In 1973 Paul Rodgers, and Simon Kirke from the band Free, Mick Ralphs from Mott the Hoople and bassist Boz Burrell from King Crimson came together to form the Supergroup Bad Company. Now, they weren't the first supergroup that came together but they are the textbook definition of the term. Managed by Led Zeppelin's Peter Grant, they became the first act signed to Zep's Swan Song Records.
The band was an immediate hit as their self-titled debut album went straight to #1, and the following two "Straight Shooter" & "Rune with the Pack" both broke into the top 5. Their string of classic singles, "Bad Company", "Can't Get Enough", "Feel Like Makin' Love", "Shooting Star", and "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" spanned the 70's, making them one of the most influential bands of the decade.
They would disband in 1982 but reform in 1985 with Ted Nugent singer Brian Howe, replacing Paul Rodgers who had formed the Firm with Jimmy Page. Bad Company continued with their mainstream success in the 80's as the Howe led albums all became hits in the MTV age.
By the 90's Howe moved on and was replaced by Distance singer Robert Hart who would stay with the band until Rodgers came back at the end of the decade.
Bad Company are classic rock icons, who have sold 20 million albums in the US and 40 million worldwide, and their template of forming another band from the ashes of others is one of the greatest examples of how a Supergroup can create a newfound success when other projects end.