Happy Birthday today (Dec. 17) to Paul Rodgers. The Bad Company, ex Free singer is 67. Also celebrating is R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills (58).

Mike Mills
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“The Voice” as dubbed by his fans, Rodgers has ranked at number 55 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”. Paul Rodger’s had stints with a couple of other bands in the 80’s and early 90’s including The Firm and The Law. He also recorded and toured as frontman for Queen from 2004-2009. Many rock singers have cited Rodgers as an influence, including Whitesnake’s David Coverdale, Foreigner singer Lou Gramm, Eric Martin of Mr. Big, Steve Walsh from Kansas, Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, and many others. John Mellencamp at one time was quoted as calling Rodgers, “The best rock singer ever.”

I’ve seen Paul Rodgers several times over the years with Bad Company and the guy is a hell of a performer. One great show was the Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour back in 2013 when it played Bethel Woods in Bethel, NY (site of the 1969 Woodstock festival). We did a radio station bus trip for that one and it was wild. The beer was flowin as was the Jack Daniel's. Everyone got hammered. It was a loud and rowdy bunch for sure but good times! Of course the band Five Finger Death Punch had a big hit with the cover of Bad Company's "Bad Company" back in 2010. Check out both versions below.

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