Paul Rodgers Breaks Silence on Why Bad Company Still Isn’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Paul Rodgers has given fans hope that Bad Company might take the stage during their upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction—but the decision isn’t final just yet.

“Well, we may well,” Rodgers told Rolling Stone in a recent interview. “We’ll see how we go.”

When asked whether he personally wants to perform, Rodgers admitted he’s still undecided.

“Well, they want us to, and I may,” he said. “I haven’t decided what songs to sing at this point in time. But it could be ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy.’”

The legendary frontman added that the event itself makes him “a little bit nervous.”

“If we’ve got to make a speech, I’ll be quite honest—I’m not used to really making speeches of any nature,” he confessed. “But I’ll be OK.”

Simon Kirke: “Crossing My Fingers” for a Performance

Drummer Simon Kirke also weighed in on the possibility of a live performance, telling Defenders of the Faith that plans remain uncertain.

“I don’t know. I know that we’ve been approached to play a couple of songs,” Kirke explained. “I’ve spoken with Paul. Paul’s health, as you know, is not good, but I think…I’m crossing my fingers that we will be able to play at least one song. I don’t know what it is yet, and I don’t even know who’s going to be inducting us yet.”

Rodgers Reflects on Touring and Recovery

In the same Rolling Stone interview, Rodgers’ wife Cynthia Kereluk shared that the singer may perform again in early 2026.

“On March 2nd, the Adopt the Arts program, founded by Jane Lynch and Matt Sorum, is going to be honoring Paul in Palm Springs—alongside Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath,” she said. “There’ll be an all-star band. So perhaps that might be another performance.”

After suffering multiple strokes in recent years, Rodgers has largely stepped away from touring—and he says he’s at peace with that choice.

“I hate to complain about it because it was a great time during its time, but I’d had enough travel,” he said. “It got to the point where travel was more onerous than the joy I was getting from it. All those security queues, less and less space, more and more security. I just thought, ‘No, I’m good.’”

Rodgers added that being home has brought him a sense of calm and purpose.

“When I set out, I set out to survive—number one—to find peace of mind, number two, and to make music while I did that,” he explained. “That’s what I’ll continue doing, but from home. I do miss the crew and the camaraderie.”

A Long-Awaited Honor

Bad Company will officially be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8 in Los Angeles. Whether or not the band takes the stage, the night will mark a long-overdue celebration of one of classic rock’s most enduring groups.