Bad Companywere an Englishrocksupergroupthat was formed inLondon[2]in 1973 by singerPaul Rodgers,drummerSimon Kirke(both ex-Free), guitaristMick Ralphs(ex-Mott the Hoople) and bassistBoz Burrell(ex-King Crimson).[1]Kirke was the only member to remain throughout the band's entire run, while he and Ralphs were the only members to appear on every studio album.Peter Grant,who managed the rock bandLed Zeppelin,also managed Bad Company until 1982.
Bad Company | |
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 The original Bad Company line-up in 1976. Left to right: Boz Burrell, Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London,England |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | |
| Spinoffs | |
| Spinoff of | |
| Past members | See:List of Bad Company band members |
| Website | badcompany |
Bad Company enjoyed great success throughout the 1970s. Their first three albums,Bad Company(1974),Straight Shooter(1975) andRun with the Pack(1976), reached the top five in the album charts in both the UK and the US.[3][4]Many of their singles and songs, such as "Bad Company","Can't Get Enough"(1974),"Feel Like Makin' Love"(1975),"Shooting Star"(1975)," Burnin' Sky "(1977) and"Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy"(1979), remain staples ofclassic rockradio. They have sold 20 millionRIAA-certified albums in the US and 40 million worldwide.[5]Though they initially disbanded in 1982, Bad Company reunited on many occasions to record and tour until 2019. In 2023, Kirke revealed that they would not continue as a band following the development of Rodgers' recent health issues.[6]
History
editOriginal Paul Rodgers era (1973–1982)
editBad Company was formed inWestminster,London.[2]It consisted of four seasoned musicians: two former members ofFree,singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke; formerMott the Hoopleguitarist Mick Ralphs; and ex-King Crimsonbassist Boz Burrell. The band signed toSwan Song Records/Atlantic Recordsin North America, and withIsland Recordsin other countries. (Island Records had until that time been the UK home to both Free and King Crimson, as well as to Mott the Hoople for their first four albums; Atlantic, in turn, released King Crimson's and Mott's early albums in the US through a licensing agreement with Island). Atlantic/Warner Musicwould later acquire the non-North American rights to the band's catalogue.
Contrary to speculation that singer Paul Rodgers named the band after theJeff BridgesfilmBad Company,Rodgers stated in an interview withSpinnerthat the idea came from a book of Victorian morals that showed a picture of an innocent child looking up at an unsavoury character leaning against a lamp post. The caption read "beware of bad company".[7]
The band's 1974 debut album,Bad Company,was recorded atHeadley Grange,Hampshire, inRonnie Lane's Mobile Studio.[8]The album reached number one on theBillboard200in the US, and number 3 in theUK Albums Chart,spending 25 weeks in the UK charts.[4]The album has been certified five times platinum in the US, and became the 46th–best-selling album of the 1970s.[9]The singles "Can't Get Enough"and" Movin' On "reached No. 5 and No. 19 on theBillboardHot 100.[10]
In 1975, their second album,Straight Shooter,reached No. 3 in both the UK and the US and also went platinum in the US.[11]The album also spawned two hit singles, "Good Lovin' Gone Bad"at No. 36 and the slower"Feel Like Makin' Love"at No. 10.
Their third album,Run with the Pack,was released in 1976 and reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 5 in the US.[3]Bad Company scheduled a British tour with the band of former Free memberPaul Kossoff,Back Street Crawler,to support the album, as well as a new album by Back Street Crawler. This double headline tour was scheduled to commence on 25 April 1976 but was halted due to Kossoff's death on 19 March 1976.
Released in 1977,Burnin' Skyfared the poorest of their first four records, reaching No. 15 in the US and No. 17 in the UK.[3]Desolation Angels,released in 1979, did better than its predecessor, peaking at No. 3 in the US and No. 10 in the UK.[3]Desolation Angelsalso embellished the group's sound with synthesisers and strings. It had two charting singles: "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" at No. 13 and "Gone Gone Gone" at No. 56.
