It’s All Part of My Rock n’ Roll Fantasy

I bet I wasn’t more than 11 years old when I was first introduced to them. We were at my uncle’s house- the one who plays guitar and loves his vinyl records. I flipped through the records out of curiosity, wondering if he’d let me borrow a few to make cassette tapes.

Steppenwolf Live. A compilation album titled “Southern Fried Rock.” ZZ Top. The Who. And then, there it was – a solid black album, except for the stark, white print diagonally across the cover. Bad Company.

I went home with my vinyl treasures, promising my uncle I’d take good care of these prized possessions of his. I listened to each one before I spent time making tapes, just to make sure I liked them. I made a tape of every one, by the way.

Fast forward about five years later, driving to school early one morning and passing by Stillwaters Saloon, a once-popular bar in Ocala. Whose name was on the marquis? Bad Company. I felt cheated, not being old enough to get through those doors and hear them play “Rock Steady” or “Can’t Get Enough.”

Well, dear readers, rock n’ roll dreams do come true. Thursday night I sat in the third row at The Lakeland Center and heard all of my favorites from Paul Rodgers and the rest of Bad Company, including original members Simon Kirke on drums and Mick Ralphs on guitar. My highlight of the evening was the acoustic version by Rodgers and Ralphs of “Seagull.”

The band sounded amazing. And Paul Rodgers still looks hot as hell, by the way, although I do wish he’d cut his hair.

You know how you see rock icons make appearances on American Idol and you’re so excited to hear them sing? And then their voices crack or they don’t even go for the high notes because they know they can’t hit them anymore?

Understand this- Paul Rodgers still has it. His voice is every bit as good as it’s ever been. The band’s sound is as tight as ever. They were on fire Thursday night. And they graced the audience with their best, most popular songs, as well as a few obscure ones that only die-hard Bad Co. fans likely knew.

Paul Rodgers was made to sing rock n’ roll. My ears were made to hear it. And tonight, I was privileged to – finally- see them perform live.

photo credit: Lorrie Delk Walker for Lakeland Local