Bad Company - Wembley Arena

Posted by: The Strat (Fender) on 12 April 2010

Yeah they're old but hell I just don't care. Never as organic as Free but it's great that the legacy remains in this line up which is the original members of Bad Co but for the sad death of Boz Burrell several years back.

So often older singers just lose the range but not with Paul Rodgers - that voice is simply amazing. And Simon Kirke drummed superbly all night - not a missed beat and with pinpoint accuracy - his cymbal work was a joy to watch and on Electricland he held together an explosive climax. Mick Ralphs - often considered the musical weak link in Bad Co played with real authority and the 2 other guys bought in were spot on as well. The bass player and Simon Kirke were as tight as a mallards rectum all evening.

The effects were kept to a minimum and of course the lyrics were never profound - Rodgers declaration that he couldn't cut a Deal with the Preacher was about as profound as it got. Great stuff.

Set list:

Can't Get Enough
Honey Child
Burnin' Sky
Run With The Pack
Young Blood
Seagull
Electricland
Gone Gone Gone
Simple Man
Feel Like Makin' Love
Shooting Star
Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy
Movin' On

Encore:

Ready For Love
Bad Company

Deal With The Preacher

Posted on: 12 April 2010 by J.N.

Coincidentally, I'm currently spinning Steve Hoffman's very fine transcription of the eponymous album. And mighty fine it sounds too.

As some of you will know it's on the Audio Fidelity label Cat No. AFZ 024. I love the false start on 'Rock Steady' and the count-in on 'Seagull'. A cracking album from start to finish.

On the subject of crusty old rawk, I've just received the new Wally CD, 'Montpellier'. Dear oh dear oh dear. Typical modern recording. Compressed to buggery, so it sounds loud, very nasty, and has little or no discernible dynamic range.

Recording quality is going backwards. I had some friends over on Saturday, and we played some of my (self recorded) cassettes from the early 1980s on my relatively humble Nakamichi machine (taken off a Rega 3 or a Linn).

You guessed it - open, transparent, dynamic, and well and truly taking the piss out of many a modern recording.

Depressing.

John.

Posted on: 13 April 2010 by Joe Bibb

quote:
Originally posted by Fender:

So often older singers just lose the range but not with Paul Rodgers - that voice is simply amazing.

One of the very best. I agree he has lost nothing at all. Back in the Free days his singing was always top notch and seemed effortless.

Nothing beats the Free albums for me, much as I like Bad Company's stuff.

Joe

Posted on: 17 April 2010 by ewemon

quote:
Originally posted by Joe Bibb:
quote:
Originally posted by Fender:

So often older singers just lose the range but not with Paul Rodgers - that voice is simply amazing.

One of the very best. I agree he has lost nothing at all. Back in the Free days his singing was always top notch and seemed effortless.

Nothing beats the Free albums for me, much as I like Bad Company's stuff.

Joe

Still I think my fav band of all time whom I was lucky to see live twice.

Posted on: 19 April 2010 by The Strat (Fender)

yep Free were certainly more organic - superb band so sad they pressed the self destruct pattern before I got the chance to see them.

Posted on: 19 April 2010 by Joe Bibb

quote:
Originally posted by ewemon:

Still I think my fav band of all time

Me too. There are one or two pretty good youtube clips, which you've probably seen Ewen, but if not - well worth a look.

Joe

Posted on: 24 April 2010 by Skip

I have seen the show on cable channel "Palladium" on Comcast and it really is a great program.

Posted on: 07 May 2010 by Frizzlefry

quote:
and the 2 other guys bought in were spot on as well

The second guitarist is Howard Leese. Most here will know him as the guitarist for Heart for over 20 years, from 'Dreamboat Annie' to 'The Road Home'. He's been Paul Rodgers guitarist since then ('97ish).

scroll down for some pictures on this link,
http://www.vintagerocker.com/f....html?t=9036&page=13

As for Free, what about The Roadrunners? I had an uncle who claimed to have seen them in Yarm in '66 !