BAD COMPANY, named after the 1972 movie of the same title, was borne out of the disintegration of FREE, when ex-members drummer Simon Kirke and vocalist PAUL RODGERS united with erstwhile CENTIPEDE, KING CRIMSON and SNAPE bassist Boz Burrell and former MOTT THE HOOPLE guitarist MICK RALPHS. The new band's union of Rodgers distinctively soulful vocal and Ralph's concise Rock songwriting skills soon reaped rewards as, in a time when most major Rock artists were pursuing ever more intricate postures, BAD COMPANY scored street level success with a brand of rustic, Blues based anthems.Commercially, BAD COMPANY was an immediate mainstream hit, with both their first brace of albums, 1974's 'Bad Company' and 1975's 'Straight Shooter', hitting the no. 1 spot in the USA.

Rodgers and Ralphs had already come close to a collaboration a few years previous to the actual formation of the band when Rodgers, then in PEACE during one of FREE's bust ups, supported MOTT THE HOOPLE on tour in 1971. When the inevitable final disintegration of FREE came about Rodgers was quick to recall some of the bluesier material Ralphs had let him listen to and the suggestion to form a band was made.

Jointly managed by LED ZEPPELIN mentor Peter Grant and former LED ZEPPELIN sound engineer Clive Coulsen the group became the first, and most successful, signing to the Swan Song label. With Coulsen taking charge of day to day business, BAD COMPANY cut their initial recordings in November of 1973 and debuted at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1974. Naturally, with Coulsen's ties to Peter Grant, the group was the first band to sign to LED ZEPPELIN's label Swan Song.

The eponymously titled debut album, recorded at LED ZEPPELIN's haunt Headley Grange with Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio in November 1973 and emerging in June of 1974, proved a huge commercial success with the album hitting number one in America and the accompanying single 'Can't Get Enough' reaching the number five position. The single featured the non-album track 'Little Miss Fortune' as a B side. In the UK BAD COMPANY's debut hit no. 3.

A second single lifted from the album, 'Movin' On', featured a B side re-recording of the FREE song 'Easy On My Soul' and peaked at no. 19 in the USA. The first album featured ex-KING CRIMSON and STREETWALKERS saxophonist Mel Collins, but for the main, BAD COMPANY kept a no frills Rock n' Roll approach on both albums and in the live show.

April 1975's 'Straight Shooter' also hit no. 1 in the USA, boosted by an enduring radio staple in 'Feel Like Makin' Love', which reached no. 10 on the Billboard singles charts. 'Good Lovin' Gone Bad' gave BAD COMPANY another radio hit. The following year's 'Run With The Pack' charted in the Top Five on both sides of the Atlantic. BAD COMPANY's first three albums had all broken the million selling platinum marker in the USA. In 1975, promoting the 'Run With The Pack' album, BAD COMPANY scheduled a British tour, supported by Rodgers and Kirke's erstwhile FREE colleague Paul Kossoff's new band BACK STREET CRAWLER. However, although this trek was scheduled to commence on 25th April 1976 it was curtailed due to Kossoff's death on 19th March.

Whilst 1977's 'Burnin' Sky' strangely failed to even reach the Top Ten, peaking at no. 15, 1979's 'Desolation Angels' ensured that the band's popularity had not waned as it charted at Number ten in Britain and in the top three in America. Accompanying singles were 'Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy', no. 13 in the USA and 'Gone Gone Gone', which reached no. 56.

BAD COMPANY had suffered from split rumours in 1979, prompted no doubt by a three year hiatus, but it was not until after the 'Rough Diamonds' album in 1982, that scored a lowly no. 26 in the USA, that the band called it a day in mid 1983.

As solo artists, a number of BAD COMPANY's members proved industrious. PAUL RODGERS promptly cut the ill received solo album 'Cut Loose' in 1984 before forming an alliance with LED ZEPPELIN guitarist JIMMY PAGE to form THE FIRM. This outfit put out a brace of albums but failed to live up to expectations. Simon Kirke joined WILDLIFE in 1983 and Boz Burrell turned up with ex-WHITESNAKE guitarist MICKY MOODY in NIGHTFLY during 1985, along with Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey on drums, vocalist Spencer James and CAMEL keyboardist Mike Simmonds.

As for guitarist Mick Ralphs, he released a lacklustre 1985 solo album entitled 'Take This' before forming the MICK RALPHS BAND with erstwhile STREETWALKERS, ALVIN LEE BAND and RUNNER bassist Mickey Feat, former URIAH HEEP drummer Chris Slade and ex-720 guitarist Dave Colwell. This outfit lasted far a handful of club dates before packing it in.

Eventually BAD COMPANY reformed in 1986 with new vocalist BRIAN HOWE, whose previous credits at the time included a short lived stint with American guitar god TED NUGENT, previous to which he fronted NWoBHM era British acts WHITE SPIRIT and SHY. The reformed line-up's opening gambit was a rather weak affair, 'Fame And Fortune', issued through Atlantic Records in late 1986. The band then supported DEEP PURPLE on their British tour of 1987, but Burrell departed shortly before touring commenced necessitating the recruitment of Steve Price.

Subsequent albums elevated the band once more into American superstardom and from 1988's 'Dangerous Age' onwards the albums were superbly produced by ex-CHARLIE guitarist Terry Thomas.

'Dangerous Age', recorded at The Farmyard in Little Chalfont, saw BAD COMPANY being credited simply as Brian Howe, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke. Steve Price gained credits for session bass guitar. Notably, Terry Thomas gained composition credits throughout. Released in August 1988 the album only reached number 58 on the US charts but a steady stream of radio play for singles 'No Smoke Without Fire' and 'Shake It Up' gave it momentum enough to eventually rack up one million sales. CD versions of 'Dangerous Age' hosted a bonus track 'Excited'.

