Description

With key members hailing from such storied bands as Mott the Hoople and Free, Bad Company had its hard-rock credentials very much in order from the get-go. On the strength of Paul Rodgers's throaty vocals and Mick Ralphs's simple but memorable power-chord riffs, they became one of the most successful acts of the 1970s.

Biography

This solid, highly acclaimed UK heavy rock outfit was formed in 1973, with a line-up comprising Paul Rodgers (b. 17 December 1949, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England; vocals), Simon Kirke (b. 28 July 1949, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England; vocals, drums), Mick Ralphs (b. 31 May 1944, Hereford, Herefordshire, England; vocals, guitar) and Boz Burrell (b. Raymond Burrell, 1 August 1946, Lincolnshire, England; bass). With Ralphs (ex-Mott The Hoople) and Rodgers and Kirke (both ex-Free), Bad Company were akin to a blues-based supergroup, with much of their style derived from the traditions established by Free, not least because of Rodgers' distinctive vocals. Their bestselling debut established their sound: strong vocals placed beside tough melody lines and hard riffing. A string of albums through the mid-70s brought them chart success on both sides of the Atlantic, while a series of arduous stadium tours maintained their reputation as an exemplary live act. They achieved singles success with a number of powerful songs (notably, "Can't Get Enough" and "Feel Like Makin' Love"), all well produced and faultlessly played, although lyrically they were often pedestrian.
A three-year hiatus ended with the release of Rough Diamonds, which provided another UK Top 20 album success. After nearly a decade of extensive gigging and regular albums, they finally dissolved in 1983, with Rodgers embarking on a solo career.
A new version of the band, with former Ted Nugent vocalist Brian Howe replacing Rodgers, was assembled in 1986 for the reunion album Fame And Fortune. The band's subsequent releases were mediocre, pale shadows of their first two albums. The late 80s/early 90s Bad Company model revolved around surviving original members Ralphs and Kirke, and included bassist Rick Wills and rhythm guitarist Dave Colwell. They also enjoyed further US chart success with the singles "If You Needed Somebody" (number 16, November 1990), "Walk Through Fire" (number 28, August 1991) and "How About That' (number 38, September 1992), and the platinum-selling Here Comes Trouble. Rodgers" 1993 solo album, Muddy Waters Blues, included three vintage Bad Company tracks. The band continued recording into the late 90s with Company Of Strangers and Stories Told & Untold. They received further media coverage in 1999 when they announced a 25th anniversary tour. This was a little tenuous, because for most of that time they were not together as a band.
DISCOGRAPHY: Bad Company (Island 1974)****, Straight Shooter (Island 1975)***, Run With The Pack (Island 1976)**, Burnin' Sky (Island 1977)**, Desolation Angels (Island 1979)***, Rough Diamonds (Swan Song 1982)**, Fame And Fortune (Atlantic 1986)**, Dangerous Age (Atlantic 1988)**, Holy Water (Atlantic 1990)**, Here Comes Trouble (Atlantic 1992)**, Company Of Strangers (Atlantic 1995)**, Stories Told & Untold (Atlantic 1996)***, In Concert: Merchants Of Cool (Sanctuary 2002)***.
COMPILATIONS: 10 From 6 (Atlantic 1986)****, The Best Of Bad Company Live ... What You Hear Is What You Get (Atco 1993)***, The Original Bad Company Anthology (Elektra 1999)***.
VIDEOGRAPHY: In Concert: Merchants Of Cool (Sanctuary Video 2002).

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