The Bad Company reunion wasn’t meant to be… at least not yet.
Days after Paul Rodgers voiced excitement at the prospect of reuniting with former bandmate Simon Kirke for the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, the musician has announced that he is unable to attend the ceremony.
On Wednesday, the band’s official Instagram page shared a statement from Rodgers announcing the news. “My hope was to be at the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and to perform for the fans,” he began. “But at this time I have to prioritize my health.”
Over the past decade, the rock band’s frontman has suffered 11 minor strokes and two major strokes. He explained in his statement that his absence is not because he is unable to perform, but because he cannot handle the overall pressure of the event.
Scott Dudelson/WireImage
Singer Paul Rodgers in 2018
“I have no problem singing, it’s the stress of everything else,” Rodgers continued. “Thanks for understanding. Simon along with some outstanding musicians will be stepping in for me – guaranteed to rock.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance would have marked Rodgers and Kirke’s first time back onstage together since 2019. Just last month, Kirke teased the performance to Gold Derby and gushed about how excited he was to reunite with Rodgers at the ceremony.
“I think the secret is out that we will perform,” Kirke said before “cautiously” confirming. “I’m not at liberty to say which songs. I mean, quite honestly, I don’t give a s—. We’re going to play, and whatever Paul chooses is fine by me.”
He added, “Just to play with him again is going to be a real thrill for me. I missed him. I missed playing with the band. I miss playing particularly with Paul. He’s such a wonderful singer.”
Rodgers himself hinted at the performance during an October chat with Rolling Stone, saying, “Well, we may well. We’ll see how we go.”
He added of the Rock Hall, “They want us to, and I may. I haven’t decided what songs to sing at this point in time. But it could be ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.'”
Rodgers and Kirke are the only surviving original members of the band, following the death of guitarist Mick Ralphs earlier this year. Late bassist and founding member Boz Burrell died in 2006. Together, the four musicians made up the 1970s rock juggernaut whose biggest hits include “Bad Company,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.”
Rick Kern/WireImage
Drummer Simon Kirke and Paul Rodgers of Bad Company perform in concert on May 19, 2019
The group originally split in 1982 but reunited several times over the years, in a variety of configurations with new members, to tour and record albums. Their last performance was in 2019. Four years later, Rodgers revealed his health issues on CBS Mornings, sharing that the multiple strokes he suffered led to a period where he could not speak, let alone sing. Treatment included a major surgery that posed considerable risk to his vocal cords.
Still, during his recent chat with Rolling Stone, Rodgers gave fans a reason to be hopeful when asked whether the band would ever again tour together. “I’ll never say never,” he replied. “I know that’s a James Bond movie. And hell froze over for the Eagles. You never say never.”
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Bad Company are slated to be inducted into the Rock Hall this weekend at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles alongside Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Salt-N-Pepa, and Warren Zevon. Artists including Iggy Pop, Killer Mike, Olivia Rodrigo, Elton John, Missy Elliott, Questlove, Twenty One Pilots, Doja Cat, and Beck are also set to appear at the induction ceremony.
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