Bad Company will no longer be reuniting at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Lead singer Paul Rodgers — who also played with bands Free and The Firm — revealed that he won’t be going to the prestigious ceremony so he can “prioritize [his] health.”
The 75-year-old rocker announced his absence on the band’s Instagram account on Nov. 3, writing: “My hope was to be at the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritize my health.”
He continued: “I have no problem singing, it’s the stress of everything else. Thanks for understanding.”
Rodgers noted that his longtime bandmate Simon Kirke, “along with some outstanding musicians,” would fill in for him on Saturday, and that they were “guaranteed to rock.” He and Kirke previously revealed their plans to reunite on stage as the only two living members from the band’s original run.
Although Rodgers didn’t share any details about his current health issues, he previously revealed on CBS Mornings in 2023 that he had suffered 13 strokes over the course of a few years. While 11 of the strokes were minor, two were major, leaving him unable to speak in their aftermath.
“I couldn’t do anything to be honest,” Rodgers told the outlet at the time. “I couldn’t speak. That was the very strange thing. You know, I’d prepare something in my mind and I’d say it, but that isn’t what came out, and I’d go, ‘What the heck did I just say?’”
Speaking on his recovery, he added, “Each thing was a step forward. Each thing that I did was an achievement … ‘Oh, I can do this. I can sing.’”
In the comment section of Rodger’s announcement, fans sent him their best wishes.
“Prayers for you Paul. One of my favorite bands & front men of all time,” wrote one person.
Another said: “Ah man I was looking forward to him performing. Hope he’s ok, that’s all that matters.”
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