Post by classic rock revival on Apr 25, 2011 15:26:48 GMT -6
This is an interview I did with Mick Ralphs in 2004.
Jim: Your latest solo CD "That's Life", features an unreleased Bad Company track from 1977, "Budgie". Can you tell us a liitle bit about that track and why Bad Company never released it?
Mick: "Budgie", we recorded the backtrack but never got around to putting vocals on it. I had written the song for Bad Company but it ended up as an instrumental !
Jim: Are there any other songs you wrote that you thought would be perfect for Bad Company or Mott The Hoople that never was released?
Mick: Yes I do have lots of songs as demos from about 1970 up to now. Some have appeared on my solo albums the rest are collecting dust here at home.
Jim: Of your three solo CD's, "Take This", "It's All Good", and "That's Life", which is your favorite, and which has been the most successful sales wise?
Mick: I like " Its All Good" because its just guitar and no vocals. I think I play better than I sing, although there are some good songs on my other 2 solo CD's. Sales wise I don't know. I don't think any of them have sold in significant numbers [shame].
Jim: Mott The Hoople was always labeled as a glam-rock band. Did glam-rock really exist in those days or was it just a term created by the critics?
Mick: Glam-rock was just a handle back then as "punk rock", "indie." or "hip-hop," is now.
Jim: Was Ian Hunter calling the shots (musicial direction of the band), or was it a band effort?
Mick: Ian was the front man although he and I made most of the decisions about the music. I like Ian a lot.
Jim: As a songwriter, which do you think Ian was best at, lyrics or music?
Mick: Ian was/is always good at lyrics compared to me. His words are interesting and he also knows how to write good music too.
Jim: How did Bad Company come together? Did Paul Rodgers contact you? What's the story?
Mick: Mott The Hoople was on tour with a band called,"Peace" with Paul Rodgers and 2 other guys. We got on well and he liked a lot of songs I had then but not recorded such as, "Can't Get Enough," "Movin on," "Ready for love," etc.,So we decided to work together and do an album. Only later did we decide to form a band.
Jim: Who came up with the name Bad Company?
Mick: Paul had seen a B-movie western called "Bad Company" with Jeff Bridges and he came home and wrote a song reflecting the mood of the movie.The song was [naturally] Bad Company, I said what a great name for the band. Paul wasn't sure about it but it stuck [and the rest is hysterical]!
Jim: When you guys were recording your debut album did you think Bad Company would become as successful as they did?
Mick: We never thought about success at the time we just wanted to make a great album the way we wanted it and hoped that people would dig it.
Jim: How did you come to be signed by Led Zeppelin's Swan Song Records?
Mick: We approached Peter Grant [Zeps manager] to manage us. To our surprise he said he would. At that time he was forming Swan Song so naturally we were signed to the label.
Jim: Led Zeppelin and Bad Company were the two major bands on the Swan Song label. Another band that was signed to Swan Song in the late 70's that I feel had the potential to make it big was Detective. Are you familiar with their music? Did you know the guys in the band?
Mick: There were several other artists on Swan Song either friends or were associated with the guys in Zeppelin.We knew some of them i.e.Maggie Bell, Dave Edmunds, Duster Bennett, and The Pretty Things.
Jim: What does the future hold for Mick Ralphs? A new solo CD and tour? Rejoining Bad Company? A Mott The Hoople reunion tour?
Mick: The future ? Who knows? 2004 is the 30th anniversary of Bad Company. We should tour, but Paul doesnt seem too keen. I am going on tour again with Ian Hunter this May in the U.K. and maybe the States ....(Editor's note: I hope so too!)
Jim: Mick, thanks for doing this interview. Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?
Mick: Yes, to the fans, THANK YOU and keep the faith. Anything can happen! LOVE to all!
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