Born Michael Geoffrey Ralphs in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, on March 31, 1944, Mick Ralphs is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. He began his musical career in the early 1960s with The Buddies, then The Doc Thomas Group, which later became Silence. In 1969, after the arrival of singer Ian Hunter, the group changed its name to Mott the Hoople. Mick Ralphs was one of the founding members and lead guitarist. He co-wrote several major songs, including "Rock and Roll Queen", "Ready for Love" (which he originally sang) and "One of the Boys". Their version of David Bowie's "All the Young Dudes" in 1972 propelled the band to success. Ralphs participated in the albums All the Young Dudes (1972), Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974), contributing to a powerful, melodic glam rock sound. In 1973, wishing to make a fresh musical start, he left Mott the Hoople to co-found Bad Company with Paul Rodgers (ex-Free), Simon Kirke (drums) and Boz Burrell (bass). Ralphs plays a central role in the band's bluesy, straightforward sound. He composed or co-wrote several of the band's biggest hits, including "Can't Get Enough" (written alone, #5 in the U.S.), "Movin' On", "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" and "Feel Like Makin' Love". With Bad Company, he recorded six albums between 1974 and 1982: Bad Company (1974), Straight Shooter (1975), Run with the Pack (1976), Burnin' Sky (1977), Desolation Angels (1979) and Rough Diamonds (1982). After the band split up in 1982, Ralphs accompanied David Gilmour on tour and led a more discreet career, recording the solo album Take This! (1984), to which Simon Kirke contributed. He took part in the Bad Company reformations, first in 1986 without Paul Rodgers, then again in the 1990s and 2000s with Rodgers back on vocals. At the same time, Ralphs takes part in projects by the reformed Mott the Hoople (anniversary concerts in 2009 and 2013). In 2001, he released a second instrumental solo album, It's All Good, with a stronger blues-rock bent, and went on to form The Mick Ralphs Blues Band. In 2016, after touring with Bad Company, Ralphs suffered a stroke that forced him to retire from the music scene. In 2023, the solo compilation On the Run: 1984-2013 was released. Retired to a nursing home since his accident, Mick Ralphs died in Henley-on-Thames (Oxfordshire) on June 23, 2025, aged 81.
