Bad Company
Frustrated with Free’s lack of sustained success (following “All Right Now”), largely due to band members drug problems, singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kike partnered with former Mott The Hopple guitarist Mick Ralphs and ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell to create Bad Company.
No glam, no glitter, these guys were straight-ahead guitar Rock.
Signed by Led Zeppelin’s Swan Songs imprint Bad Company began tearing it up, briefly rivaling Led Zep. They reeled off a series of classics, mostly coming from their self-titled debut: “Bad Company,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Movin’ On” and “Rock Steady.” The album went to #3 on the Billboard 200.
Bad Company
The next two albums, “Straight Shooter” (with “Shooting Star,” “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” and “Feel Like Making Love”) and “Run With The Pack” (which peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200) kept the band at the forefront.
Good Lovin’ Gone Bad
Feel Like Making Love
The song, written by Ralphs, peaked at #10 on the Billboard chart.
In mid-‘79, amid rumors Bad Company was splitting, Rodgers wrote and recorded “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” the group’s final Top 20 single.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
After ‘79’s “Desolation Angels,” which contained “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” the band took three years off. They returned in ‘82 with “Rough Diamonds.”
But Rodgers left shortly thereafter. Bad Company carried on with other singers… not a real good idea.
Rodgers went on to join Jimmy Page in The Firm, a short-lived excursion, before briefly fronting Queen and delivering some exceptional Blues work.
Bad Company was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
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