Mick Ralphs, the English guitarist and songwriter who was a co-founder of rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died. He was 81 years old.
Ralphs’ death was announced on Bad Company’s official social media account Monday.
“Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. He has left us with exceptional songs and memories,” Ralphs’ bandmate and Bad Company lead vocalist Paul Rodgers said in a statement. “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.”
Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke also paid tribute in the post.
“He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter and an exceptional guitarist,” Kirke said. “We will miss him deeply.”
Bad Company — known for AM rock staples like “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and “Bad Company” — was recently announced as an inductee into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class.
Prior to starting Bad Company with Rodgers (who had left Free), he was a member of a blues-rock band that changed its name several times until finally settling on Mott the Hoople. He left the band in 1973 just after the band saw its first success with the David Bowie-penned single “All The Young Dudes.” He started Bad Company the same year, ultimately playing on a dozen of the band’s albums.
No cause of death information was released, but Ralphs had been bed-ridden since suffering a debilitating stroke days after a Bad Company show — ultimately his last — at London’s O2 Arena on Oct. 29, 2016. In more recent years, he had moved to a nursing home.
He was born March 31, 1944, in Hereford.
Ralphs is survived by his partner, Susie Chavasse, and three step-children.
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