List of Bad Company band members
Bad Company | |
|---|---|
 The original Bad Company in 1976. (L to R) Boz Burrell, Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs. | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Rock, Hard rock, Blues rock |
| Years active | 1973–1982, 1986–1999, 2001–2002, 2008–present |
| Members | Simon Kirke Mick Ralphs Paul Rodgers Howard Leese Todd Ronning |
| Past members | Boz Burrell Brian Howe Gregg Dechert Steve Price Larry Oakes Paul Cullen Dave "Bucket" Colwell Rick Wills Robert Hart Jaz Lochrie Lynn Sorenson |
The following list details musicians who have been and still are members of the American band Bad Company since its formation in 1973. The band's current lineup includes original members Simon Kirke (drums), Mick Ralphs (guitar) and Paul Rodgers (lead vocals) joined by latter members Howard Leese (guitar, formerly of Heart) and Todd Ronning (bass guitar). The band has gone through many lineup changes throughout its career. The only member to appear in every lineup is drummer Simon Kirke. He is the only member of the band to have performed at every Bad Company concert and to appear on every album. Mick Ralphs is currently still a part of the band but is being temporarily replaced by former Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson for the bands 2016 United States tour. While still officially a member of the band in 1990-1991, Ralphs also sat out most of their Holy Water tour. This time he was temporarily replaced by Geoff Whitehorn.
In 2008 Mick Ralphs performed a series of shows as Mick Ralphs' Bad Company. That band featured Ralphs and former Bad Company members Robert Hart (vocals), Dave "Bucket" Colwell (guitar) and Jaz Lochrie (bass) joined by Gary "Harry" James (drums).
Current members
- Simon Kirke
- Active: 1973–1982, 1986–1999, 2001–2002, 2008–present
- Instruments: drums, percussion, backing vocals, (occasional) lead vocals, (occasional) guitar
- Studio release contributions: all studio Bad Company releases
- Live release contributions: all live Bad Company releases
- Mick Ralphs
- Active: 1973–1982, 1986–1999, 2008–present
- Instruments: guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Studio release contributions: all studio Bad Company releases
- Live release contributions: all live Bad Company releases sans In Concert: Merchants of Cool (2002)
- Notes: Sat out most of the band's Holy Water tour (replaced by Geoff Whitehorn) and the band's 2016 United States tour (replaced by Rich Robinson)
- Paul Rodgers
- Active: 1973–1982, 1998–1999, 2001–2002, 2008–present
- Instruments: lead vocals, (occasional) rhythm guitar, keyboards, harmonica
- Studio release contributions: all studio Bad Company releases from Bad Company (1974) to Rough Diamonds (1982), The Original Bad Company Anthology (1999, 4 new tracks)
- Live release contributions: all live Bad Company releases sans What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company (1993)
- Howard Leese
- Active: 2008-present
- Instruments: guitar
- Studio release contributions: none
- Live release contributions: Hard Rock Live (2010), Live at Wembley (2011)
- Todd Ronning
- Active: 2012-present
- Instruments: bass guitar
- Studio release contributions: none
- Live release contributions: none
Former members
- Boz Burrell
- Active: 1973-1982, 1986, 1998-1999
- Instruments: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Studio release contributions: all studio Bad Company releases from Bad Company (1974) to Rough Diamonds (1982), The Original Bad Company Anthology (1999, 4 new tracks)
- Live release contributions: Live in Albuquerque 1976 (2006), Live in Concert 1977 & 1979 (2016)
- Brian Howe
- Active: 1986-1994
- Instruments: lead vocals, (occasional) saxophone
- Studio release contributions: all studio Bad Company releases from Fame and Fortune (1986) to Here Comes Trouble (1992)
- Live release contributions: What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company (1993)
- Gregg Dechert
- Active: 1986-1987
- Instruments: keyboards
- Studio release contributions: Fame and Fortune (1986)
- Live release contributions: none
- Steve Price
- Active: 1986, 1986-1990
- Instruments: bass guitar, backing vocals
- Studio release contributions: Fame and Fortune (1986), Dangerous Age (1988)
- Live release contributions: none
