Paul Rodgers
A rare artist who has led three bands to international success in addition to creating a successful Grammy Nominated solo career. He is undeniably one of music’s most distinctive vocalists. He has written and recorded some of rock’s greatest hits, released 34 LP’s/ C.D.’s and sold more than 125 million copies worldwide.
As a Grammy nominated solo artist, he has played with singers Bryan Adams, Deborah Bonham, Brian Johnson, Robert Plant, Ann Wilson. Guitarists Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Brian Setzer. Percussionists, John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix), Roger Taylor, Charlie Watts. Bassist Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix) and Bill Wyman, blue’s greats BB King, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, soul legends Aretha Franklin, Sam Moore and The Four Tops to name a few.
His most recent album, “Midnight Rose”, which hit #7 on the Billboard charts, is Rodgers’ first solo studio album in nearly 25 years. Released on Sun Records, the eight-song album is a celebration and an uplifting, inspired look towards the future. In an exclusive sit down with CBS TV to discuss the album, Rodgers revealed that he had suffered 11 minor strokes, two major strokes requiring an endarterectomy and had spent the past several years learning to speak, read, write, play guitar, and sing again — making the release of Midnight Rose all the more remarkable.
In 2007 Rodgers released his debut solo DVD “Live in Glasgow,” which charted on the Nielsen Soundscan Charts at #3 in the US and #1, 3 times in Canada on the same charts.
His solo CD “Electric” on CMC International was released in 2000, produced the single “Drifters”, in its debut week, it was #1 Most Added FMQB Hot Trax, #2 Most Added R&R Rock and #3 Most Added Album Net Power Cuts. “Electric” is a bluesy, soulful rock treat” – The Times, London.
In 2000 he joined Roger Daltry and Alice Cooper as the “Ultimate Rock Symphony”, playing eight sold out concerts in Australia. “Rodgers’ voice is unparalleled. The Sydney Superdome will never be the same” – The Herald Sun, Australia.
In 1999 Paul Rodgers won the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Los Angeles Music Awards Association. Friend Joe Walsh from The Eagles presented Paul with the award.
The summer of ’99, Rodgers and Bad Company hit the charts with the #1 single “Hey, Hey”, one of four new tracks off Bad Company’s “Anthology”. The second single release Rodgers’ “Hammer of Love” reached #2 on the rock charts.
For the first time in 20 years, all of the original members of Bad Company toured the U.S. The overwhelming fan response, spurred on by a potential episode of VH1’s “Behind The Music”, a television Pay-Per-View Special and a Global Cybercast, inspired the members to work together again.
For his 1997 “NOW” Solo C.D., Rodgers assembled a band consisting of guitarist Geoff Whitehorn (Paul McCartney, Roger Daltry), on bass Jaz Lochrie (Go West) and Jim Copley (Jeff Beck, Seal) on drums. Rodgers worked the band live for eighteen months before recording “NOW”. The line-up toured the U.S., Canada, Japan, Russia, South America, Europe including the unusual destinations of Romania, Bulgaria, Israel and Greece. “Soul of Love” was the single release and it remained in rotation on more than 86 U.S. radio stations for six months. Internationally, the album charted in the top 30. Rodgers also took time to acknowledge the influence of Jimi Hendrix, by collaborating with Gun’s n’ Roses guitarist Slash, Henderix’s own Band of Gypsies (Buddy Miles and Billy Cox). It led to “I Don’t Live Today”, one of the highlights of “Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix”. Then Rodgers issued “The Hendrix Set”, a live C.D. with Paul’s unique interpretations of Hendrix songs.
The Law, Rodgers’ venture with former Small Faces and Who drummer Kenny Jones, produced the hit single “Laying Down The Law”. Written by Rodgers, it ranked #1 on Billboard’s AOR charts.
His Grammy nominated solo C.D., “Muddy Water Blues” was released in 1993. He wrote the title track and was backed by guitarist Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Bon Jovi’s Ritchie Sambora, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Brian Setzer and Queen’s Brian May. “Muddy Water Blues” celebrated Paul’s blues roots and respect for Muddy Waters, one of his primary influences.
It was his joint billing with Led Zepplin guitarist Jimmy Page on the historic U.S. ARMS tour, including Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, that led to forming the Firm with Page. Both Firm world tours were top grossing tours. “The Firm” and Mean Business”, the group’s two albums, also enjoyed international success producing the hits “Radioactive”, “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “All The King’s Horses”. Most fans know that Paul wrote “Radioactive”, not many know that he played the guitar intro. “Cut Loose”, Paul’s first solo C.D. showcased his quintessential talents as a singer, songwriter and multi-faceted musician. He wrote all of the songs, sang and played all of the instruments and produced the album.
Oscar Award winning movie “American Beauty” as well as “Wayne’s World 2”, Almost Famous, “GI Jane”, “Jerry Maguire” are some of the movies that included Rodgers’ songs. TV shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “The Sopranos”, “The Office”, ‘The Simpsons”, “Friends”, “Criminal Minds”, “Law & Order”, Iconic British show Heartbeat amongst others.
Prior to his solo career, Rodgers formed supergroup Bad Company, writing and singing hits like Grammy nominated “Feel Like Making Love” and “Can’t Get Enough”, “Shooting Star”, “Bad Company”, “Run With The Pack”, the last two featuring Paul on piano as well as vocals, plus “Rock n’ Roll Fantasy” with Paul on guitar and vocals. “Bad Company took off”, recalls Rodgers. “When we started our first U.S. tour, the album was #99 on the charts. Two months later it hit #1”. Bad Company earned six multi-platinum albums. “10 from 6” the group’s greatest hits compilation remains a top seller.
At 19 Paul Rodgers and Free first shot up the international radio charts and unto the music scene with his cowritten rock anthem “All Right Now”. The song hit #1 in over 20 territories and was recognized by ASCAP for garnering five million plus radio plays in the U.S. alone. At the time, Free and Led Zeppelin were the biggest grossing British acts. Free release four top five albums and were the leaders of the British blues rock invasion. Their unusual combination of blues, ballads and rock won them worldwide praise and an international following that continues today.