Goodbye to Mick Ralphs, Bad Company and Mott The Hoople guitarist

Goodbye to Mick Ralphs. The British guitarist, a former member of the Bad Company and Mott The Hoople, died at the age of 81. To give the news of the disappearance was a spokesman: the cause of the death was not made known, but since 2016 Ralphs was practically forced to bed, unable to move after having a stroke.

The bandmates in the Bad Company Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke were among the first to pay homage to the musician, on social media. Rodgers wrote: “Our Mick is gone. He left us exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my writing partner, an extraordinary and versatile guitarist with a great sense of humor. Our last conversation of a few days ago made us laugh, but it will not be the last one. There are many memories of Mick who will make people laugh. Condolences to all those who loved him, especially at his only true love. We will meet again in Heaven “. Kirke added: “He was a dear friend, a wonderful singer -songwriter and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss a lot”.

Born in 1944, original of the Herefordshire, Ralphs began to take his first steps together with the British rock band Doc Thomas Group in 1966, before training changed his name to Silence and finally in Mott the Hoople. Ralphs participated in the recordings of the group’s first six years, in the meantime earning the esteem of special fans such as David Bowie and Mick Jones of Clash. Ralphs left Mott The Hoople in 1973, shortly after the band had achieved success with the “All the Young Dudes” hit written by Bowie himself.

The guitarist later founded the Bad Company with the former members of the Free Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke and the former bassist of the King Crimson Boz Burrell. The Bad Company were one of the first bands to sign with the Swan Song label of the Led Zeppelin. The 1974 Bad Company debut album was a success: in the United Kingdom, it conquered five platinum records, driven by the single “Can’t Get Enough” written by Ralphs himself. In 1982 the group melted, only to reforming in 1986 and then again in 1998, playing only occasionally. Mick Ralphs’ last performance with Bad Company was the one held in 2016 at the O2 Arena in London: a few days later, Ralphs was hit by the stroke.

Ralphs’ disappearance a few months before the Bad Company entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, scheduled for the end of the year. Ralphs had declared that he was “enthusiastic” for the event on an e-mail sent to the US newspapers at the beginning of this year.