Latest news with #AlltheYoungDudes
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Mick Ralphs, founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, dies at 81
'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.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Mr. Ralphs wrote the 1970's song 'Ready for Love' for Mott the Hoople, later revamped for Bad Company's 1974 debut album, which also included the Ralphs-penned hit 'Can't Get Enough.' He co-wrote Bad Company's 1975 classic 'Feel Like Makin' Love' with Rodgers. Advertisement Born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England, Mr. Ralphs began playing blues guitar as a teenager, and in 1966, he co-founded the Doc Thomas Group. In 1969, the band would become Mott the Hoople, a name taken from the title of a 1966 novel by Willard Manus. The group's self-titled first album, recorded in a week, won a cult following, but the two that followed were critical and financial flops. They finally found popular success and became glam-rock giants with the 1972 David Bowie-penned-and-produced song 'All the Young Dudes.' But Mr. Ralphs felt creatively cramped in the band led by singer-songwriter Ian Hunter and left in 1973. Advertisement He would soon form Bad Company with Rodgers, a singer who had left his own band, Free. The two had intended only to write songs together, and possibly to make a one-off album as a project. But when Free drummer Simon Kirke asked to sit in, they realized they were nearly a proper group already and went seeking a bassist. They found him in former King Crimson member Boz Burrell. 'We didn't actually plan to have a band,' Mr. Ralphs said in a 2015 interview with Gibson Guitars. 'It was all kind of accidental I suppose. Lucky, really.' Kirke said in a statement Monday that Mr. Ralphs was 'a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply.' Bad Company found immediate success. its albums were full of radio-ready anthems, and its live sound was perfectly suited to the 1970s height of arena rock. Their self-titled debut album went to No. 1 on Billboard's album chart. And Mr. Ralphs's 'Can't Get Enough' — often mistakenly called 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love' because of its chorus lyrics — would be their biggest hit single, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 'We actually did the whole thing in one take live,' Mr. Ralphs said in the Gibson interview. 'It wasn't perfect, but we just said, 'Yeah, that's great, it's going to capture the moment.' That's what I like to do in recording. It doesn't have to be perfect as long as it captures the moment. That's what it's all about.' Advertisement Bad Company's 1975 follow-up, 'Straight Shooter,' was also a hit, going to No. 3 on album charts in both the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and the UK Albums Chart. Its opening track, 'Good Lovin' Gone Bad,' written by Mr. Ralphs, was a modest hit. The song that followed it, 'Feel Like Makin' Love,' would remain in rotation on classic rock radio for decades. The band's statement says Mr. Ralphs leaves 'the love of his life,' his wife Susie Chavasse, along with two children, three step-children, and 'beloved bandmates' Rodgers and Kirke. 'Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh,' Rodgers said. 'But it won't be our last.'
Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Mick Ralphs, founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, dies at 81
Mick Ralphs, a guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of the classic British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died. A statement posted to Bad Company's official website Monday announced Ralphs' death at age 81. Ralphs had a stroke days after what would be his final performance with the band at London's O2 Arena in 2016, and had been bedridden ever since, the statement said. No further details on the circumstances of his death were provided. Ralphs is set to become a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bad Company in November. '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.' Ralphs wrote the 1970's song 'Ready for Love' for Mott the Hoople, later revamped for Bad Company's 1974 debut album, which also included the Ralphs-penned hit 'Can't Get Enough.' He co-wrote Bad Company's 1975 classic 'Feel Like Makin' Love' with Rodgers. Born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England, Ralphs began playing blues guitar as a teenager, and in his early 20s in 1966, he co-founded the Doc Thomas Group. In 1969, the band would become Mott the Hoople, a name taken from the title and title character of a 1966 novel by Willard Manus. The group's self-titled first album, recorded in a week, won a cult following, but the two that followed were critical and financial flops. They finally found popular success and became glam-rock giants with the 1972 David Bowie-penned-and-produced song 'All the Young Dudes.' But Ralphs felt creatively cramped in the band led by singer-songwriter Ian Hunter and left in 1973. He would soon form Bad Company with Rodgers, a singer who had left his own band, Free. The two had intended only to write songs together, and possibly to make a one-off album as a project. But when Free drummer Simon Kirke asked to sit in, they realized they were nearly a proper group already and went seeking a bassist. They found him in former King Crimson member Boz Burrell. 