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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mick Ralphs, Founding Member of Bad Company & Mott the Hoople, Dies at 81
Mick Ralphs, the co-founding guitarist of rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died at age 81. In a post to Bad Company's official social media account on Monday (June 23), the guitarist's bandmates announced his death to the public. Ralphs is survived by his partner, Susie Chavasse, and his three step-children. A cause of death was not shared at press time. More from Billboard Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2025 Turnstile Soundtrack New Taco Bell Commercial Featuring Tony Hawk Royel Otis Set August Release for Second Album 'Hickey' In a statement shared alongside the news, Ralphs' bandmate and Bad Company lead vocalist Paul Rodgers celebrated the life of his friend. 'Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. He has left us with exceptional songs and memories,' Rodgers wrote. '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.' Drummer Simon Kirke shared his own tribute to the band's post, calling Ralph 'a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist,' and simply adding, 'We will miss him deeply.' The news of Ralphs' death comes just two months after Bad Company was announced as one of the inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2025, which the band called a 'fitting tribute to the band's enduring influence' in their memorial post for the guitarist. The band will be formally inducted to the Hall of Fame on Nov. 8. Bad Company's debut, self-titled 1974 album earned the band their first and only No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. The band's debut single 'Can't Get Enough' reached a No. 5 peak on the Billboard Hot 100, which remains their highest-charting song on the list to date. Mott the Hoople, meanwhile, earned their highest-ranking track on the Hot 100 in November 1972, when the David Bowie-written 'All the Young Dudes' reached No. 37 on the all-genre chart. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mick Ralphs obituary
In 1974, Bad Company hurtled to the top of the US chart with their eponymous debut album, which also reached No 3 in the UK. Featuring former members of Free, Mott the Hoople and King Crimson, they were rock's latest supergroup, their pedigree confirmed by the fact that they shared a manager with Led Zeppelin, the formidable Peter Grant. Bad Company was also the first act signed to Zeppelin's Swan Song label. While the singer Paul Rodgers was the voice of Bad Company, the band's guitarist and songwriter Mick Ralphs, who has died aged 81, was a vital ingredient in its success. Though modest about his own accomplishments, he was a versatile and skilful guitarist who could play anything from crunching power chords to delicate acoustic picking, and was also a major songwriting contributor. He wrote their debut hit, Can't Get Enough, a swaggering rocker that became the band's trademark, and also the follow-up, Movin' On, a Top 20 success in the US. His composition Ready for Love, also on the debut album, had originally appeared on his previous band Mott the Hoople's album All the Young Dudes. Good Lovin' Gone Bad, from Bad Company's second album Straight Shooter, was a Top 40 hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1975. The Rodgers/Ralphs composition Feel Like Makin' Love, also from Straight Shooter, reached 20 on the UK chart and 10 in the US. Bad Company's first three albums all reached the US and UK Top Five, and after a slight falling-off in sales with Burnin' Sky (1977), they scored another blockbuster with Desolation Angels (1979). The group disbanded after the release of Rough Diamonds (1982), with Ralphs commenting: 'Bad Company had become bigger than us all and to continue would have destroyed someone or something.' In 1986, Ralphs and Simon Kirke formed a new Bad Company, with Brian Howe as lead vocalist, and enjoyed some commercial success, particularly with the album Holy Water (1990). From 1994 until 1998, yet another version of the group featured Robert Hart as lead vocalist, but by then the original Bad Company magic had largely dissipated. Outside the group, Ralphs released the solo albums Take This (1984), the live album It's All Good (2001) and That's Life (2003), and made two albums with the Mick Ralphs Blues Band, I Should Know Better (2013) and If It Ain't Broke (2016). Also in 1984 he was part of David Gilmour's touring band, promoting Gilmour's solo album About Face. He became friendly with George Harrison (they were neighbours in Henley-on-Thames) and they co-wrote the song Flying Hour. This was released in 1988, on an EP included with copies of the limited edition book Songs By George Harrison. Ralphs was born in Stoke Lacy in Herefordshire. 'I'm a country boy,' he would say later. 'Originally from Herefordshire, where the cattle come from.' He began his music career in his teens, and recalled being inspired by the Booker T & the MGs' hit Green Onions. He initially played in a blues-rock band, the Buddies, who released an album in Italy, recorded during a residency at an Italian nightclub. He then joined the Doc Thomas Group, which featured the bass player Peter Overend Watts and the drummer Terry Griffin. For a time the group were known as Silence, now featuring Verden Allen on organ. With the aid of Dave Mason, the guitarist with Traffic, Ralphs got in touch with Island Records' producer and A&R man Guy Stevens, who auditioned them in early 1969. He wanted to sign them, but was not impressed by their vocalist Stan Tippins. Ian Hunter was recruited in his place (with Tippins becoming the band's road manager), and the band became Mott the Hoople, the name taken from a novel by Willard Manus. Ralphs stayed with the group until late 1973, and was a regular contributor to the songwriting, but grew frustrated by their lack of success. 'We never made any money, but we were out there having a hell of a good time, and that was all that mattered,' he told Guitar Player magazine. 