Paul Rodgers

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Template:Wikify-date Image:Queen 2005 1010006.JPGPaul Rodgers is a British singer, born on December 17,1949 in Middlesbrough, England. He is known chiefly as a member of the bands Free and Bad Company. He also collaborated on two albums with Jimmy Page in The Firm. In 1991, he teamed with ex-Who drummer Kenny Jones and recorded an album as The Law which featured various artists including Bryan Adams, David Gilmour, and Chris Rea. A tribute album to Muddy Waters followed in 1993 which also featured many guest musicians. A tour followed, featuring former Journey and Bad English guitarist Neal Schon. Rodgers has since continued to perform as a successful solo artist.

Rodgers is probably best known for his role as the lead singer in Free and Bad Company (with Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke, Boz Burrell), and the hits "All Right Now", "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Rock Steady," "Rock 'n Roll Fantasy," and "Shooting Star" still get major play on classic rock radio. After an acrimonious break-up (reportedly, Rodgers - who has a black belt in martial arts - was involved in a rather one-sided physical altercation with bass player Burrell), various incarnations of the band have toured, mostly without Rodgers' participation. In the early 80s, it was rumored that he would sing with The Rossington Collins Band (made of up the survivors of Lynyrd Skynyrd), but the pairing never came off.

In autumn 2004, Rodgers participated in an all-star line up of some of the world's greatest guitarists and thousands of fans gathered at London's Wembley Arena to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Fender Stratocaster guitar. In 2005, he participated in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Four Tops, wherein he was credited with assisting that band's popularity in the UK.

Paul was asked by British rock group Queen to sing lead vocals on their European tour. Paul has joined Brian May and Roger Taylor on stage, and the group is billed as Queen + Paul Rodgers; all parties have stated that Paul is not replacing the late Freddie Mercury in Queen.

Worldwide Paul Rodgers is one of rock's most respected singers and songwriters. Imbued with equally generous measures of swagger and soul his legendary voice has been shining its light for almost four decades and as a songwriter he has left a deep impression on rock music. With 30 CD DVD released boasting mega hits, an international career with many awards and accolades, this platinum selling musician is a force. No other artist has led three bands to global success "Free", "Bad Company" and "The Firm" in addition to creating a Grammy nominated SOLO career.

As a solo artist he has worked with Blues greats Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy and others

His universally recognized voice continues in top form as audiences will discover when they see Rodgers and Queen perform this spring on their UK and European 2005 Tour. Or in South Africa at Nelson Mandella'a Fancourt Aids Benefit or this summer in the US with his solo band. Rodgers says "With Queen we intend to merge our styles and our music at the point where they meet most naturally. Soulful rock with raw emotion. For the solo shows I'll play a variety of the songs I've written and recorded since 1968 with my various bands "Free","Bad Company","The Firm" and SOLO." Brian May adds, "I can't wait... I have to tell you the thing that I'm most excited about is playing Paul's stuff... really. I wanna play "All Right Now", "Can't Get Enough" of your love, "Feel Like Making Love", "A Bit Of Love". It's all about love isn't it? So why not? It's going to be great!"

DVD's released this year that include Rodgers are "THE STRAT PACK" Live at Wembley on Eagle Rock and THE FOUR TOPS DVD "FROM THE HEART" on Universal. On EMI/Hollywood Records QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS Live DVD "Return of the Champions". Time permitting Omni Broadcasting will record and release a PAUL RODGERS TV/DVD Special.

1 Early Career
2 Bad Company
3 Solo career
4 Solo Discography
5 Discography
6 External links

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Early Career

Rodgers was born December 17, 1949 in the northern English town of Middlesbrough. Rodgers first premiered onto the British Music scene in 1968 as singer/songwriter for bluesy rockers FREE.In 1970 they shot up the international radio charts with the Rodgers/Fraser rock classic "All Right Now".A #1 hit in over 20 territories and recognized by ASCAP in 1990 for garnering 1,000,000 plus radio plays in the US alone.The song played a pivotal role in introducing Rodgers' stylistic metier, while helping to establish the sound of the British blues/rock invasion.At the time, Free and Led Zeppelin were the biggest grossing British acts. Free released four top five albums. Their unusual combination of blues, ballads and rock won them worldwide praise. The Multi Million Award was given to Paul Rodgers in 2000 by the British Music Industry when "All Right Now" passed 2,000,000 plus radio plays in the UK.

