Mick Ralphs, founding guitarist and a key songwriter for rock groups Bad Company and Mott the Hoople who played on hits ranging from “All the Young Dudes and “All the Way From Memphis” to “Can’t Get Enough,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” has died. He was 81.
His family issued a statement confirming the news but didn’t not provide a cause, date or place of death. He had a stroke in 2016 and had been living in a nursing home for some years. The bluesy Bad Company was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year and will be inducted in November. It was the group’s first time on the ballot despite being eligible for more than a quarter-century.
Ralphs co-founded Bad Company with ex-Free singer Paul Rodgers, bassist Boz Burrell and drummer Simon Kirke in 1973. The group had a meteoric rise, becoming the first band signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records and scoring a No. 1 LP in the U.S. with its self-titled 1974 set. It also reached No. 3 in the UK and spawned a pair of hit singles with the Ralphs-penned “Can’t Get Enough” and “Movin’ On.”
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It would be the first of five consecutive Top 15 albums for the quartet, four of which went platinum and made the Top 5 in the U.S. and Top 10 in the UK. The group’s songs are heard daily on classic rock outlets, including such classics as “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad,” “Bad Company,” “Burnin’ Sky,” “Ready for Love” — all written or co-penned by Ralphs — and the epic tale of rock success and indulgence “Shooting Star.”
In all, Ralphs played on a dozen Bad Company studio albums from 1974-96.
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“Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground,” Rodgers said in the family’s 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.”
“He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter and an exceptional guitarist,” Kirke said in the statement. “We will miss him deeply.” Burrell, who joined Bad Company after a stint in King Crimson, died in 2006.
Bad Company’s success came after Ralphs had co-founded Mott the Hoople, which his band The Doc Thomas Group was rechristened after singer and pianist Ian Hunter joined in 1969. The group was revered by critics but found only moderate chart success on both sides of the Atlantic and was teetering on a breakup before David Bowie gave them “All the Young Dudes,” which Mott recorded in 1972 with Bowie producing and singing backup. The single was a Top 5 smash in the UK and dented the Top 40 stateside, and the album of the same name sold respectfully.
The All the Young Dudes LP was followed by Mott (1973), which was its lone UK Top 10 and reached No. 35 in the States. It featured the rollicking, piano-driven road tale “All the Way from Memphis,” which made the UK Top 10 and was covered by Brian May and the one-off supergroup Contraband featuring guitarists Michael Schenker and Tracii Guns among others.
Rolling Stone voted Mott and All the Young Dudes among its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. But Ralphs would leave the band to launch Bad Company that year. Hunter left in 1974.
Born on Born March 31, 1944, Ralphs went on to release three solo albums and a pair of 2010 sets with The Mick Ralphs Blues Band. He also toured with Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour in 1984, supporting the latter’s solo disc About Face.
Ralphs is survived by his wife, Susie Chavasse; his two children; and three step-children.
