Mick Ralphs, the influential British guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of both Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, has died at the age of 81. Born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England, Ralphs began his musical journey as a teenager, playing blues guitar and forming the Doc Thomas Group in 1966. This band would evolve into Mott the Hoople by 1969, a name inspired by a 1966 novel by Willard Manus. Mott the Hoople gained early acclaim with the David Bowie-penned anthem "All the Young Dudes," which became a defining glam rock hit, but Ralphs left the band in 1973, feeling creatively limited.

After departing Mott the Hoople, Ralphs connected with Paul Rodgers, formerly of Free, initially to collaborate on songwriting. The project quickly grew into a full-fledged band with the addition of drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell, forming Bad Company. Their debut album in 1974, featuring the Ralphs-penned hit "Can't Get Enough," soared to the top of the charts and achieved five-times platinum status. Ralphs also brought "Ready for Love," originally written for Mott the Hoople, to Bad Company, where it became a staple of their repertoire.

Ralphs remained with Bad Company through its most successful years, co-writing classics such as "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy." The band’s straightforward, unified sound and strong management from Led Zeppelin’s Peter Grant helped them become one of the era’s most successful rock acts. Ralph’s guitar work and songwriting were central to the band's identity, with his open-C tuning on "Can't Get Enough" giving the song its signature ring.

Throughout his career, Ralphs participated in several reunions with both Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, including a notable final performance at London’s O2 Arena in 2016. Shortly after this show, he suffered a stroke that left him bedridden until his death in June 2025. Ralphs' passing comes just months before Bad Company’s scheduled induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as a key architect of classic British rock.