By the end of the 1970s, however, the band grew increasingly disenchanted with playing large stadiums. In addition,Peter Grantlost interest in the group and management in general after Led Zeppelin drummerJohn Bonhamdied on 25 September 1980. In the words of Simon Kirke, "Peter was definitely the glue which held us all together and in his absence we came apart".[12]
A three-year hiatus from the studio ended with the release ofRough Diamondsin August 1982. This would be the sixth and final LP in the group's original incarnation until four new songs were recorded in 1998. The album was the worst-selling Bad Company album of those featuring Paul Rodgers as the front man. The album peaked at No. 15 in the UK and No. 26 in the US.[3]
After the release ofRough Diamonds,Bad Company disbanded. Mick Ralphs said, "Paul wanted a break and truthfully we all needed to stop. Bad Company had become bigger than us all and to continue would have destroyed someone or something. From a business standpoint, it was the wrong thing to do, but Paul's instinct was absolutely right".[13]
Despite being famous for their live shows packing the largest stadiums for almost a decade, Bad Company did not release an official live album of performances from this period until they recordedWhat You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Companyon theHere Comes Troubletour during theBrian Howeera. The album was released in November 1993 and featured live versions of hits from both the Paul Rodgers era and the Brian Howe era. In 2006, the albumLive in Albuquerque 1976was released, compiled from recordings made by Mick Ralphs, who regularly taped the group's shows during the Rodgers era and used the tapes to critique the band's performances.Bootlegsof Bad Company's live performances from this period were also available, including "Boblingen Live" (1974), "Live in Japan" (1975) and "Shooting Star Live at the L.A. Forum" (1975).
Brian Howe era (1986–1994)
editIn 1985, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke, having just worked together the previous year on Ralphs' solo albumTake This,decided to reteam for a new project. But in 1986, their label,Atlantic Records,insisted they resume the Bad Company name. Unfortunately, Paul Rodgers was already engaged with a new supergroup calledThe Firm.With Rodgers gone, the remaining two members partnered with new managers Bud Prager andPhil Carsonand teamed up with ex-Ted NugentvocalistBrian Howe(who was introduced to them byForeigner'sMick Jones) as the new lead singer. In addition, Steve Price joined the band as the new bass player and Greg Dechert (ex-Uriah Heep) joined on keyboards. Howe's vocal style brought more of a pop-rock sound to the band, which Atlantic Records was looking for to bring the band back up to arena status after declining turnouts to previous live performances and the dismal sales ofRough Diamonds.
The band hired Foreigner producerKeith Olsento produce the new line-up's initial album, 1986'sFame and Fortune.Burrell agreed to rejoin the band and was name checked on theFame and Fortunealbum, even though he didn't play on it. But just before the supporting tour, he left once again (Steve Price then returned) to play with a jazz outfit called The Tam White Band.
Reflecting the musical style of the mid-1980s,Fame and Fortunewas laden with keyboards, unlike previous Bad Company albums, but was only modestly successful. The single "This Love" managed to reach No. 85 on the Singles charts but was not the success the band hoped for. In 1987 Dechert was dropped from the line-up as the group decided not to play up the keyboards in their sound as much. They toured that year supportingDeep Purple.
For the next Howe-era album, 1988'sDangerous Age,the band replaced Olsen with producerTerry Thomas,who got rid of most of the keyboards and returned the band to a guitar-driven sound. Thomas also added small amounts of keyboards as well as rhythm guitars and backing vocals and wrote most of the songs with the band.Dangerous Agefared better than its predecessor, spawning several MTV videos and the AOR hits "No Smoke Without a Fire"(#4)," One Night "(#9) and" Shake It Up "(#9, also No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart). The album went gold and hit the Top 60. For theDangerous Agetour, the band was augmented by Larry Oakes (keyboards, guitar), who had also played with Foreigner. Price and Oakes both left at the conclusion of the tour.
The band's next album,Holy Water,written mostly by Brian Howe and Terry Thomas, was released in June 1990. The album, also produced by Thomas, was enormously successful both critically and commercially, attaining Top 40 and platinum status by selling more than one million copies.Holy Waterwas the band's first album on the Atlantic subsidiaryAtco.The album spun off the singles: "If You Needed Somebody" (#16), the title track "Holy Water" (#89) and "Walk Through Fire" (#28). "Holy Water" also hit No. 1 for 2 weeks on the AOR charts with "If You Needed Somebody" reaching No. 2. The album received significant radio airplay (five songs made the AOR charts in all) and spawned several video hits. Felix Krish played bass on the CD while Paul Cullen was recruited for live shows.
