.
The news of her death was confirmed on October 24 by longtime friend and Unruly Child bandmate, Jay Schellen. In an emotional social media post, Schellen expressed his profound grief, stating, “I just couldn’t find the words last night when I heard the news that my loving friend and bandmate in Unruly Child Marcie Free has passed.”
Schellen’s heartfelt tribute continued, describing the immense sorrow shared by the entire band. “This is heartbreaking.
Bruce, Guy, Larry all of which I hold dear as family are shattered for the loss of our Marcie. We began UC together in 1992 and continued our friendship and music making throughout these years to this day.”
He lauded Free’s unparalleled vocal abilities and compassionate spirit. “Marcie was a marvel to behold. A voice that had no limits and no equal, a truly singular talent and one of the most open and beautiful souls I have ever known,” Schellen wrote, adding that he was “gutted” and felt Free was “always an Angel, now you have your wings.”
Tributes poured in from fans across social media platforms, with many sharing their condolences and cherished memories of Free’s music. One fan remarked, “One of my all-time favorite singers to work with.
Such an incredible loss,” while another added, “Absolutely without question one of my biggest vocal influences… Just an incredible person.
My heart breaks personally and for you. Truly a loss for humanity.”
Andrew McNeice of Melodic Rock also shared his sorrow, writing, “It’s the kind of news you dread, especially in the middle of the night… But my friend Marcie Free has left us and I’m heartbroken.
I’ll have more to say later. RIP the voice of AOR.”
Fans also highlighted Free’s impactful contributions to rock music. A Redditor noted, “Marcie was an amazing, underrated singer.
Her debut album with Unruly Child is worth checking out for any hair metal fan. RIP.”
Another fan recalled seeing King Kobra perform in the ’80s, commenting, “OMG! She did an incredible job on Ready to Strike.
I saw King Kobra in San Diego in the ’80s. There were only about 100 people in the club but they gave us an arena show.
Sorry to hear about her passing.”
Free’s illustrious career included performing on the first two albums released by King Kobra in the 1980s, before she went on to record two albums with Signal in 1989 and 2000. She then became a cornerstone of Unruly Child, releasing six albums with them between 1992 and 2019, leaving an indelible mark on the rock music landscape.