The hard rock community is mourning today after news broke that Marcie Free has died at the age of 71. The former King Kobra and Unruly Child vocalist, whose soaring range defined mid-80s glam metal, leaves behind a legacy built on passion, and quiet courage.
A Voice I First Heard by Chance
I first heard King Kobra’s “Hunger” on VH1 Classic late one night. The song opened with a sharp, metallic guitar intro that immediately caught my ear. Then came the dual guitar solo in the video, tight and melodic, each guitarist trading lines with precision and confidence.
And over all of it was Marcie Free’s voice, fierce yet smooth, commanding every note. That one performance was enough to pull me into the world of King Kobra, and later into Free’s work with Signal and Unruly Child.
From King Kobra to Melodic Rock Mastery
Free joined King Kobra in 1984, recruited by legendary drummer Carmine Appice. The band’s debut, Ready to Strike (1985), delivered everything fans wanted from glam-era metal: neon swagger, arena-sized hooks, and sharp production. The follow-up, Thrill of a Lifetime (1986), leaned more into radio-friendly hard rock.
Not long after, guitarist Mick Sweda and bassist Lonnie Vencent would leave to form the BulletBoys, a connection that shows how King Kobra’s DNA ran deep through late-80s Los Angeles rock.
Free’s own path diverged. She fronted Signal, releasing the criminally underrated Loud & Clear in 1989, and later founded Unruly Child, whose 1992 self-titled debut became a cult AOR classic.
The Transition That Redefined Her Life
In 1993, Free publicly came out as transgender, embracing her identity as Marcie Free. It was a bold move in a scene and an era that were not always kind to difference.
In a later interview, she reflected, “Transitioning was a decision between life or death.” That honesty, and her resilience in continuing to make music under her own name, made her a quiet pioneer in rock long before inclusivity became part of the mainstream conversation.
Even as the big labels moved on, Free’s fan base remained fiercely loyal. Albums with Unruly Child throughout the 2000s and 2010s proved her voice had lost none of its power.
The Sound and Craft That Defined Her
Marcie Free’s voice carried that rare mix of strength and control.
Her recordings with King Kobra showcased her precision and grit, cutting through Mick Sweda and David Michael-Phillips’ guitar interplay. Later, in Unruly Child, her phrasing and tone deepened, favoring emotion over flash but never losing that metallic edge.
Few vocalists of her era could bridge that stylistic gap. Free did it naturally.
Reaction Across the Rock Community
News of Free’s death spread quickly through social media. Jay Schellen, drummer of Unruly Child, posted, “I just couldn’t find the words last night when I heard the news. Marcie was one of a kind.”
Fans flooded comment sections with praise for her voice and bravery. One post on r/hairmetal read: “Marcie Free had one of the greatest voices of the 80s. She should’ve been huge.”
Across the board, the tone was the same: respect, admiration, and sadness for a voice that never truly got its due.
What Comes Next
As of this writing, no official cause of death has been released. King Kobra bandmates and Unruly Child members are expected to issue statements soon. Fans are already calling for a tribute show in her honor.
Sources Cited
- “UNRULY CHILD/Ex-KING KOBRA Singer MARCIE FREE Dead At 71” – Blabbermouth .net. BLABBERMOUTH.NET
- Confirms the death of Marcie Free (age 71; formerly of King Kobra, Signal, Unruly Child)
- Includes quote from Jay Schellen on Free’s passing
- “The History Of Mark Free” – MelodicRock .com interview with Marcie Free. Melodic Rock
- Detailed interview covering her early career, King Kobra days, transition, and writing perspective
- Useful for background on her musicianship and personal journey
- “Marcie Free Interview, UNRULY CHILD Can’t Go Home” – MusicLegends.ca (2017) musiclegends.ca
- In-depth look at her later career with Unruly Child and her reflections
- Good source for the “later career” section
- Wikipedia – “Marcie Free” and “King Kobra” pages. Wikipedia+1
- Provide overview of her biographical details, discography, and the link between King Kobra and BulletBoys
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2 responses to “Marcie Free, Former King Kobra Vocalist, Dead at 71”
[…] The Rocktone reported that in 1993, Free publicly came out as transgender, adopting the name Marcie Free, formerly Mark Free. Following her transition, Free continued performing and recording, reuniting with Unruly Child for several releases through the 2010s. […]
[…] The Rocktone reported that in 1993, Free publicly came out as transgender, adopting the name Marcie Free, formerly Mark Free. Following her transition, Free continued performing and recording, reuniting with Unruly Child for several releases through the 2010s. […]