Shooting Stars and Seagulls: Why This Bad Company Tribute Hits Hard
- JCP
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
There is always a risk when making a tribute album. You're usually paying homage to a legendary band or artist, and there's always the chance the covers won't measure up. That risk doesn't apply here—especially with Paul Rodgers involved to keep things authentic.
Bad Company Tribute Album Review: A Risk That Pays Off
Label: Primary Wave Music
Released: Oct 24, 2025
Genre: Rock, Blues
Website: https://badcompany.com
Tracklist – Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company
A1 Ready For Love Featuring – Hardy
A2 Shooting Star Featuring – Halestorm, Paul Rodgers
A3 Feel Like Makin' Love Featuring – Miles Kennedy, Slash, The Conspirators
A4 Run With The Pack Featuring – Blackberry Smoke, Brann Dailor, Paul Rogers
A5 Rock N' Roll Fantasy Featuring – The Struts
B1 Bad Company Featuring – Charley Crockett
B2 Rock Steady Featuring – Dirty Honey
B3 Burnin' Sky Featuring – Black Stone Cherry
B4 Seagull Featuring – Joe Elliott, Paul Rodgers, Phil Collen, Simon Kirke
B5 All Right Now Featuring – The Pretty Reckless
Can't Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company came out the same year as Bad Company was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2025), and marked the band's 50th Anniversary. Nothing short of a legendary lineup would honor those milestones, and that is exactly what we get - including founding members Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke.
Each song receives fresh treatment—not mere copies of the originals, but reimagined to feel right at home in 2025. Hardy kicks things off with Ready for Love, and right away you know this won't be ordinary. Every artist makes the track their own, and it shows. If you still needed convincing, wait until Halestorm slams into Shooting Star. Lzzy's vocals hit like a freight train, full of the passion and grit she's known for. Lead guitarist Joe Hottinger lays down killer riffs, transforming this classic rocker into the modern hard rock sound Halestorm fans crave. Paul Rodgers' harmonies add a perfect closing touch.
A couple tracks don't quite top the originals for me. Charley Crockett's take on Bad Company has no real flaws—the production and arrangement are spot-on—but I find the extra "twang" in his voice pulls it toward country territory, and it doesn't hit the same gut punch as the original. I'd also stick with the classic Rock N' Roll Fantasy over The Struts' version, though again, it's more personal taste than any fault in the performance.
One standout I actually prefer to the original: Seagull, delivered by Joe Elliott and Phil Collen of Def Leppard alongside Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke. Seagull has always been an underrated gem in Bad Company's catalog and a personal favorite of mine. They amp it up here—the slow build explodes when it shifts from acoustic to electric, and the harmonies throughout are pure ear candy. This could be the sleeper hit of the album.
The record closes strong with The Pretty Reckless tackling All Right Now. Like Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, Taylor Momsen brings powerhouse vocals that dominate. Ben Phillips nails the riffs true to the original, while Mark Damon and Jamie Perkins shine in the rhythm section. A fitting end to a tribute that belongs in any Bad Company fan's collection.
