Bad Company (song)

For the ASAP Rocky song, see Bad Company (ASAP Rocky song).

"Bad Company" is a song by the hard rock band Bad Company that was released on their debut album Bad Company in 1974. Co-written by the group's lead singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke, the song's meaning comes from a book on Victorian morals.^[1] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw described the song as having a "western vibe" and Rodgers has said that it has "an almost biblical, promise-land kind of lawless feel to it."^[2]

"Bad Company"
Song by Bad Company
from the album Bad Company
Released	1974
Recorded	November 1973
Genre	Hard rock
Length	4:50
Label	Swan Song Island
Songwriter(s)	Simon Kirke Paul Rodgers
Producer(s)	Bad Company

Reception

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw rated it as Bad Company's all-time best song, particularly praising the "legendary piano opening."^[2] Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome also rated it as Bad Company's best song, praising the "dusty atmosphere [as well as] Rodgers' almost enigmatic vocals and [Mick] Ralphs' haunting guitar chime."^[3] Classic Rock History critic Janey Roberts rated it as Bad Company's 4th best song, praising the "haunting piano riff that oozed around Paul Rodgers silk vocal line" at the start of the song as well as the "powerhouse chorus."^[4]

Covers

Five Finger Death Punch released a cover of the song as a single in 2009.

Tori Amos performed the song at a number of concerts in 1994 and 1996.^[5]

Bill Champlin did a cover of the song that was featured in season two, episode nine of The Young Riders (1990). The title of the episode is "Bad Company".

In the beginning of The Dark Tower, Stephen King quotes the lines "I was born 6-gun in my hand, Behind a gun I'll make my final stand".

Garth Brooks covers the song on his box set Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.

Rickie Lee Jones includes a cover on her 2019 release Kicks (Rickie Lee Jones album).

The South African trio of Mark Haze, Dozi and Ghapi (from Idols South Africa VII) recorded a cover version on their album Rocking Buddies in 2013.^[6]

Personnel

• Paul Rodgers – vocals, piano
• Mick Ralphs – lead guitar
• Simon Kirke – drums
• Boz Burrell – bass

Five Finger Death Punch cover

"Bad Company"
Single by Five Finger Death Punch
from the album War Is the Answer
Released	17 May 2010
Recorded	2009
Genre	Alternative metal hard rock
Length	4:22
Label	Prospect Park
Songwriter(s)	Simon Kirke Paul Rodgers
Producer(s)	Kevin Churko
Five Finger Death Punch singles chronology
"No One Gets Left Behind" (2010) "Bad Company" (2010) "Far from Home" (2010)

Five Finger Death Punch frequently performs a cover of this song live, and recorded the song for their second album War Is the Answer.^[7][8] The song has a significantly heavier tone to it, along with several lyrical edits ("I was born a shotgun in my hands", "the death punch sound is our claim to fame"). The song has been used as entrance music by pitchers Drew Storen, Jake Arrieta and Madison Bumgarner.^[9][10][11]

Track listing

UK digital download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bad Company"	4:22
2.	"The Devil's Own" (live)	4:54

Promo CD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bad Company (radio edit)"	3:57
2.	"Bad Company (album version)"	4:23

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2010–2011)	Peak position
Canada Rock (Billboard)[12]	17
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[13]	6
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14]	26
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15]	2
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)	Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17]	29

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[18]	Gold	45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[19]	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Band members

• Zoltan Bathory – guitars
• Jason Hook – guitars (original 5FDP version]
• Ivan Moody – vocals
• Matt Snell – bass (original 5FDP version)
• Jeremy Spencer – drums (original 5FDP version)
• Chris Kael - bass (re-recorded version)
• Andy James - guitars (re-recorded version)
• Charlie Engen - drums (re-recorded version)