Bad Company

Album: War Is The Answer (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Bad Company" is Five Finger Death Punch's cover of a 1974 song by the British group Bad Company - the original is probably the most famous song that is named after the artist. Five Finger Death Punch started playing the song live in 2008 after releasing their debut album, The Way Of The Fist, in 2007. Their cover got a great response from fans, so they recorded it for their next album, War Is The Answer, in 2009. Released as a single, it became one of their most popular songs and a staple of their setlists.
  • The original version of "Bad Company" is set in the Old West and has a cowboy theme. Five Finger Death Punch made a few changes to the lyrics to make it more modern:

    "I was born six gun in my hand"
    becomes:
    "I was born a shotgun in my hands"

    "six gun sound is our claim to fame"
    becomes:
    "The death punch sound is our claim to fame"

    "Chose a gun and threw away the sword"
    becomes:
    "Chose a gun and threw away the sun"
  • The song became a tribute to the US military when 5FDP released a video for it using footage from their trip to Iraq in 2010 when they played a series of shows for American soldiers stationed there. Five Finger Death Punch are unabashed supporters of the US military, and Ivan Moody often dedicates "Bad Company" to the troops when they play it in concert.
  • Five Finger Death Punch did another very successful cover song in 2018 when they released their version of Kenny Wayne Shepherd's 1997 bluesy number "Blue On Black," giving it that menacing Death Punch feel. In 2019 they put out a new version of that song featuring Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert and Brian May of Queen.

Comments: 1

  • JustinThe intro to the song is also from the breakdown in Iron Maiden's song Powerslave.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.