PAUL RODGERS - "I Sing The Language Of Rock N' Roll And That's An American Language"
June 11, 2009, 15 years ago
Legendary singer PAUL RODGERS (BAD COMPANY, ex-QUEEN) spoke with Chauncey Mabe from Sun-sentinel.com recently about a number of topics including his roots.
Rodgers grew up in the northern English town of Middlesbrough idolizing American blues and soul singers like MUDDY WATERS, HOWLIN' WOLF, ELMORE JAMES and SAM & DAVE. Over the years, he's had the chance to meet and perform with many of them, including THE FOUR TOPS, who invited him to sing in their 50th anniversary concert in 2004.
"I was gobsmacked The Four Tops had even heard of me, let alone wanted to play with me," Rodgers said. "They're idols to me. There's a real generational exchange."Despite Bad Company's thoroughly British origins, Rodgers says many people thought at first it was an American band. For one thing, it's named after one of Rodgers' favorite movies, the underappreciated 1972 Robert Shelton western starring a young Jeff Bridges. For another, Rodgers sings with an American accent.
"I sing the language of rock n' roll, and that's an American language," Rodgers said. "That comes from listening to a lot of soul and blues. I don't think rock works to sing in an English accent. THE BEATLES, THE CLASH, those bands sing with English accents, and that's great. But that's not the way I've come up. American music is what I've listened to."After two world tours with Queen, Rodgers looks forward to singing those old Bad Company songs again.
"The old songs do get a little old hat if you do them too much," Rodgers said. "I give it a rest. I didn't play 'All Right Now' for some 20 years. When I did it one night, it took the roof off the auditorium."Read the entire interview here.
