Mick Ralphs

Def Leppard's Joe Elliott leads the tributes to the founding Mott the Hoople and Bad Company guitarist.

The 81-year-old musician retired following a stroke in 2016.

In like a lion and yes out like a lion too.

Bad Company's Mick Ralphs is making slow progress in his recovery from a stroke he suffered in October. Mick's Blues Band Facebook page says, "He is finding the physical therapy hard, but is determined to get back on his feet.

Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs will return to the touring lineup later this year for a series of U.K. dates the group is calling its Swan Song Tour.

Scoring a big hit is a life-changing event for any artist, but for Mott the Hoople, their career-defining cover of David Bowie's 'All the Young Dudes' came at a particularly crucial moment.