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Bad Company

Rodgers took his arena filling approach to even greater heights with his next band "Bad Company". One of rock's first supergroups formed by Rodgers and Mick Ralphs (guitarist with Mott the Hoople). Rodgers remembers, "Mick and I were trying to come up with names for the band. When I called him and said 'Bad Company' he dropped the phone." Bad Company owned the world's airwaves and colisuems from 1973 - 1982 with hitmakers Rodgers and Ralphs giving us "Feel Like Making Love", "Can't Get Enough" and Rodgers' "Shooting Star", "Bad Company", "Run With The Pack", the last two featuring Paul on piano plus "Rock and Roll Fantasy" with Paul on guitar.On the ballad "Seagull" Rodgers played all of the instruments. One of the most popular of all rock bands they earned six platinum albums until founding member Rodgers left in 1982 at the height of their fame to spend time with his young family.

Early in 1984, Paul released his much anticipated first Solo CD "Cut Loose". It showcased his quintessential talents as a singer, songwriter and multi-faceted musician. He composed all of the music and played all of the instruments. Making it a solo album in the truest sense of the word.When his friend Jimmy Page started to come around to his house, guitar in hand and LED ZEPPELIN at an end, "The Firm" was born.Their first outing was on the historic US ARMS TOUR (rocks first major charity fundraiser) including Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker and others.Rodgers agreed to two albums and two tours.Both "FIRM" world tours were top grossing."The Firm" and "MEAN BUSINESS", the group's two albums also enjoyed international success producing the radio hits Rodgers' "Radioactive" on which he played the guitar solo, "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and in the UK "All The King's Horses".

"THE LAW" Rodgers 1991 musical venture with former WHO drummer Kenny Jones produced Billboards #1 AOR Chart hit "Laying Down The Law" written by Rodgers.

Rodgers acknowledged the influence of Jimi Hendrix by collaborating with Slash, Hendrix's "BAND OF GYPSIES" (Buddy Miles and Billy Cox) and recorded the track "I Don't Live Today", on the CD "In From The Storm" a tribute to Hendrix. Then Rodgers teamed with Journey guitarist Neil Schon and released "The Hendrix Set" a live CD, released in 1993 with's Paul's interpretations of Hendrix songs.A Canadian and US tour followed.

His Grammy nominated solo CD, "Muddy Water Blues" was released in 1994. Rodgers wrote the title track and was backed by guitarists Brian May, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Steve Miller, Buddy Guy, Ritchie Sambora to name a few. "Muddy Water Blues" celebrated Paul's blues roots and respect for Muddy Water.

Woodstock's 25th Anniversary in 1996, saw Rodgers at the last moment pull together drummer Jason Bonham, bassist Andy Fraser (FREE), guitarists Slash and Neil Schon and perform.

His first double Solo CD "Now & Live" charted internationally in the top 30. The single "Soul of Love" remained in rotation on more than 86 US radio stations for six months. His 1997 world tour included Russia, Japan, Canada, US, UK, Germany, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel, Brazil, Greece and Argentina.

Rodgers and Bad Company hit Billboard's US BDS charts with the #1 single "Hey, Hey" in 1999, one of four new tracks off BAD CO's "Anthology". The second single released Rodgers' "Hammer of Love" reached #2. For the first time in 20 years, all the original members of Bad Company toured the US.