- Larry Oakes
- Active: 1988-1989
- Instruments: guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Studio release contributions: none
- Live release contributions: none
- Paul Cullen
- Active: 1990-1992
- Instruments: bass guitar
- Studio release contributions: none
- Live release contributions: none
- Dave "Bucket" Colwell
- Active: 1992–1998, 2001–2002
- Instruments: guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Studio release contributions: Here Comes Trouble (1992), Company of Strangers (1995), Stories Told & Untold (1996)
- Live release contributions: What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company (1993), In Concert: Merchants of Cool (2002)
- Rick Wills
- Active: 1992–1998, 2001
- Instruments: bass guitar
- Studio release contributions: Here Comes Trouble (1992), Company of Strangers (1995), Stories Told & Untold (1996)
- Live release contributions: What You Hear Is What You Get: The Best of Bad Company (1993)
- Robert Hart
- Active: 1994–1998
- Instruments: lead vocals
- Studio release contributions: Company of Strangers (1995), Stories Told & Untold (1996)
- Live release contributions: none
- Jaz Lochrie
- Active: 2002
- Instruments: bass guitar
- Studio release contributions: none
- Live release contributions: In Concert: Merchants of Cool (2002)
- Lynn Sorensen
- Active: 2008-2010
- Instruments: bass guitar
- Studio release contributions: none
- Live release contributions: Hard Rock Live (2010), Live at Wembley (2011)
Former touring members
- Geoff Whitehorn
- Active: 1990-1991
- Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
- Live release contributions: none
- Notes: Filled in for Mick Ralphs on the band's Holy Water tour[1][2]
- Rich Robinson
- Active: 2016
- Instruments: guitar, backing vocals
- Live release contributions: none
- Notes: Filled in for Mick Ralphs on the band's 2016 United States tour[3]
Session musicians
- Sue Glover
- Instruments: backing vocals
- Studio release contributions: Bad Company (1974)
- Sunny Leslie
- Instruments: backing vocals
- Studio release contributions: Bad Company (1974)
- Mel Collins
- Instruments: saxophone
- Studio release contributions: Bad Company (1974), Burnin' Sky (1977), Rough Diamonds (1982)
- Tim Hinkley
- Instruments: keyboards
- Studio release contributions: Burnin' Sky (1977)
- John Cook
- Instruments: keyboards
- Studio release contributions: Rough Diamonds (1982)
- Terry Thomas
- Instruments: guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Studio release contributions: Dangerous Age (1988), Holy Water (1990)
- Felix Krish
- Instruments: bass guitar
- Studio release contributions: Holy Water (1990), Here Comes Trouble (1992)
- Luke "Potato Skins" Antonello
- Instruments: saxophone
- Studio release contributions: Here Comes Trouble (1992)
- Jeff Bova
- Instruments: keyboards
- Studio release contributions: Company of Strangers (1995)
- Steve Smith
- Instruments: keyboards
- Studio release contributions: Company of Strangers (1995)
- Jody Linscott
- Instruments: percussion
- Studio release contributions: Company of Strangers (1995)
- Paul Carnes
- Instruments: mandolin
- Studio release contributions: Company of Strangers (1995)
- Michael Kamen
- Instruments: string arrangement
- Studio release contributions: Company of Strangers (1995)
Timeline
Lineups
Members of the original (and classic) lineup are in bold. Only each musician's primary instruments are shown next to their name.
| Years | Members | Albums/Videos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-1982 |
| ||
| The band was broken up between 1982 and 1986. | |||
| 1986-1987 |
|
| |
| 1973-1982 | no recordings, no live performances | ||
| 1986-1987 |
|
no recordings, live performances only | |
| 1987-1988 |
|
| |
| 1988-1989 |
|
no recordings, live performances only | |
| 1989-1990 |
|
no recordings, live performances only | |
| 1990 |
| ||
| 1990-1992 |
|
no recordings, live performances only | |
| 1992-1994 | |||
| 1994-1998 |
| ||
| 1998-1999 |
| ||
| The band was broken up between 1999 and 2001. | |||
| 2001 | no recordings, live performances only | ||
| 2002 | |||
| The band was broken up between 2002 and 2008. | |||
| 2008-2010 |
|
| |
| 2010-2012 | no recordings, no live performances | ||
| 2012-present |
|
no recordings, live performances only | |