all articles by Ari Surdoval

Mick Ralphs
In the late ’60s, when it suddenly became cool for dudes to wear makeup and glitter while playing unruly riffs, the Les Paul Junior came along for the ride. Mick Ralphs—whose blistering tones powered Mott the Hoople and set the bar for glam guitarists to follow—used the Junior’s raw edge to keep the band’s sound from getting too campy. In such densely arranged Mott songs as David Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes,” Ralphs proved that a P-90’s howl could successfully compete with churning organ, jangling acoustic piano, and punchy horns. His honking power chords in 1972’s “One of the Boys” formed the blueprint for Bad Company, which Ralph formed with singer Paul Rogers in 1973. Tough stuff!

<BODY> <H1>Gibson Backstage Pass</H1> <H2>Table of Contents</H2> <UL> <LI><a href="lespauljunior.htm">Legends of the Les Paul Junior</a></LI> <LI><a href="chuckberry.htm">Chuck Berry</a></LI> <LI><a href="jeffbeck.htm.htm">Jeff Beck</a></LI> <LI><a href="johnnythunders.htm">Johnny Thunders</a></LI> <LI><a href="peterframpton.htm">Peter Frampton</a></LI> <LI><a href="johnleehooker.htm">John Lee Hooker</a></LI> <LI><a href="http://www.gibson.com">Back to Gibson</a></LI> <LI><a href="http://www.gibson.com/backstage/backissues.htm">Back Issues</a></LI> <LI><a href="http://www.gibson.com/AllAccess/Contests/">Contest</a></LI> <LI><a href="http://www.gibson.com/Backstage%20Pass/Artists/">Artist</a></LI> <LI><a href="http://www.gibson.com/relations/forum/index.asp">Forums</a></LI> <li><a href="http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/TalentDetails.jsp?talentId=354131">Buy <i>All The Young Dudes</i> by Mott The Hoople</a></li> </UL> </BODY>