Mick Ralphs

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Mick Ralphs
Birth name Michael Geoffrey Ralphs
Born 31 March 1944 (1944-03-31) (age 64)
Hereford, England
Genre(s) Hard rock
Rock
Occupation(s) Musician, Songwriter
Instrument(s) Guitar
Years active 1968 - present
Associated acts Bad Company, Mott the Hoople
Website Official webpage
Notable instrument(s)
Les Paul Junior

Mick Ralphs (born Michael Geoffrey Ralphs, 31 March 1944 in Stoke Lacy, Hereford) is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was a founding member of 1970s rock bands, Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.

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[edit] Career

In 1973, dissatisfied with Ian Hunter's growing domination, Ralphs left to team up with former Free vocalist Paul Rodgers to form Bad Company. This band ultimately had greater commercial success than Mott The Hoople. Ralphs continued to record and tour with Bad Company until they folded in 1982, when Rodgers announced he was leaving the band (reportedly, a physical confrontation ensued, with self-confessed "wimp" Ralphs taking on Rodgers, who has a black belt in martial arts).

In 1984, he toured with Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on Gilmour's About Face tour.

Bad Company reformed and split several times through the 1980s and 1990s, but Ralphs finally quit for good in 2000. He then announced that he was giving up touring, something he was never comfortable with in either band, since he has a morbid fear of flying.

In 2004, he once again teamed up with former Mott colleague Ian Hunter, playing second lead guitar (along with Andy York) on Hunter's UK tour. Ralphs performed at Hunter's 2005 concert at the London Astoria, which was well received, with Ralphs performing a guitar solo to "All the Way from Memphis".

[edit] Guitars

  • Mott the Hoople - Gibson Les Paul Junior, Gibson Firebird (Single Pick-Up), Gibson SG, Fender Telecaster
  • Bad Company - Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender Esquire, Gibson Flying V - "Feel Like Making Love" video
  • Recently - Gibson 1957/1959 Custom Shop re-issue Gibson Les Paul Standard.
  • Currently A 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard that he used in Bad Company is available to purchase on eBay for the sum of $95,000.00 USD. It has a neck heel modification in which it tapers down into the body allowing more fret access.
  • Mick Ralphs also has a Fender Stratocaster fitted with a 2TEK bridge

[edit] Notable songwriting credits

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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