Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke to Perform Two Songs at Bad Company’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Bad Company are set to walk onstage together again, officially and for the record, at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 8, 2025, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony will stream live on Disney+, with an ABC primetime special to follow on January 1, 2026, and then on Hulu.

Founding vocalist Paul Rodgers and founding drummer Simon Kirke have both confirmed that Bad Company will perform live during the induction. Kirke says the plan is for them to play two songs. He called it “a real thrill” to get back onstage with Rodgers and said, “We’re gonna play.”

This will be the first officially announced Bad Company performance since 2019.

It’s Official: They’re Playing

For weeks, fans weren’t sure if Bad Company would actually play at the Hall. Rodgers, now 75, has dealt with serious health issues, including multiple strokes, and the band had publicly said they were basically done as a touring act.

That uncertainty ended when Kirke went on the Lyndsey Parker podcast and said he and Rodgers will perform on induction night. He added that they’ve already chosen two songs and will rehearse together ahead of the show. He didn’t reveal which songs, only saying, “Whatever Paul chooses is fine by me,” and praising Rodgers’ voice: “When you have a voice that naturally good, it’s going to take a hell of a lot for it to fray.”

Rodgers separately confirmed he will attend and plans to sing. Asked directly if he’ll perform, he said the Hall wants them to and “I may.” He mentioned “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy” as one of the possibilities he’s considering.

So we now have two on-the-record statements:

• Kirke: yes, Bad Company will play two songs with him and Rodgers.

• Rodgers: yes, he’ll be there and is preparing to sing Bad Company material onstage.

Those are no longer rumors. Those are the band members saying it.

Who’s Actually Onstage

The Rock Hall is inducting the original lineup: Paul Rodgers (vocals), Mick Ralphs (guitar), Simon Kirke (drums), and Boz Burrell (bass).

Only two of those four are still alive.

• Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke are the surviving original members.

• Bassist Boz Burrell died in 2006.

• Guitarist Mick Ralphs died on June 23, 2025, at age 81, after long-term complications from a 2016 stroke that left him unable to play guitar.

Because of that, the Hall of Fame performance will not be a full “classic lineup” reunion. It will be Rodgers and Kirke carrying the flag for Bad Company, with additional players filling out guitar and bass. Kirke has already said they’ll honor Ralphs and Burrell. He described a recent memorial gathering for Ralphs with friends, crew, and family, calling it “a lovely night.”

Also confirmed: Mick Fleetwood will induct Bad Company at the ceremony.

Why This Performance Matters

1. First Time Back
Bad Company last played live as Bad Company in 2019, including a praised 12-song set in Las Vegas with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Kirke called that Vegas show “one of the best gigs we ever played.”
They have not toured since. Kirke said in 2023 that the band was “pretty much over,” largely because of Rodgers’ health.
So the Hall set is not just another appearance. It’s their first announced onstage reunion in six years, and it’s happening under the Rock Hall banner.

2. Legacy and Closure
Bad Company formed in 1973 out of pieces of Free (Rodgers, Kirke), Mott the Hoople (Ralphs), and King Crimson (Burrell), and immediately became one of the defining hard rock bands of the 1970s. Their first three albums — “Bad Company” (1974), “Straight Shooter” (1975), and “Run With The Pack” (1976) — all hit the Top 5 in both the U.S. and the U.K.
Songs like “Can’t Get Enough,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Bad Company,” and “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy” have lived on classic rock radio for 50 years and still drive catalog streams.
For decades, fans argued they’d been overlooked by the Rock Hall. Kirke himself called the induction “a welcome addition” and “a long time coming.”
This appearance lets Rodgers and Kirke accept that recognition publicly, and do it in performance, not just in speeches.

3. Tribute to Ralphs and Burrell
Because Ralphs passed in June 2025 and Burrell in 2006, the induction doubles as a memorial. Kirke has spoken emotionally about Ralphs’ final years, describing them as painful to watch but full of humor and loyalty. He said Ralphs reacted to news of the Rock Hall nod by joking, “Does that mean we get free hot dogs?” — classic Mick Ralphs dry charm.
Expect those names to be spoken onstage. That’s not speculation; Kirke has already said publicly that honoring them is part of why this night matters to him.

The Run-Up Events

In the week of the induction, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke are scheduled to appear together for a public conversation about the band, moderated by Rock Hall VP of Education Jason Hanley. The event, billed as “A Conversation with Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke,” is set for November 6, 2025, at the GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater in Los Angeles. They’ll talk about the band’s history, legacy, and the upcoming induction.
That’s notable because Rodgers and Kirke haven’t done many joint public appearances in recent years. It signals how active and present they plan to be around the Hall of Fame weekend.

Broadcast Details

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, including Bad Company’s performance, will air live on Disney+ on November 8, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. ABC will air an edited prime-time special with performance highlights on January 1, 2026, and Hulu will stream those highlights starting January 2, 2026.

Bottom Line

Here’s what’s confirmed, not rumored:

• Bad Company are being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, 2025.

• The officially inducted lineup is Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs, and Boz Burrell.

• Only Rodgers and Kirke, the surviving original members, will appear live.

• Rodgers and Kirke have confirmed they will perform onstage together at the ceremony, and Kirke says they will play two songs.

• Mick Fleetwood will induct them.

• The performance will air live on Disney+ and later on ABC and Hulu.

This is the capstone moment for one of classic rock’s most durable bands. It is not a comeback tour. It is a historical entry, delivered by the two men who were there on day one and now will sign their names in the Hall in front of the world.