Mick

Lore & Background

Ralphs began his career playing with the blues-rock band the Buddies, releasing 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. His 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. Ralphs founded Bad Company with vocalist Paul Rodgers from Free. 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. The band's debut album, Bad Company in 1974, included the hit track written by Ralphs, "Can't Get Enough", 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." The debut album reached number one in the United States. 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."

Reader's Guide

Guitars: Mott the Hoople – Gibson Les Paul Junior; 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); Burns with tri-sonic pickups; Martin D-76 Bicentennial; Rosetti Lucky 7. Solo albums: 1984 – Take This (re-edited on CD in 1996); 2001 – It's All Good (recorded live in 1999 with Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell); 2003 – That's Life. Mick Ralphs Blues Band albums: 2013 – I Should Know Better; 2016 – If It Ain't Broke. Notable collaboration: 1984 – 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. A video of a performance at the Hammersmith Odeon was released in 1984 with special guests: Roy Harper (vocals, percussion) and Nick Mason (drums).

Did You Know?

• Ralphs did not start playing guitar until he was 18.
• Ralphs had an extreme fear of flying and gave up touring after Bad Company's 1999 reunion tour.
• He was married three times; his third wife was Susie Chavasse.