In The Studio with Redbeard

Tag: Run With the Pack

  • Bad Company- Run with the Pack 50th- Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke

    Bad Company- Run with the Pack 50th- Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke


    Fifty years ago, England’s Bad Company completed a top-selling album trifecta with Run with the Pack containing “Honey Child”, “Silver, Blue, and Gold”, and the circular refrain of the title song “Runnin’ with the Pack”. In a previous episode we learned that Bad Company lead singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers, guitarist/songwriter Mick Ralphs, and drummer Simon Kirke all agreed that being the first band signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label, as well as sharing management with them, was advantageous in the immediate popularity of their 1974 debut as well as the 1975 follow up, Straight Shooter. However, the expectations for this “supergroup”, containing Rodgers and Kirke from English bluesrockers Free and Ralphs from Mott the Hoople, were exceedingly high for Run With the Pack  in February 1976.

    Bad Company’s  Burning Sky  in 1977, and the hit album Desolation Angels  two years later, are included here as well. Also in my classic rock interview is Paul Rodgers’ fascinating disclosure about the time during a Bad Company extended hiatus where Rodgers actually helped Queen reunite early in the 21st Century as Queen + Paul Rodgers , re-energizing BOTH Queen and Bad Company, as it turned out; plus a funny, touching tribute to original Bad Company bass player Boz Burrell. Bad Company lead singer/lyricist Paul Rodgers is joined here In the Studio by drummer Simon Kirke and the late songwriter/guitarist Mick Ralphs for the golden anniversary of the silver-clad Run with the Pack. – Redbeard

  • Bad Company- Desolation Angels- Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke

    Bad Company- Desolation Angels- Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke

    Bad Company’s Desolation Angels, released in early March 1979, came only five years after their 1974 debut album made them a “super group”. Prior to release there was real concern that Bad Company had augered in with a collective faceplant, due to a dearth of strong material plus sheer exhaustion from a non-stop cycle of recording and touring. After three consecutive million-sellers in as many years, the British foursome consisting  of ex-Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs, King Crimson bass player Boz Burrell, and Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, half of blues-rockers Free, all were as Rodgers told me,”burnt” by the time they recorded 1977’s spotty Burnin’ Sky album, no pun intended.

    After a much needed two year hiatus, Bad Company re-emerged with Desolation Angels, their strongest batch of songs since that impressive debut, including the electrifying “Rock’n’Roll Fantasy”,”Evil Wind”, and “Crazy Circles” all from Paul Rodgers chronicling life on tour; Burrell’s simple but intoxicating groove on “Gone, Gone, Gone”; and the mid-tempo rocker “Oh Atlanta” from Mick Ralphs.

    My guests In the Studio Rodgers, the dearly missed Mick Ralphs, and Simon Kirke share a humorous, touching tribute to the late Boz Burrell, plus you will hear the original Bad Company’s final recording, “Hammer of Love”, as we salute Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Bad Company. –Redbeard