ans worldwide are mourning the loss of legendary British guitarist Mick Ralphs, a founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople. He passed away at 81 after being bedridden since a stroke in 2016, just days after his final performance with Bad Company at London’s O2 Arena.
Paul Rodgers, frontman of Bad Company, described Ralphs as an amazing guitarist, songwriting partner, and friend, praising his humor and talent. Ralphs was set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November, a recognition many fans felt was long overdue.
Mick Ralphs performing with the British band Bad Company in 1974.Credit…Fin Costello/Redferns, via Getty Images
Ralphs first gained fame in the late ’60s with Mott the Hoople, especially known for the song “Ready for Love.” He left the band in 1973 and…
Mick Ralphs, a British guitarist and songwriter who glittered at the peak of glam rock with Mott the Hoople before joining forces with the vocalist Paul Rodgers to form Bad Company, the hard-rock quartet that rode high in the feathered-hair 1970s with anthems like “Can’t Get Enough” and “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy,” has died. He was 81.
His death was announced on Monday in a statement on the official Bad Company site, which noted that he had suffered a stroke days after his final performance with the group in October 2016 and had remained bedridden until his death. The statement did not say where or when he had died, or give a specific cause.
Bad Company, scheduled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November, combined muscular stadium rock with infectious hooks to become one of the most commercially successful groups of its era.
Formed in 1973, the group originally consisted of Mr. Ralphs (late of Mott the Hoople, known for the 1972 hit “All the Young Dudes”); Mr. Rodgers and the drummer Simon Kirke, both previously of Free, whose arena-shaking “All Right Now” was a No. 4 hit in 1970; and the bassist Boz Burrell, a veteran of King Crimson.
