Paul Rogers

Paul Bernard Rodgers (born 17 December 1949) is an English-Canadian singer, songwriter and musician.

He was the lead vocalist of numerous rock bands, including Free, Bad Company, the Firm and the Law.

In 1968, Rodgers joined bluesy rockers Free as singer and songwriter.

In 1970, they shot up the international radio charts with "All Right Now", which Rodgers wrote with the group's bassist Andy Fraser.

After the first break-up of Free in the spring of 1971, Rodgers briefly formed a three-piece band called Peace.

Alongside bassist Stewart McDonald and drummer Mick Underwood, Rodgers played guitar and sang lead vocals.

Peace supported Mott the Hoople's UK tour in 1971, but broke up when Free reformed at the start of 1972.

A bootleg has circulated of a 22 December 1971 appearance by Peace, live in studio, on BBC Radio 1's Top Gear program.

Rodgers formed his next band, Bad Company, with Mick Ralphs, former guitarist of Mott the Hoople.

The line-up also included Free drummer Simon Kirke, and Boz Burrell, former vocalist and bassist of King Crimson.

Rodgers said he and Ralphs were still trying to come up with a name for the band, "and I just said 'Bad Company', and there was this scuffling noise and he said, 'Shit, I dropped the phone—that's it!

Bad Company was the first act signed to Led Zeppelin's new record label, Swan Song.

They toured from 1973 to 1982, and had several hits such as "Feel Like Makin' Love", "Can't Get Enough", "Shooting Star", "Bad Company", and "Run with the Pack".

Rodgers played instruments on several tracks: "Bad Company" and "Run With The Pack" featured him on piano; "Rock and Roll Fantasy" on guitar; and on the ballad "Seagull" Rodgers played all of the instruments.

In late 1973, Rodgers was asked to become the singer of Deep Purple when Ian Gillan had left the band.

He rejected their offer in order to start Bad Company.

Bad Company earned six platinum albums until Rodgers left in 1982, stating that he wanted to spend time with his young family.

In October 1983, Rodgers released his first solo LP Cut Loose.

He composed all of the music and played all of the instruments.

The album reached number 135 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.

When his friend Jimmy Page started to come around to his house, guitar in hand and Led Zeppelin at an end, the duo's first live pairing was on the US ARMS (Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis) Tour, which had first been mooted by Eric Clapton and, besides Rodgers and Page, would include Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Steve Winwood and others.

It was a number one hit in more than 20 territories and acknowledged by ASCAP in 1990 for having received over a million radio plays in the US.

For a short time, Free were alongside Led Zeppelin as among the highest grossing British acts, though Free's status was not sustained.

Free released four albums with a combination of blues, ballads and rock that were Top Five successes in the UK.

In 1991, John Mellencamp called Rodgers "the best rock singer ever".

Freddie Mercury in particular liked Rodgers and his aggressive style.

Paul Bernard Rodgers was born in Middlesbrough, England.

He played bass for a band named The Roadrunners.

Colin Bradley originally had the lead vocal slot, but convinced Rodgers to sing and front the band as he was primarily interested in playing rhythm guitar and his oldest brother Joe (who managed the band) supported the idea.

Just before leaving Middlesbrough for the London music scene, the band changed its name to The Wildflowers.

Other members of this band were Micky Moody (later of Whitesnake) and Bruce Thomas (later of Elvis Costello and The Attractions).

When in 2000, the song "All Right Now" achieved the mark of two million radio plays in the UK, an award was given to Rodgers as one of the two writers.

Two songs by Peace were eventually included on the fifth disc of the 2000 Free compilation Songs of Yesterday, along with a song that Rodgers recorded with the Maytals.

He has also performed as a solo artist, and collaborated with the remaining active members of Queen under the moniker Queen + Paul Rodgers, from 2004 until both parties parted ways in 2009.

A poll in Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 55 on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".

In 2011 Rodgers received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Rodgers has been cited as a significant influence on various rock singers.

It was revealed in April 2011 that after Jim Morrison's death in 1971, the rest of the Doors wanted Rodgers to replace him.

Robbie Krieger flew to England to personally offer him the job.

However, Rodgers has said that he was off the grid in a very rural area at the time, and the moment passed.