Paul Rodgers (vocals), Mick Ralphs (guitar), Boz Burrell (bass), and Simon Kirke (drums)

Mick was first known as a founder of Mott the Hoople, a raucous live act that took its name from a Willard Manus novel about an oddball young man who works as a ticket-seller at a traveling carnival.

Bad Company came together in 1973, when Mick left Mott the Hoople to team up with Paul Rodgers, lead singer of the British rock group Free. Rounding out their lineup with bassist Boz Burrell of King Crimson and drummer Simon Kirke of Free, the band had a hit with their first single, “Can’t Get Enough,” written by Mick.

The song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and opened the group’s self-titled 1974 album, which also featured the Mick-penned hits “Movin’ On,” about life on the road, and “Ready for Love,” a ballad he first recorded with Mott the Hoople. Within a year, “Bad Company” had sold more than 800,000 copies, and the band was selling out Madison Square Garden.

Rest in peace, Mick.