Ralphs, who was taking care of personal and family matters, sat out for most of theHoly Watertour, although he did perform on the album. Beginning in June 1990, Ralphs was replaced on the road and in the videos by ex-Crawler guitaristGeoff Whitehornand producer Thomas guested on rhythm guitar and keyboards. Ralphs returned later on during the tour (in April 1991) and Whitehorn went on to joinProcol Harumin December 1991, with whom he played up till their 2022 dissolution afterGary Brooker's death.[14]Also joining at this time was ex-ASAP guitaristDave "Bucket" Colwellas the second guitarist. Their subsequent tour, supported byDamn Yankees,was one of the top five grossing tours of 1991.
The final studio album of the Howe era, 1992'sHere Comes Trouble,featured the Top 40 hit "How About That" (#38) and "This Could Be the One" (#87). The album went gold. Before touring in support ofHere Comes Trouble,the band added ex-Foreigner,Roxy MusicandSmall FacesbassistRick Willsand Colwell, a protégé of Ralphs, was now a full-time member. The band toured with several acts, includingLynyrd Skynyrd,and recorded a live album,What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Companyon theHere Comes Troubletour. The album, released in November 1993, featured live versions of hits from both the Rodgers and Howe eras of the band.
Howe left the band in 1994. Regarding his departure from the band, Howe stated: "Leaving Bad Company was not a difficult decision. It had got to the point where nobody was contributing anything to songwriting and quite frankly, the band was getting very very sloppy live. I quite simply, along with Terry Thomas, got tired of doing all the work and then getting nothing but resentment for it from Mick and Simon."[15]
Robert Hart era (1994–1998)
editIn 1994, ex-DistancefrontmanRobert Hartwas approached by Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke and asked if he would like to join them as the third lead vocalist for Bad Company, followingPaul Rodgersand Brian Howe. Hart performed with Bad Company, including in the USA and Canada. In July 1994 a contract was drawn up by Alliance Artists and Legend Management and signed by the then Bad Company line-up, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke, Hart, Dave Colwell and Rick Wills giving Hart the right to perform, write and record songs and albums and receiveroyalty paymentsas a full Bad Company member.
In 1995, a self-produced Bad Company album was released with Hart,Company of Strangers.It contained five tracks self-penned or co-written by Hart and Ralphs. Many of these were recorded in Nashville and featured guest appearances by country stars such as Vince Gill. The band made a promotional tour of the US withBon Jovi.Griffin Music of America also re-issued Ralphs' solo albumTake This!on CD.
In 1996, another Bad Co album,Stories Told & Untold,featured Hart with seven new compositions and seven acoustic versions including "Can't Get Enough" and "Ready For Love".[16]
For their 1996 tour, the Bad Company line-up was: Kirke, Hart, Rick Wills, and Dave "Bucket" Colwell. Ralphs sat out this tour due to health issues, which he had also done frequently during the Brian Howe era.[12]
Return of Paul Rodgers, touring and inactivity (1998–2008)
editIn November 1998, Rodgers and Kirke were discussing the release of an extensive compilation album with a biography and picture. Rodgers decided the album should include four new songs. He finally reunited with the other three original members in the studio to record these four new tracks. The reunion was short-lived, but it produced a Top 20 AOR hit with "Hey Hey" (No. 15). The second new song "Hammer of Love" peaked at No. 23. The new tracks appeared on the compilation album,The 'Original' Bad Co. Anthology,released in March 1999, which charted at No. 189.
WithDavid Lee Rothas the opening act, the reunited original foursome went out in the spring and summer of 1999 for a 32-date reunion tour in the US, which began on 15 May 1999 atRuth Eckerd HallinClearwater, Florida.The tour included a pay-per-view concert on 21 May atHard Rock LiveinOrlandoand ended on 8 August at theGreek Theaterin Los Angeles. The shows drew well, but after that, Ralphs announced he was retiring from live performing, and Burrell left again as well bringing the reunion to an end. The Greek Theater concert turned out to be the last show of the original four members. In 2014 on Bad Company's 40th Anniversary DVD documentary, Kirke elaborates further on the end of the 1999 reunion, stating that he and Rodgers did not wish to continue on since he and Rodgers were sober and the other two were not.
Paul Rodgers again rejoined Kirke in 2001 for a tour that kicked off in the US and included co-headlining dates withStyxandBilly Squieras special guests. Dave Colwell and Rick Wills took over for the departed Ralphs and Burrell. The tour did decent business then moved to the UK.