'We didn't actually plan to have a band,' Ralphs said in a 2015 interview with Gibson Guitars. 'It was all kind of accidental I suppose. Lucky, really.' Kirke said in a statement Monday that Ralphs was 'a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply.' Bad Company found immediate success. its albums were full of radio-ready anthems, and its live sound was perfectly suited to the 1970s height of arena rock. Their self-titled debut album went to No. 1 on Billboard's album chart. And Ralphs' 'Can't Get Enough' — often mistakenly called 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love' because of its chorus lyrics — would be their biggest hit single, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 'We actually did the whole thing in one take live,' Ralphs said in the Gibson interview. 'It wasn't perfect, but we just said, 'Yeah, that's great, it's going to capture the moment.' That's what I like to do in recording. It doesn't have to be perfect as long as it captures the moment. That's what it's all about.' Bad Company's 1975 follow-up, 'Straight Shooter,' was also a hit, going to No. 3 on album charts in both the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and the UK Albums Chart. Its opening track, 'Good Lovin' Gone Bad,' written by Ralphs, was a modest hit, and the song that followed it, 'Feel Like Makin' Love,' was a big one that would remain in rotation on classic rock radio for decades. The band's statement says Ralphs is survived by 'the love of his life,' his wife Susie Chavasse, along with two children, three step-children and 'beloved bandmates' Rodgers and Kirke. 'Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh,' Rodgers said. 'But it won't be our last.'
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mick Ralphs, founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, dead at 81
Mick Ralphs, whose guitar playing colored the songs of British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died. He was 81. Kymm Britton, a representative for Ralphs and Bad Company bandmates Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, confirmed Ralphs' death. No cause was provided. '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,' Rodgers said in a statement. Kirke also expressed his love for 'a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter and an exceptional guitarist.' Ralphs performed his last show with Bad Company in 2016 at London's O2 Arena and days later suffered a debilitating stroke. He remained bedridden until his death. In his statement, Rodgers noted he spoke with Ralphs a few days before he died. 'We shared a laugh, but it won't be our last,' he said. Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nov. 8 in Los Angeles. Ralphs, a native of Herefordshire, England, co-founded glam rock outfit Mott the Hoople in 1969. The band's name was borrowed from Willard Manus' 1966 novel. In addition to playing guitar, Ralphs was the lead singer on some of Mott the Hoople's songs, including the 1970 album track 'Thunderbuck Ram.' His last appearance came on 1973's 'Mott' album, shortly after the band achieved its biggest commercial success with 'All the Young Dudes,' an endearing anthem of the glam-rock era produced and written by David Bowie. Ralphs had met Rodgers, who fronted blues-rock group Free, in 1971. A jam session with the singer prompted him to depart Mott the Hoople and (with Rodgers) form Bad Company. The band also included Kirke and King Crimson bassist/singer Boz Burrell, who died in 2006. Bad Company's 1974 debut included the guitar-swinger 'Can't Get Enough,' written by Ralphs. He also took 'Ready for Love' – which he penned for Mott the Hoople's 'All the Young Dudes' album – to Bad Company, which turned it into a signature song. Ralphs stayed with Bad Company until the original band dissolved in 1982 after producing enduring rock hits 'Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy,' 'Feel Like Makin' Love' and the eponymous 'Bad Company.' Ralphs rejoined the band several times during the past few decades to play live shows, including one 2008 concert in South Florida with Rodgers and Kirke. He also reunited with Mott the Hoople for a pair of London shows in 2009 and stayed musically active with The Mick Ralphs Blues Band, which he formed in 2011. Ralphs is survived by his partner Susie Chavasse, whom the statement called the 'love of his life,' his two children and three stepchildren.
