Mick Ralphs

Michael Geoffrey Ralphs (31 March 1944 – 23 June 2025) was an English guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was a founding member of English rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite not being a constant member, he appeared on every studio album released by both bands. In 2011 he formed the Mick Ralphs Blues Band with musicians he had met in a jam session.

Ralphs was described as "a versatile and skilful guitarist who could play anything from crunching power chords to delicate acoustic picking" and as "a major songwriting contributor."

Career

Ralphs was born on 31 March 1944 in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire.<ref name="nndb">Template:Cite web</ref> He did not start playing until he was 18, and described the music when he was growing up as bubblegum like Cliff Richard and Bobby Vee.<ref name=timesobit/> He began his career playing with the blues-rock band the Buddies<ref name="AMG">Template:Cite web</ref> and released a single with them in 1964 before joining the Mod Doc Thomas Group in 1966. After a debut album that band changed its name twice, first to Silence in 1968 and then to Mott the Hoople in 1969. Ralphs remained with the band until 1973; he left soon after they achieved their commercial breakthrough with the David Bowie-produced album All the Young Dudes. Ralphs's last appearance with Mott The Hoople was on the Mott album in 1973 which featured the hit "All the Way from Memphis". The lyrics tell the story of Ralphs having his guitar stolen on Long Island before a gig in Memphis in 1972.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ralphs founded Bad Company with vocalist Paul Rodgers from Free.<ref name="AMG"/> Described as a "rock supergroup", their manager Peter Grant was the manager of Led Zeppelin, and Bad Company were the first band signed to Zeppelin's Swan Song label.<ref name="sweeting"/> The band's debut album, Bad Company in 1974, included the hit track written by Ralphs, "Can't Get Enough",<ref name="AMG"/> for which he tuned his guitar in open-C tuning. He said it did not sound right in standard tuning: "It needs the open C to have that ring."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The debut album reached number one in the United States.<ref name="AMG"/> Ralphs continued to record and tour with Bad Company until they folded in 1982, after the release of Rough Diamonds. He commented, "Bad Company had become bigger than us all and to continue would have destroyed someone or something."<ref name="sweeting"/>

In 1984 he toured with Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on Gilmour's About Face tour, although he did not play on the album. In 1985, Ralphs released a solo album, Take This, which included Free and Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke.<ref name="rock">Template:Cite web</ref> He worked with future Bad Company guitarist Dave Colwell for a four-run live support of the album, which also featured drummer Chris Slade of Manfred Mann's Earth Band and keyboard player Lindsay Bridgewater, who performed with Ozzy Osbourne.<ref name="rock"/> He did one performance with a band called Cold Turkey.<ref name="rock"/>

Bad Company reformed with different line-ups between 1986 and 1998. After a reunion tour with the original band in 1999, Ralphs announced that he was giving up touring, which he had never been comfortable with as he had an extreme fear of flying.<ref>Ian Hunter, "Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star", 1972, passim.</ref>

His second solo work, It's All Good, an instrumental album, was released in 2001.<ref name="AMG"/> Two years later his That's Life – Can't Get Enough album was released, including a demo version of "Can't Get Enough".<ref name="life">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2004 he again worked with former Mott colleague Ian Hunter, playing second lead guitar (with Andy York) on Hunter's UK tour.<ref name="rock"/> Ralphs performed at Hunter's May 2004 concert at the London Astoria, which was filmed and released as a DVD titled "Just Another Night" the following year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ralphs performing with Mott the Hoople at a reunion gig, Hammersmith Apollo, October 2009

On 2 July 2008, it was announced that the original line-up of Bad Company (without Boz Burrell, who had died in September 2006) would do a one-off gig at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on 8 August 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Rodgers, the band played this show to "protect the legacy they have built and cement the rights to the trademark Bad Company for touring."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mott the Hoople, including Ralphs, reunited for two shows at the Blake Theatre in Monmouth, close to Rockfield Studios, where they rehearsed before playing five concerts at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, during September and October 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All five of the original members participated in the reunion with Martin Chambers assisting on drums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2011 Ralphs formed the Mick Ralphs Blues Band with musicians he met in a jam session at the Nag's Head pub in High Wycombe: Stuart 'Son' Maxwell, harmonica/vocals; Jim Maving, guitar; Sam Kelly, drums and Dickey Baldwin, bass. The band's website stated that Ralphs was exploring his blues and soul roots, playing covers of classic blues and R&B songs. The band made its debut, as Mick Ralphs and Co, at the Jagz Club in Ascot, Berkshire in June 2011, and changed the name to the Mick Ralphs Blues Band soon afterwards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2013 and 2014, Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd jointly toured the United States and Canada, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of Skynyrd's first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and Bad Company's formation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016 Bad Company announced a US tour with Joe Walsh. Ralphs said that he would not participate in this tour and that Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes would stand in for him. In June 2016, the group announced a UK arena tour with special guests Richie Sambora and Orianthi, culminating in a show at London's O2 Arena on 29 October. Ralphs rejoined the band for the duration of the tour. After the band's concluding performance in London, it was reported that Ralphs had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He never returned to the band, and his lead guitar parts were played by second guitarist Howard Leese and keyboard parts by Rodgers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life and death