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Solo career

Rodgers focused on his solo career in 2000 and released "Electric, his 6th solo CD. In it's debut week, the single "Drifters" was US rock radios #1 Most Added FMQB Hot Trax, #2 Most Added R&R Rock and #3 Most Added Album Net Power Cuts. "Drifters" remained Top Ten for 8 weeks on Billboards Rock Charts M.H. That year he played sold out concerts in England, Scotland, Australia, US and Canada. After his appearance on T.V.'s "Late Show" with David Letterman in New York, he met and jammed with B.B. King. Says Rodgers, "The thrill was definatley not gone... for me. B.B. is a blues giant." That same year, Paul Rodgers, Jimmie Vaughn, Levon Helm, blues men Hubert Sumlin, Johnnie Johnson, James Cotton and others performed a sold out concert in Cleveland as a "Tribute to Muddy Water".

The spring of 2001 Paul Rodgers returned to Australia, England and Scotland for the second run of sold out shows. That summer he toured the US with Bad Company.

Paul Rodgers and Bad Company released their first Live CD & DVD "Merchants of Cool" in 2002. It included all the hits and a new single "Joe Fabulous" penned by Rodgers which hit #1 at Classic Rock Radio and Top 20 on mainstream rock radio in the US.In it's debut week, the DVD sales sound scanned at #3 Canada, #4 in the US.The "Joe Fabulous" Tour kicked off in the US and sold out in the UK.While in London, Paul performed with Jeff Beck at the Royal Festival Hall.Rodgers was invited by long time fan, Tony Blair to perform at the Labour Party Conference. "I had the entire Labour Party singing the chrous of "Wishing Well", a song I wrote and shared with Free, ..."LOVE IN A PEACEFUL WORLD. LOVE IN A PEACEFUL WORLD"... over and over and over hoping the words would sink in but we went to war." recalls Rodgers. Twice this year Rodgers performed on Britain's popular TV show "Top Of The Pops 2".

In 2003 Rodgers toured as a solo artist for the first time in two years playing 25 exclusive US dates.In his solo band are guitarist Howard Leese (Heart), bassist Lynn Sorenson and drummer Jeff Kathan.BBC TV/Radio host (pianist and songwriter) Jools Holland invited Paul to record "I Told The Truth". (to hear visit the NEWS page) An original song for Holland's 3rd CD "Small World Big Band". The CD also featured Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Peter Gabriel, Michael McDonald, Ringo Starr and others.This led to Rodgers performing 2 sold out nights at London's Royal Albert Hall with Holland and his 18 piece rhythm and bluse orchestra, plus several UK TV appearances.

Early in 2004 Rodgers joined Mitch Mitchell & Billy Cox (Hendrix's Band of Gypsies), Buddy Guy, Joe Satriani, Kid Rock's Kenny Olson, Alice in Chain's Jerry Cantrell, Double Trouble, Indigenous, Kenny Wayne Sheppard and blues legend Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf & Muddy Water) and performed 3 sold out shows in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco as "Experience Hendrix".Once again, Rodgers only played 25 concerts in the US and Canada.He performed at Wembley for the 50th Anniversary celebration for the Fender Stratocaster,along with David Gilmour who played Strat #001, Ronnie Wood, Brian May, Joe Walsh, Gary Moore, Rodgers sang and played a custom designed Jaguar Fender Strat.Rodgers was invited by THE FOUR TOPS to be part of their 50th Anniversary TV/DVD concert celebration at Motown's Opera House and performed along side Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Sam Moore, Mary Wilson, Ashford and Simpson and The Four Tops."The call from THE TOPS' Duke Fakir just about knocked me out.I've been a fan since I was a boy and had no idea that they even knew I existed!"exclaims Rodgers. For years the media and fellow musicians have referred to Rodgers as "The Voice". But The Four Tops' Duke Fakir says,"Paul Rodgers is THE SOUL OF ROCK!"

Paul sang with Queen as Queen plus Paul Rodgers 2005/2006 at their 2005 European performances. A live CD and DVD 'Return of the Champions' was released late 2005. Further concerts were played in Japan and also 2 concerts in the USA. Also in 2005 he performed John Lennon's Imagine. Queen + Paul Rodgers are going to be touring the U.S.A. and Canada in 2006 playing 23 venues, including Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Seattle, and Portland.

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