Call it the Clash of the Classics. Styx, Bad Company and Billy Squier play the E Center tonight.
Bad Company is touring this year with two of the original members — lead singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke. Filling in the bass and guitars are Rick Willis and David "Bucket" Colwell. Willis, a former member of Foreigner and Frampton's Camel, is back in the band, replacing, once again, original bassist Boz Burell. Colwell is replacing Mick Ralphs.
The last time the original Bad Company played in Salt Lake City was for its reunion concert Aug. 6, 1999, for Rockfest '99 at the Delta Center. But, according to Kirke, the new Bad Company is just as good.
"This line-up is a delight to play with," Kirke said after calling the Deseret News while relaxing by the pool at a Denver hotel. "Paul is singing better than he ever had, and the others are happy to be on the road."
The E Center concert begins with 19-year-old newcomer Joe Stark at 6 p.m.; tickets are still available at the E Center box office.
The decision to bring Willis and Colwell on the road was a matter of logistics, said Kirke. "Mick isn't very fond of flying," he explained in his jolly English accent. "He's very happy puttering around at home, writing songs. And he doesn't have the fire that he once had. As for Boz, well, he's gone a different way musically. He's more into a jazz mode."
While there will be some hard-core fans who will be disappointed in the absence of Burell and Ralphs, Kirke isn't too worried. "As long as Paul's singing, I don't think there's going to be a big uproar. David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd) once told me that a lot of people who go see Pink Floyd aren't as interested in who's in the band as they are in watching all the pretty lights."
Kirke said Bad Company was asked by Styx to join the tour.
"The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame is sponsoring the tour," he explained. "How deep the sponsorship goes, I don't know. But a percentage of the ticket prices are going to the hall's educational programs."
Bad Company and Styx kicked off the tour at the Rock Hall's Key Plaza, said Kirke. "It was a great experience. We did some acoustic songs and did a question-and-answer session."
The present version of Styx — keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, bassist Glen Burtnick, drummer Todd Sucherman and guitarists/vocalists Tommy Shaw and James "JY" Young — has been together for the past four years, but there have been no studio albums to date.
However, "Arch Allies," a live album the new Styx recorded with REO Speedwagon, was released in 2000. And in June, the current line-up will release another live album, "Styx World," on CMC International.
Young is the only original member touring with the band. Shaw joined in 1976, after the departure of John Curulewski. Burtnick is currently taking original bassist Chuck Panozzo's place. Sucherman joined in 1996, after the death of original drummer John Panozzo.
Still, regardless of the musical chairs, Kirke said the new version of Styx is exciting to watch. "We have the same challenge that Styx does. We are trying to get people to accept our current line-up. And so is Styx. But like them, we are working hard every night to make good music."
In Kirke's eyes (and ears) there are two types of music — good and bad. "Bad music is anything that's out of tune," he said with a laugh. "But when a band is playing good music, it doesn't matter who's playing."
Kirke also said he'd like to see Bad Company take another step. "I'd like to see us, meaning this line-up, make a record someday. I'd like to get to another level. We've got such a good feeling getting back on the road again."
E-MAIL: scott@desnews.com