Fans in all over the world are mourning the death of Mick Ralphs, a major guitarist and songwriter in the British rock scene who played with effervescent bands such as Bad Company and Mott the Hoople.
The band announced Ralphs death on their official web site on Monday the statement signed by the band said Ralphs died at the age of 81.
Guitarist had been confined to a bed because of a stroke; right after his last appearance with Bad Company at London O2 Arena. The news further stated that no additional information had been disclosed to the case of his death but at least the news of his death seemed to define a certain dimension of the history of classic rock.
Relatively speaking (the guitar lanky, stoop-shouldered Ralphs is not 10 years old), Ralphs, who is one hell of a guitar slinger is to be enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November as part of Bad Company a band whose electrified musical roots date back to the dawning of nature, or so it seems to many fans.
Paul Rodgers (the frontman of Bad Company) announced sincerely, in a statement that read, Our Mick is gone, my heart just hit the floor. He left behind with us great songs and memories. He was my friend, my co-writer, my songwriter, a genius, versatile and such great sense of humor.
Stuffed with radio friendly songs
Ralphs came to attention initially in the late sixties with Mott the Hoople the band who were to achieve stardom with their All the Young Dudes anthem produced by David Bowie. Although it was actually his song Ready for Love recorded back in 1970 with Mott the Hoople that first brought out the full songwriting capabilities of Ralphs which found a new life when Bad Company unleashed their devastating debut album in 1974.
This album also contained the hit Can not Get Enough which was a major hit of Bad Company and was written by Ralphs also. One year later he co-wrote the sizzling rock ballad Feel like Makin Love with Rodgers, securing the place of the band in the history of rock.
The lion share of Bad Company songs in their albums were radio ready and their energetic performances on a live stage was tailor-made to match the arena rock phenomenon in the 70s.
Ralphs was born in Herefordshire, Stoke Lacy, and started playing blues guitar when he was a teenager. He was a co-founder of Doc Thomas Group that progressed to Mott the Hoople along with Mick Ralphs in 1966.
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Mick had spent five years with Mott the Hoople forced to dress up in sequinned costumes and participate in rock and roll excesses night after night, an activity he said caused him to feel like an idiot.
In 1973 he exited the band, just after they had Bowie-propelled breakthrough, hooking up with Rodgers, who had just vacated Free, to create Bad Company. The group was rounded off with drummer Simon Kirke (of Free) and previous bassist/vocalist of King Crimson, Boz Burrell. In spite of the Covid-like name of the band, Mick found himself more comfortable in Bad Company.
Mick was a genius musician who had probably written hundreds of hits, still he did not regard himself as a superstar. He did not pursue fame, on the contrary, he was afraid that it will be another disaster.
It was however almost impossible to shun the spotlight after such a smashing record like Ready For Love.
I do not go out of my way to be well-conscious of fame. I do not want to believe in my own PR. Naturally I would like to be accepted. I desire to be loved, However, because I feel that what I am doing is right. It can blaze you with money and trimmings. When Mick was asked in an interview in 1974 what can break a band, he said, Ego can, but a good one will not.
Soulful tones, riffs, and timeless melodies were trademarks that made the British rock sound by Ralphs. He will be missed immensely- not only to his acquaintances but to the generations to come who continue to recite lyrics to songs he contributed to create.