Paul Rodgers and Mick Ralphs (Credit: Larry Marano)Bad Company will be short one founding member when the band hits the road this May with Joe Walsh, as guitarist Mick Ralphs has decided not to join the group on the trek. In his place, ex-Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson will step in.
“I’ve decided to sit this upcoming U.S. tour out,” the 71-year-old Ralphs says in a statement. “The travel required to do these dates is something I’m just not feeling up for at the moment. I’m glad the band found Rich to take my place for this run, I’m sure he’ll be great. See you all again soon.”
In his message, Ralphs also sends out “much love” to his Bad Company band mates Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, as well as sending “love to all our fans for supporting us over the years.”
Robinson, who will be releasing a new solo album titled Flux in June, adds, “I’m excited to be joining Bad Company as their special guest on tour this summer. One of my favorite bands growing up was Free. I’ve been a big fan of Paul Rodgers and his work throughout his career — from Bad Company and beyond — and Simon Kirke is one of my all-time favorite drummers. To be able to play with Paul and Simon is such an honor.”
Rodgers and Kirke were in Free together before Bad Company formed, while Ralphs was a founding member of Mott the Hoople in addition to Band Company.
Incidentally, Robinson and Rodgers actually performed together this past November, during a Jimmy Page tribute event held at the EMP Museum in Seattle.
As previously reported, Bad Company and Walsh’s joint U.S. trek, called the One Hell of a Night Tour, runs from a May 12 concert in Dallas through a July 3 show in Nashville. Bad Company also recently added a September 5 headlining date in Murphys, California, following their tour with the longtime Eagles guitarist.
Here are all of Bad Company’s upcoming tour dates; all are with Walsh unless otherwise noted:
5/12 — Dallas, TX, Gexa Energy Pavilion
5/15 — Morrison, CO, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
5/17 — Concord, CA, Concord Pavilion
5/18 — Chula Vista, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheater
5/20 — Inglewood, CA, The Forum
5/22 — Phoenix, AZ, Ak-Chin Pavilion
5/24 — The Woodlands, TX, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
5/26 — New Orleans, LA, Bold Sphere Music at Champions Square
5/28 — Tampa, FL, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
5/29 — West Palm Beach, FL, Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
6/7 — Darien Lake, NY, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
6/9 — Mansfield, MA, Xfinity Center
6/11 — Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
6/12 — Camden, NJ, BB&T Pavilion
6/14 — Wantagh, NY, Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
6/16 — Noblesville, IN, Klipsch Music Center
6/18 — Maryland Heights, MO, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
6/20 — Kansas City, MO, Starlight Theatre
6/22 — Clarkson, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
6/23 — Chicago, IL, FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
6/25 — Hinckley, MN, Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater*
6/26 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Blossom Music Center
6/28 — Pittsburgh, PA, First Niagara Pavilion
6/30 — Charlotte, NC, PNC Music Pavilion
7/1 — Atlanta, GA, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
7/3 — Nashville, TN, Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheatre at Fontanel
9/5 — Murphys, CA, Ironstone Amphitheatre*
* = Bad Company only.
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