The band secured some dates on the West Coast of the US in January 2002 to record a new live album and DVD,Merchants of Cool,recorded by Chris Mickle, Bud Martin and Justin Peacock, which featured the song "Joe Fabulous", that hit No. 1 on radio and the top 20 on Mainstream Rock Radio in the US in its debut week. TheMerchants of Cooltour in 2002 once again featured Kirke and Rodgers as the only original members left. Colwell again took lead guitar andJaz Lochrie,who had played live and recorded with Paul Rodgers from 1995 on, was on bass. Guest performers at the shows included formerGuns N' RosesguitaristSlashandNeal SchonofJourneyfame. After the 2002 tour, Bad Company went inactive once again as Rodgers returned to his solo career.
In 2005, a DVD calledInside Bad Company 1974–1982was released that reviewed Bad Company on stage, on film, and on record. It also interviews Simon Kirke and had some live recordings from the 1970s and 1980s. This was an unauthorised release.
In 2006, a limited edition CD of 24 carat gold was released of the first Bad Company album (Bad Company). After taking over a year to find the original master tapes, the analogue masters were put through a proprietaryanalogue-to-digital converterthat remastered the songs for the best possible sound.
Boz Burrell died of a heart attack on 21 September 2006, aged 60, at his home in Spain.
On 6 May 2007, Robert Hart, Dave "Bucket" Colwell and Jaz Lochrie performed in a small pub inSurbitonfor The Macmillan Cancer Trust. Performing as Rock and Roll Fantasy, they offered a show of Bad Company songs for an audience of a few hundred. They were joined by Mick Ralphs. Chris Grainger was the drummer.
Reunion years (2008–2023)
editIn 2008, "Mick Ralphs' Bad Company" toured in the following formation: Robert Hart, Mick Ralphs, Dave "Bucket" Colwell, Jaz Lochrie, Gary "Harry" James.[17]
On 2 July 2008, it was announced that the original remaining line-up of Bad Company would do a one-off gig at theSeminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinoin Hollywood, Florida on 8 August 2008.[18]For this show, the surviving three were joined byHoward Leese(guitar, formerly ofHeart) and bassist Lynn Sorenson. According to Paul Rodgers, they did this gig to "protect the legacy they have built and cement the rights to the trademark Bad Company for touring."[19]The live performance was released on Blu-ray, DVD, and CD on 9 February 2010 and the tracks include 17 Bad Company hits. Rodgers dedicated "Gone, Gone, Gone" to original bassist Boz Burrell, who died in 2006.
Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke (again joined by Leese and Sorenson) performed together again during the summer of 2009, playing 10 shows throughout the United States.[20]The band then played shows in the UK during April 2010 before embarking on tours through North America and Japan that lasted from July to October. Mick Ralphs was forced to pull out of the Japan dates, as he was undergoing hip replacement surgery. Leese handled lead guitar for the Japanese tour.
In March 2011, a budget live releaseExtended Versionswas issued, taken from the band's UK tour in 2010. The CD debuted at No. 139 on theBillboard 200and featured 10 selections, peaking at No. 84 on the chart. This became the first Bad Company album to chart in 12 years.
In March 2012, it was announced that Bad Company would be performing a short run of European festival dates beginning 9 June at theSweden Rock FestivalinSölvesborg.This would mark the first time in 37 years the band had performed in the European continent, outside the UK.[21]However, it was announced in May that the German festival dates were cancelled but that the Sweden Rock Festival show was still on.[22]
In June 2012, Todd Ronning, from Rodgers' solo band, took over bass, playing alongside second guitarist Howard Leese, who was celebrating his fourth year with the band.
In March 2013, Bad Company andLynyrd Skynyrdannounced a joint 40th Anniversary Tour commemorating the 40th anniversary of Skynyrd's first album release and Bad Company's formation. On 10 June 2013,Bad Company appeared onThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno,kicking off their commemorative tour throughout the United States and Canada. And in 2014, Bad Company once again announced a joint summer tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd.[23]
Bad Company's first two studio albums,Bad Company(1974) andStraight Shooter(1975), were re-released on CD, digital and vinyl on 7 April and 1 July 2015 respectively.[needs update]The release encompassed the original albums newly remastered in 2015, alongside single b-sides, studio demos, interviews and previously unreleased songs from vault.[24]
In March 2016, the group announced a US tour withJoe Walsh.Ralphs later announced that he would not be participating in this tour and thatRich Robinsonofthe Black Croweswould be standing in for him. In June 2016, the group announced a UK arena tour with special guestsRichie SamboraandOrianthi,culminating in a show at London's O2 arena on 29 October. Ralphs rejoined the band for the duration of the tour.