Ralphs was married three times. His first marriage ended in divorce. His third wife was Susie Chavasse. He had two children and three step-children.<ref name=timesobit>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="sweeting">Template:Cite news</ref>

Ralphs spent the final years of his life bedridden after a stroke. He died at a care facility in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on 23 June 2025, aged 81.<ref name=timesobit /><ref name = Smith>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Style and legacy

Writing in Ralphs's obituary for The Guardian, Adam Sweeting said, "Though modest about his own accomplishments, he was a versatile and skilful guitarist who could play anything from crunching power chords to delicate acoustic picking, and was also a major songwriting contributor."<ref name="sweeting"/>

Reviewing his career, Blues Rock Review, said, "Never a virtuoso or an overly flashy player, Ralphs' guitar chops always felt workman-like: laser-focused on skilfully and passionately providing exactly what the song called for without flashy embellishments. Some of the most iconic crunchy riffs of '70s-era blues rock came from his hands while in Bad Company, but Ralphs also toured with such legends as David Gilmour and led a solo career full of treats for blues rockers."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Before his death, Ralphs was able to express his happiness that Bad Company were due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025.<ref name="sweeting"/>

Guitars

• Mott the Hoople – Gibson Les Paul Junior<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bad Company – Fender Telecaster, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender Esquire, Gibson Flying V (as seen in the "Feel Like Makin' Love" official video)<ref name="Fret">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Burns with tri-sonic pickups<ref name="Fret"/>
• Martin D-76 Bicentennial<ref name=Fret/>
• Rosetti Lucky 7<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable songwriting credits

• "Rock and Roll Queen" (1969)<ref name="variety">Template:Cite web</ref>
• "Ready for Love" (1972)<ref name="variety"/>
• "One of the Boys" with Ian Hunter (1972)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• "Movin' On" (1972)<ref name="sweeting"/>
• "Can't Get Enough" (1973)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" (1975)<ref>Naha, Ed. 1975 June album review in Rolling Stone magazine. Template:Webarchive Accessed 7 February 2014</ref>
• "Feel Like Makin' Love" with Paul Rodgers (1974)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• "Flying Hour" with George Harrison (1978)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Mark Ellen, "A Big Hand for The Quiet One", Q, January 1988, p. 56.</ref>
• "Oh, Atlanta" (recorded originally by Bad Company on the album Desolation Angels (1978); later covered by Alison Krauss)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Solo

• 1984 – Take This − Re-edited on CD in 1996<ref name="rock"/>
• 2001 – It's All Good − Recorded live in 1999 with Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell<ref name="AMG"/>
• 2003 – That's Life<ref name="life"/>

Mott the Hoople

• 1969 – Mott the Hoople<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1970 – Mad Shadows<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1971 – Wildlife<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1971 – Brain Capers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1972 – All the Young Dudes<ref name="Tangari">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1972 – Rock and Roll Queen (compilation album)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1973 – Mott<ref name="Tangari" />
• 1974 – The Hoople − Ralphs sang backup vocals on "Pearl 'n' Roy (England)" and played rhythm guitar on "Roll Away the Stone".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bad Company

• 1974 – Bad Company<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• 1975 – Straight Shooter<ref name="AMR">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1976 – Run With The Pack<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1977 – Burnin' Sky<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1979 – Desolation Angels<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1982 – Rough Diamonds<ref name=Fret/>
• 1985 – 10 from 6 (compilation)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1986 – Fame and Fortune<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1988 – Dangerous Age<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1990 – Holy Water<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1992 – Here Comes Trouble<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1993 – What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company (live album)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1995 – Company of Strangers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1996 – Stories Told & Untold<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1999 – The 'Original' Bad Co. Anthology (compliation)<ref>Template:AllMusic</ref>
• 2006 – Live in Albuquerque 1976 (live album)}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2010 – Hard Rock Live (live album)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2011 – Live at Wembley (live album)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2016 – Live in Concert 1977 & 1979 (live album)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mick Ralphs Blues Band

• 2013 – I Should Know Better<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2016 – If It Ain't Broke<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Collaborations

• 1971: Under Open Skies by Luther Grosvenor<ref name="LarkinHR">Template:Cite book</ref>
• 1984: Ralphs toured with David Gilmour to support his second solo album About Face, with Gregg Dechert on keyboards, Mickey Feat on bass, Sue Evans and Jody Linscott on percussions, Raphael Ravenscroft on saxophone, flute and keyboards and Chris Slade on drums. No live album has been released but a video of a performance at the Hammersmith Odeon was released in 1984 with special guests: Roy Harper (vocals, percussion) and Nick Mason (drums).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Imdb name
• Template:Discogs artist
• Official Page for Mick Ralphs Blues Band
• Official Page for Bad Company
• Official Page for Mott The Hoople
• "Mick Ralphs: From Glam Rock to Supergroup Hero" at rocksoffmag.com
• Mick Ralphs obituary at thetimes.com (subscription required)