Bad Company’s ‘Live In London’ to Preserve Mick Ralphs’ Final Concert With the Band
Bad Company has set November 13, 2026 as the release date for “Live In London,” a previously unreleased concert recording that documents founding guitarist Mick Ralphs’ final live appearance with the band. The album preserves the group’s October 29, 2016 performance at London’s O2 Arena, ten years before its release, captured straight from the venue’s soundboard.
The show, at the time, seemed like just another stop on a strong run of English dates. Four days after the concert, Ralphs suffered a stroke, and he never performed live with Bad Company again. He died on June 23, 2025, nearly a decade after that stroke.
- Release date: November 13, 2026
- Formats: blue-colored double vinyl (gatefold), CD, and digital
- Recording source: soundboard capture of the October 29, 2016 O2 Arena concert in London
- Preorders open now through Bad Company’s official website
- Preview track: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Live: O2 Arena, London – October 29, 2016),” released with an official music video
Why This Recording Matters a Decade Later
What was originally just a concert tape has taken on far greater weight in hindsight. Because Ralphs’ stroke followed the O2 Arena date so closely, and because he passed away in 2025, “Live In London” now stands as the only full-length capture of the guitarist’s last night performing alongside singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke.
The label is framing the release as both a marker of the tenth anniversary of that October 2016 show and a tribute to Ralphs’ contribution to the band he helped found.
What’s Included in the ‘Live In London’ Package
The blue vinyl double-LP gatefold edition and the CD version both come with previously unpublished photographs taken at the O2 Arena that night, along with a reprint of the original show’s setlist. Both physical formats also include liner notes written by Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, in which the two musicians share their memories of the performance and of Ralphs.
What Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke Said About the Night
In a statement tied to the announcement, Paul Rodgers described the atmosphere in the arena that evening as charged, saying, “Both the fans and the band were in great form that night in London. The rapport with the audience was deeply felt, and they sang their hearts out.” He singled out Ralphs’ own composition “Ready for Love,” recalling the lyric “Walking down this rocky road wondering where my life is leading,” and adding, “little did we know that Mick would suffer a stroke just four days after this concert.”
Simon Kirke offered his own recollection of the tour that led up to the O2 show, saying, “We had enjoyed a great tour of England, and it would culminate in this final show. We were all in good spirits. Paul performed brilliantly every night, and Mick was playing with his usual taste and panache.” He went on to reflect on the significance the night carries now: “It was the last time I ever played with Mick… had I known that at the time, I would have hugged him a little tighter and a little longer.”
Mick Ralphs and Bad Company’s 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
When Bad Company was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025, Paul Rodgers was unable to attend the ceremony due to his own health issues. Ralphs had died earlier that same year so Simon Kirke was the only member present. Kirke has said he felt “mixed emotions” about attending the induction under those circumstances.
Bad Company ‘Live In London’ Track Listing
- Live for the Music
- Gone, Gone, Gone
- Feel Like Makin’ Love
- Electricland
- Burnin’ Sky
- Run With the Pack
- Ready for Love
- Crazy Circles
- Troubleshooter
- Movin’ On
- Shooting Star
- Can’t Get Enough
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
- Bad Company
- Seagull
More Info
- Watch Mick Ralphs’ Final Live Performance With Bad Company | Ultimate Classic Rock
- Bad Company ‘Live in London’ Album ft. Final Mick Ralphs Performance Out Nov. 13 | rockcellarmagazine.com
- Watch Mick Ralphs’ Final Live Performance With Bad Company | wpdh.com
- BAD COMPANYs Final Performance With MICK RALPHS To Be Released As Live In London Album | Blabbermouth
TOP STORIES
RELATED ARTISTS
Related Stories
Alice Cooper Opens Up on Crack Addiction That Nearly Killed Him and Nearly Ended His Marriage
Alice Cooper’s new memoir ‘Devil on My Shoulder’ and a companion interview with The Telegraph detail how his crack cocaine use in the late 1970s and early 1980s brought him close to death and nearly cost him his marriage.
Roger Waters and Son Harry Waters Launch Pink Floyd Tribute Tour ‘LEGACY’ for 2027
AEG Presents and ICON LIVE have announced ‘Roger Waters Presents LEGACY: A Pink Floyd Show,’ a new touring production led musically by Harry Waters and launching February 15, 2027 in Columbus, Georgia.
Brian May Says Queen’s Touring Days Are Over
Brian May says he and Roger Taylor quietly agreed a year and a half ago that Queen would not tour again, a choice shaped by the death of a close family friend while the band was on the road in America.
Slash Announces 2027 World Tour and New Album ‘Flying Blind’ With Myles Kennedy
Slash has unveiled a 2027 world tour with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators and a new album, ‘Flying Blind,’ marking his first dedicated run with the band since 2024.
Michael McDonald Reunites With Son Given Up for Adoption Nearly 60 Years Ago
A St. Louis man named Michael Goessling has learned that Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald is his biological father, nearly 60 years after being given up for adoption as an infant.
Metallica Kicks Off ‘Life Burns Faster’ Residency at Las Vegas Sphere
Metallica’s “Life Burns Faster” residency opens at the Las Vegas Sphere on October 1, 2026, running through March 2027 with 24 shows, a merch collaboration with adidas and a lineup of fan events across the city.
Rod Stewart Announces Retirement From Touring, Reveals 2027 ‘The Final Encore’ Tour Dates
Rod Stewart says his upcoming 2027 tour of the UK and Europe, called The Final Encore, will be his last time touring, though he insists he isn’t stepping away from music entirely.
Jo Wood Says Rolling Stones Touring Days May Be Done Because of Keith Richards
Jo Wood, Ronnie Wood’s ex-wife, says she doubts the Rolling Stones will hit the road again, blaming Keith Richards’ hesitance even as the band’s new album Foreign Tongues thrives.
Rush’s Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson Push Neil Peart Memorial Fund Past $1 Million Goal
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson delivered a $785,000 check to the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force, putting a years-long campaign to build the late drummer’s memorial in Ontario over its $1 million target.