In 2017, Bad Company resumed touring with Rodgers, Kirke, Todd Ronning on bass and Howard Leese on lead guitar.
Bad Company once again teamed with Lynyrd Skynyrd for Skynyrd'sThe Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour,which started on 4 May 2018 at theCoral Sky AmphitheaterinPalm Beach, Floridaand ran through the summer.
Former lead singer Brian Howe died 6 May 2020, aged 66.
Bad Company's 2019 tour dates look to be their final ones as a band since Kirke stated in an interview on 30 November 2023 on theBob Lefsetz Podcastthat "Bad Company's days are pretty much over", citing Rodgers' recent health problems as a factor.[25]
Final line-up
edit- Simon Kirke– drums, percussion, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals and guitar(1973–1982, 1986–1999, 2001–2002, 2008–2019)
- Paul Rodgers– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, harmonica(1973–1982, 1998–1999, 2001–2002, 2008–2019)
- Howard Leese– lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards(2008–2019),rhythm guitar(2008–2016)
- Todd Ronning – bass, backing vocals(2012–2019)
Discography
edit- Bad Company(1974)
- Straight Shooter(1975)
- Run with the Pack(1976)
- Burnin' Sky(1977)
- Desolation Angels(1979)
- Rough Diamonds(1982)
- Fame and Fortune(1986)
- Dangerous Age(1988)
- Holy Water(1990)
- Here Comes Trouble(1992)
- Company of Strangers(1995)
- Stories Told & Untold(1996)
References
edit- ^ab"Bad Company Biography, Songs, & Albums".AllMusic.
- ^ab"Bad Company".perryscope.us.
- ^abcde"Bad Company Chart history".Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2014
- ^ab"Bad Company – Billboard Albums".AllMusic.Retrieved24 November2010.
- ^"Top Selling Artists".RIAA.Retrieved3 November2019.
- ^Corey, Irwin (30 November 2023)."Simon Kirke: 'Bad Company's Days Are Pretty Much Over'".Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^"Paul Rodgers Says John Bonham's Death Influenced Decision to Quit Bad Company – Spinner".Spinner.27 August 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2011.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^Bad Company(Vinyl sleeve). Bad Company. Island Records. 1974. back cover.
- ^"RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - September 24, 2015".Recording Industry Association of America.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.
- ^"Bad Company – Billboard Singles".AllMusic.Retrieved24 November2010.
- ^RIAA Certification SearchArchived26 June 2007 at theWayback MachineType "Straight Shooter" underTitlefor search results.
- ^abFree at Last: The Story of Free and Bad Companyby Steven Rosen
- ^"Rock and Roll at Its Best!".Badcompany.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^"Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker dies at 76".BBC News.22 February 2022.
- ^"Interviews".MelodicRock.Archived fromthe originalon 31 July 2016.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^"Artists-detail: Mick Ralphs".Albion Amplification. Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2014.Retrieved27 November2014.
- ^"Mick Ralphs News".Mickralphs.co.uk.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^"Bad Company News".Badcompany.Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2009.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^"Queen News".Brianmay.Archived fromthe originalon 8 November 2021.Retrieved20 October2011.
- ^"Bad Company Concerts".Badcompany.Archivedfrom the original on 7 July 2011.Retrieved4 July2011.
- ^"Bad Company Announce First Appearance Outside of the UK on the European Continent Since 1975 – Bad Company".Badcompany.Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2009.Retrieved16 April2012.
- ^"Bad Company in Sweden – Mick Ralphs".Mickralphs.co.uk.Retrieved7 June2012.
- ^"Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd Announce Summer 2014 Tour".Ultimateclassicrock.8 April 2014.Retrieved20 August2014.
- ^"Bad Company to Reissue First Two Albums on Vinyl".Ultimate Classic Rock.30 May 2014.
- ^Corey, Irwin (30 November 2023)."Simon Kirke: 'Bad Company's Days Are Pretty Much Over'".Ultimate Classic Rock.
External links
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