'But we got to the point where we were disillusioned inasmuch as we were working our asses off and not really getting anywhere.' When their fourth album, Brain Capers (1971), flopped, Hoople were on the brink of splitting up when they were saved by David Bowie, who presented them with his song All the Young Dudes. 'That was our salvation, really,' said Ralphs. 'It was a big hit in England and America, putting the group on the map.' Bowie produced the single and its similarly-titled parent album, which reached No 21 in the UK. The follow-up album, Mott (1973), went bigger still, in Britain and the US, but Ralphs was becoming disillusioned. 'We got so closely associated with David Bowie that we couldn't get away from that,' he said. 'It was like we were tagged a glitter group.' Ralphs was also becoming disgruntled at the way Hoople were treating his own songs. 'I had songs like Can't Get Enough and Movin' On, which were never used with Mott because Ian Hunter couldn't sing them,' he said. 'They were just not his style.' Fortuitously, he had met just the man to sing those songs. This was Rodgers, whose bluesy, soulful voice had been the trademark of Free and their worldwide hit All Right Now. Free had split up and Rodgers had been performing with the band Peace, but he and Ralphs quickly struck up a strong musical partnership, and found that between them they had a dozen or more songs they had written but which had not been used. They recruited Free's former drummer Kirke and the bass player Boz Burrell (previously with King Crimson), and named their new band Bad Company, after one of Rodgers's songs. In the 21st century, assorted iterations of Bad Company featuring the trio of Ralphs, Rodgers and Kirke once again took to the road, touring in Britain and the US in 2009-10. In 2013 Bad Company joined Lynyrd Skynyrd for a joint 40th anniversary tour. However, after a Bad Company show at the O2 Arena in London in 2016, Ralphs suffered a severe stroke that left him in a nursing home until the end of his life. Nonetheless he was able to express his pleasure at the news that Bad Company are due to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025. He is survived by his second wife, Susie Chavasse, by two sons, Ben and Jim, from his first marriage, which ended in divorce, and by three stepchildren. Michael Geoffrey Ralphs, musician and songwriter, born 31 March 1944; died 23 June 2025
New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Mick Ralphs, of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, Dies at 81
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. Bad Company became an FM radio force. It sold more than a million copies of its first three albums, starting with its 1974 debut, called simply 'Bad Company,' which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured 'Can't Get Enough,' a bluesy thumper written by Mr. Ralphs that soared to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘My heart just hit the ground': Legendary rock guitarist, dead at 81
Mick Ralphs, the influential guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the iconic rock bands Bad Company and Mott The Hoople, has died. He was 81. In recent years, Ralphs had been in a nursing home after suffering from a stroke in 2016 while on tour with Bad Company in the United Kingdom, according to Rolling Stone. Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November. 'Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. 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,' Paul Rodgers, lead singer for Bad Company, wrote in a statement shared on Facebook. '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.' Ralphs left the English rock band, Mott the Hoople, after he met Rodgers in 1971 and shared mutual songs with the artist while having an 'inspired' jam session, according to the statement. Rodgers and Ralphs then formed the band, Bad Company, adding former King Crimson bassist and vocalist Boz Burrell and drummer Simon Kirke. Bad Company's success 'was meteoric.' They produced classic hits such as 'Can't Get Enough' and 'Movin' On,' in addition to 'electrifying rock anthems' like 'Ready for Love,' 'Rock Steady,' and the title track, 'Bad Company.' Bad Company's statement concludes by saying, 'Mick Ralphs leaves behind a powerful musical legacy that will continue to inspire generations.' Country star recovering after hospitalized for 'not making sense' on stage Legendary musician boycotting Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction Chart-topping '60s pop singer dies at 82: 'He will be greatly missed' TV icon expecting 8th child at age 70 Chef and Food Network star Anne Burrell dead at 55 Read the original article on MassLive.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mott The Hoople's Mick Ralphs dies aged 81
Guitarist and songwriter Mick Ralphs, best known for his time with Mott The Hoople, has died at the age of 81, according to the band's official website. A statement said: "Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."The Hereford-born musician was a key member of the band, which formed in 1969. He left four years later, and moved on to Bad Company.A statement from that band said Ralphs was "survived by the love of his life Susie", his two children and three step-children", as well as his bandmates Simon Kirke and Paul Rodgers, the latter of whom added: "Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground." Ralphs was with Mott The Hoople for the release of 1972's All The Young Dudes, which was written by David Bowie. The song reached number three in the UK singles charts that Allen, one of the founding members of the band, stated of Ralphs' passing: "It's very sad to hear that he is gone. We have lasting memories, fond memories."Ralphs' final performance with Bad Company was in October 2016, with the musician suffering a stroke the following Company had been due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year. Rodgers said: "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."[In] 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."Drummer Kirke said: "He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