Having gained back their platinum status by renewed touring and a steady flow of distinctly AOR radio hits BAD COMPANY was once again back to its former status. However, with June 1990's 'Holy Water', which scored an impressive number 35 on the US charts, only Howe and Kirke were left from the reformed group. Terry Thomas again co-composed much of the material. Sessioning would be Tina Egan, of HELLFIRE CLUB and IF ONLY, and former FASTWAY singer LEA HART on backing vocals. Mick Ralphs had left after recording and new members included former SAMSON, ASAP guitarist Dave Colwell, ex-IF, FANTASY, CRAWLER guitarist GEOFF WHITEHORN and bassist Felix Krish. The latter was known to producer Thomas as an erstwhile CHARLIE colleague.

In 1990 Rodgers returned to form with THE LAW, a project combining the vocalist with ex-WHO and FACES drummer Kenny Jones. Meantime, BAD COMPANY, with bassist Paul Cullen. Krish opting not to tour - he later appeared on albums by TOMMY SHAW, FOREIGNER and JIMMY PAGE- undertook a mammoth six month tour of America with co-headliners DAMN YANKEES seeing the band returning to many cities at larger venues as both bands statures grew. BAD COMPANY's graft paid off handsomely as 'Holy Water' passed the million sales mark, boosted by the top 20 ballad 'If You Needed Somebody'.

In mid 1991 Howe quit and KANSAS vocalist STEVE WALSH briefly replaced him before Howe rejoined. Mick Ralphs also rejoined, ousting Whitehorn. 1992's 'Here Comes Trouble', fuelled by the hit single 'What About That', also landed the group another platinum album. By 1994 Howe had quit once more and the increasingly fragile BAD COMPANY debuted new vocalist ROBERT HART, previously a solo artist and frontman for American based AOR band THE DISTANCE, on a small British club tour.

The BAD COMPANY 1994 line-up comprised Ralphs, Kirke, Hart, Colwell and ex-FOREIGNER bassist Rick Wills. The band subsequently spent 1995 touring America with support act TED NUGENT following the debut of the band's latest effort, 'Company Of Strangers'. This self-produced effort was crafted at Richard Branson's The Manor Studios in Oxfordshire.

The departed Brian Howe released a Terry Thomas produced solo album, 'Tangled In Reigns', during 1997. A second Howe solo album was recorded but remained consigned to the vaults. Hart later fronted COMPANY OF SNAKES, the band led by ex-WHITESNAKE men guitarists MICKY MOODY and BERNIE MARSDEN with bassist Neil Murray.

Quite incredibly Rodgers, Ralphs, Burrell and Kirke made up their differences and reformed the classic line up of BAD COMPANY in 1998. The band cut a number of new tracks for 1999's 'Anthology' album and toured America with DAVID LEE ROTH as guest. PAUL RODGERS issued his 'Electric' solo album in 2000. A fresh MICK RALPHS studio album, 'It's All Good', emerged in 2001 on the Angel Air label. The record included a BAD COMPANY live recording of FREDDIE KING's 'Hideaway'.

In the wake of the September 11th tragedies the band forged an alliance with other AOR heavyweights such as REO SPEEDWAGON, STYX, JOURNEY, JOHN WAITE, MARK FARNER, SURVIVOR, KANSAS, EDDIE MONEY, PETER FRAMPTON and EDGAR WINTER for a brace of fund raising events. The two shows, hosted by comedian Drew Carey, occurred on October 20th and 21st at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas and Hi Fi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia raising a quite staggering $1 million dollars for victims of the disasters.

Keeping the name alive, the 2002 incarnation of BAD COMPANY numbered Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke together with guitarist Dave 'Bucket' Colwell and bassist Jaz Lochrie. This unit issued the live 'Merchants Of Cool' album and DVD package through Sanctuary in May. The record would also please fans eager to hear new material, rounded off by two new studio tracks in 'Joe Fabulous' and 'Saving Grace', the latter co-written by JOURNEY guitarist NEAL SCHON.

Fortunately for his fans MICK RALPHS continued his renewed trend of releasing new music, a further new studio outing 'That's Life - Can't Get Enough' emerging in January of 2003. The record proved of great intrigue to BAD COMPANY completists as it featured an unreleased 1977 track 'Budgie' and the original MOTT THE HOOPLE working demo for 'Can't Get Enough'.

BAD COMPANY's Classic Rock favorite 'Feel Like Makin' Love' would be given a whole new high profile treatment in November of 2003, covered by Rap-Metal star KID ROCK. In December BRIAN MAY made the surprising announcement that QUEEN was set to reform, the new band being fronted by PAUL RODGERS. The musicians had jammed FREE's 'All Right Now' at the Fender 50th anniversary concert, this show apparently providing the catalyst for the new group. The first concert announced for this collaboration, simply billed QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS, would be a personal invitation by South African president Nelson Mandela to appear a '46664' AIDS fundraiser at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate in March 2005.

SIMON KIRKE was also active on the live front in 2005, his solo band, which included the FOREIGNER and BAD COMPANY credited Larry Oakes on guitar, touring UK clubs in April. Later that same year the erstwhile BAD COMPANY pairing of singer ROBERT HART and bassist Rick Wills announced the formation of THE JONES GANG, a high profile band union with drummer Kenny Jones of THE WHO, SMALL FACES and THE LAW.

Boz Burrell died at his Spanish home in Puerto Banus, Marbella on September 21st 2006.