Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers will no longer be attending Saturday’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles. Having had 13 strokes since 2016, he’s been ordered by his doctors not to fly.
In a statement he says, “My hope was to be at the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritize my health. I have no problem singing, it’s the stress of everything else. Thanks for understanding.
“[Bad Company drummer] Simon [Kirke] along with some outstanding musicians will be stepping in for me – guaranteed to rock.”
Kirke will be the only member representing the band as guitarist Mick Ralphs died this past June, and bassist Boz Burrell preceded him in 2006.
Bad Company — Rodgers and Kirke — last performed together in 2019.
Bad Company are being inducted by Mick Fleetwood and among the musicians performing in their honor is Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, and possibly Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless who perform “All Right Now” from Free on the new Bad Company tribute album, Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company. Free was the band Rodgers and Kirke were in prior to forming Bad Company.
Joining Bad Company in the Class of 2025 are Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes in the Performer category, along with Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon for Musical Influence, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye for Musical Excellence, and Lenny Waronker with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
