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Pink Villa
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who Was Mick Ralphs? Exploring Life and Career of Legendary Guitarist Amid Sudden Death at 81
Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. Mick Ralphs is no more. The legendary guitarist passed away at the age of 81 after being unwell for several years. The musician is known to be the founding member of the band Bad Company. Ralphs went on to give his final stage performance with the band in 2016 and suffered a massive stroke in the following days. Moreover, the musician had been bedridden for almost a decade until the day of his death. Ralphs is survived by his wife, Susie Chavase, his two children and three stepchildren. Who was Mick Ralphs? Born in Hereford, England, Mick Ralphs was passionate about playing the guitar since his teenage days. The musician went on to turn his passion into a career and co-founded the Doc Thomas Group in 1966, when he was in his early 20s. The band went on to become Mott the Hoople and became quite popular amongst the audience. While the band found its commercial success, Mick left it in 1973. Later, the artist went on to form Bad Company, alongside the singer, Paul Rodgers. The guitarist went on to co-write his hit track, Feel Like Makin' Love, with his friend and band member, Rodgers. The song was initially composed for Mott the Hoople, but the musician went on to revamp it for his new band. Following the formation of the band, the group went on to expand as the duo were joined by Free drummer Simon Kirke and former King Crimson bassist and vocalist Boz Burrell. Tributes pour in for Mick Ralphs following his passing away at 81 After the unfortunate news of Mick Ralphs' passing away was announced on the late guitarist's official website, the tributes from the industry began pouring in. The musician's band member, Rodgers, mentioned in his statement, 'Our Mick has passed; my heart just hit the ground.' The singer further added, 'He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, and an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humor.' The drummer of Bad Company, Kirke, also paid his respects to the late guitarist. In his tribute, he wrote, "He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply." Moreover, Joe Elliot, the lead singer of the Def Leppard band, wrote on his X account, "I just heard the heartbroken. Mick has been a constant companion through my musical journey, & he was one of the kindest souls I ever met. The world is a poorer place today." Meanwhile, no further details about Mick Ralph's death have been released yet.
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mick Ralphs death: Legendary guitarist of Bad Company dies aged 81, cause of death revealed
Mick Ralphs, the influential British guitarist and co-founder of the rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, has died at the age of 81. The band announced his death through a statement released on Instagram/ Ralphs had been confined to bed since suffering a stroke shortly after his final performance with Bad Company at London's O2 Arena in 2016. No further details surrounding his death have been made public. Born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, Ralphs began playing blues guitar in his teens and launched his professional career in the 1960s. He was a founding member of the Doc Thomas Group, which evolved into Mott the Hoople in 1969. The band rose to prominence with the David Bowie-produced hit All the Young Dudes, before Ralphs departed in 1973. Soon after, he co-founded Bad Company alongside former Free frontman Paul Rodgers, drummer Simon Kirke, and bassist Boz Burrell. Their self-titled debut album in 1974 featured two of Ralphs' most enduring contributions: Can't Get Enough and a reworked version of Ready for Love, originally written for Mott the Hoople. He later co-wrote Feel Like Makin' Love with Rodgers in 1975. Ralphs is set to be posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this November as a member of Bad Company. 'He has left us with exceptional songs and memories,' Rodgers said in a tribute shared following the news of Ralphs' passing. 'He was my friend, my songwriting partner, and an amazing, versatile guitarist with the greatest sense of humour.' Kirke also paid tribute, calling Ralphs 'a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply.' Ralphs last performed publicly in 2016, but his legacy as a founding figure in two of Britain's most celebrated rock bands remains indelible. His work bridged blues and hard rock, and his melodic style became a defining feature of both Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Mick Ralphs, Bad Company and Mott the Hoople co-founder, dead at 81
Mick Ralphs, the guitarist and co-founder of stylish '70s rockers Mott the Hoople and the supergroup Bad Company, has died. He was 81. Ralphs' death was confirmed in a statement from his representative, though no exact date or cause of death was given. 'Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground,' Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers said in a statement. 'He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour. Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh but it won't be our last. There are many memories of Mick that will create laughter. Condolences to everyone who loved him especially his one true love, Susie. I will see you in heaven.' Born in 1944 in Herefordshire, England, Ralphs co-founded the Doc Thomas Group in the mid-1960's, which signed to Island after some lineup changes and revamped as Mott the Hoople. Ralphs' songwriting and guitar work in that band helped move rock 'n' roll out of the psychedelic '60s and into the struts and arty pomp of '70s glam. The band's raucous live shows won a devoted following — future collaborator David Bowie and Mick Jones of the Clash were early fans — but chart success eluded them. At Bowie's behest, the group changed management and got a career jolt when he gifted them his song 'All The Young Dudes,' which made their 1972 LP of the same name a global hit. The band's follow-up, 'Mott,' was also a smash, sporting singles 'All the Way From Memphis' and 'Honaloochie Boogie.' Yet Ralphs had ambitions beyond the band, and departed in 1973 to join ex-Free members Rodgers and Simon Kirke and former King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell in a new supergroup. Bad Company became one of the first acts to sign with Zeppelin's Swan Song label, and immediately found global success. Its 1974 self-titled debut went five times platinum, on strength of hits like 'Can't Get Enough' and a retooled take of Ralphs' 'Ready for Love,' which he'd originally recorded with Mott the Hoople. A follow-up, 'Straight Shooter,' featured the classic rock staple 'Feel Like Makin' Love,' and Bad Company remained chart fixtures until breaking up in 1982. Ralphs joined Mott the Hoople for a reunion tour in 2009, and performed in several reunited incarnations of Bad Company and his own Mick Ralphs Blues Band until suffering a stroke in 2016, which confined him to bed in his final years. His last performance with Bad Company was in 2016, at London's O2 Arena. That group will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year. 'He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist,' said Bad Company drummer Kirke, in a statement. 'We will miss him deeply.' Ralphs is survived by partner Susie Chavasse, his two children and three step-children.
