Formed in 1973, the British hard-rock outfit Bad Company was a supergroup comprised of ex-King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell, former Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs, and singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke, both onetime members of Free.

Powered by Rodgers' muscular vocals and Ralphs' blues-based guitar work, Bad Company was the first group signed to Led Zeppelin's vanity label Swan Song; Bad Company's eponymous 1974 debut was an international hit, topping the U.S. album charts and scoring with the number one single "Can't Get Enough of Your Love."

Straight Shooter, issued the following year, was another major success, notching the hit "Feel Like Makin' Love," while 1976's Run With the Pack was Bad Company's third consecutive million-selling record. After 1977's Burnin' Sky, Bad Company recorded 1979's Desolation Angels, which embellished their sound with synthesizers and strings; a three-year hiatus followed before the release of Rough Diamonds, the group's final LP in its original incarnation.

In 1986, Ralphs and Kirke resurrected the Bad Company name, enlisting former Ted Nugent vocalist Brian Howe to replace Rodgers; the reconfigured unit's debut Fame & Fortune was a commercial failure, but Bad Company's 1988's Dangerous Age became a minor hit. 1990's Holy Water fared even better, as the power ballad "If You Needed Somebody" became a Top Twenty success. Here Comes Trouble, issued in 1992, achieved platinum status, and earned Bad Company another Top Forty hit with "How About That." On their twentieth anniversary, Bad Company expanded into a quintet with the addition of bassist Rick Wills and rhythm guitarist Dave Colwell, and released the live retrospective The Best of Bad Company Live...What You Hear Is What You Get.

Throughout the 1990s, the band continued with various musicians, with drummer Simon Kirke and guitarist Mick Ralphs being the only original members . Paul at this time was doing many projects Cut Loose a solo Cd, The Law, with "The Who" drummer Kenny Jones ,Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters, and The Firm, with Jimmy Page.The 1995 line-up of Bad Company included Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke plus Dave Colwell (keyboards), Rick Wills (bass guitar), and Robert Hart (vocals).All four Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell, Simon Kirke reunited briefly in 1999 to record four new tracks,that produced the first number one hit in 20 years with "Hey Hey", that appeared on a compilation of previously released material, The Original Bad Company Anthology.

In 2001, Paul Rodgers, aka "The Voice," rejoined Simon Kirke, in a small American tour. Merchants of Cool CD/DVD release resulted from those shows and that produced the hits " Joe Fabulous" Dave Colwell, previously on keyboards, took guitar; Jaz Lochrie was on bass. Guest performers at the shows included former Guns N' Roses axeman Slash and Neal Schon of Journey fame.

In 2005/2006, Paul Rodgers toured with Queen. It was stated, including on Brian May's own website, that Rodgers would be "featured with" Queen as: Queen + Paul Rodgers, not replacing the late Freddie Mercury, On April 28/2006, released a live DVD from their collaboration--"Super Live in Japan." with songs by Queen, Bad Company and Free. The show was filmed at Saitama Super Arena on October 27, 2005-called Return of the Champions and album of the same name.There are many bootlegs from nearly every show of the 2005/2006 tour in audio, as well as a few in video form.