Global music enthusiasts are sending deep sympathetic condolences over the death of one of the greatest British guitarists and songwriters Mick Ralphs, a founding member of the legendary British rock groups Bad Company and of Mott the Hoople.
Ralphs died at the age of 81, according to the statement posted Monday by the band on their official web site.
The guitarist was bedridden after he had a stroke in 2016, barely days after his last appearance with Bad Company, at the London O2 Arena. There was no additional information about his death, but his death symbolizes farewell to classics of rock.
A guitar slinger of the first order, Ralphs was to come into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November as part of Bad Company-the surprise to many fans, as it should have come earlier.
Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers on his heartfelt statement, said: Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. He has given us with marvelous songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, absolutely incredible and versatile guitar player who had the best sense of humor ever.”
It is crammed with radio-savvy songs
Ralphs began to swell in the late 60s with Mott the Hoople, a band that would enter stardom with David Bowie produced anthem All the young Dudes. However, it would be the 1970 song Ready for Love by Ralphs, which was initially performed by Mott the Hoople and later recreated by Bad Company, which would serve to give Ralphs his songwriting skills display.
On the same album was Can t Get Enough, one of the top hits of Bad Company, and another song composed by Ralphs. With Rodgers, he created a sultry rock ballad Feel Like Makin Love a year later, which cemented the legends of the band in rock history.
Bad Company released albums full of radio friendly fare, and their live shows, which were powerhouse affairs, suited the arena rock of the 70s era.
Ralphs was born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, and as a teenager he started playing blues guitar. Later on in 1966, he co-founded the Doc Thomas Group and it transformed into Mott the Hoople.
I like to love to be loved!
In his five years with the Mott the Hoople, Mick was obliged to dress in glittered attire and perform airs occasionally in gaudy rock dramas night after night – something he confessed made him feel ridiculous indeed.
He departed in 1973, soon after the Bowie-fired breakthrough, and reunited with Rodgers, just out of Free, to form Bad Company. The group was rounded out with the addition of drummer Simon Kirke who also played with Free and Boz Burrell formerly of King Crimson playing bass and vocal. Mick was far more comfortable with Bad Company regardless of the rough ring of the name of the band.
Mick was an absolutely outstanding musician who wrote so many hit songs but he never considered himself a superstar. He was not after fame, on the contrary, he was afraid it might be another failure.
Nevertheless, he had such a smash as Ready For Love, so it was almost impossible to remain in the spotlight.
I lock myself not to be too conscious of fame. I do not want to believe my own advertising. Naturally I seek acceptance. I wish to be loved and yet only when I believe in what I am doing. The abundance of money and trimmings will tend to make you complacent. A great band does not fall apart but ego does, as Mick said in an interview in 1974.
Ralphs trademark riffs, soaring solos and classic melodies were some of the ingredients that made up the British rock sounds. He will be missed terribly not only by the people who knew him, but also by the generations of fans that are still singing along the songs that he helped put on the map.
