With hits such as "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Rock & Roll Fantasy," Bad Company ruled the radio - and the rock arena - for much of the '70s.

After lead singer Paul Rodgers left in 1982, the British band took a break before continuing with different vocalists through the late '90s. At that time, Rodgers returned to the fold for a few years, but the group again went its separate ways until a one-off performance last year at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The success of that concert, which is now available on DVD, led original members Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs and drummer Simon Kirke to reunite for a 10-show tour. Their final performance is at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Resorts Atlantic City.

Rodgers, whose extensive musical resume includes being part of Free and The Firm, as well as a recent stint as lead singer for Queen, talked to At The Shore about why the timing was right for the tour and what the future might hold for Bad Company.

Q: How was it to perform together again (with everyone except bassist Boz Burrell, who died in 2006)?

A: It's like putting on a really nice pair of Levis. It was really nice to put together a full set of Bad Company material. It was nice to keep that focus.

Q: Why are you only doing 10 dates?

A: We were asked to do a three- or four-month tour. But for me, having just finished a massive Queen tour, I wasn't ready for it. This idea of being on the road for four months - it isn't all it's cracked up to be. So I limited this to 10 days to see how it goes. There's no hard and fast rule to it, really. It will be interesting to see where we take it.

Q: Did you have to sort out any old business before committing to the tour?

A: Not really - we just put all that behind us. It's always been about the music. As long as that's fresh, that's all that really counts for me.

Q: How does a Bad Company show compare to a solo concert or your work with Queen?

A: It's much more of a stripped-down rock 'n' roll show. With Queen, it's a full-on massive light show. We played to 360,000 people in the Ukraine, and it took every candlestick we could muster. We're much more focused on the music and the connection with the audience. I do like a nice light show. I think the two go hand-in-hand, but there will be more emphasis on the actual music and the unique sort of characters that we are.

Q: Will you perform any material from your other groups?

A: I want to keep it pure Bad Company.

Q: What's the thread that links all of your music?

A: My roots are very much in blues and soul. I discovered blues and soul through pop music - The Beatles and The Stones. I (then) discovered Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf and all those great, fabulous blues musicians that I still love to this day. Otis Redding did "Respect" - it was his song before Aretha. I loved Sam and Dave, The Four Tops and The Temptations. I used to play all (their) songs. I used to just love them.

That's been the thread of it. I love the warmth in that music.

Bad Company

at Resorts Atlantic City

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4

WHERE: Superstar Theater, Resorts

Casino-Hotel, Atlantic City

HOW MUCH: Tickets, priced at $85, $125 and $185, are available at the Resorts box office or from Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com

WEB SITES:

www.badcompany.com, www.paulrodgers.com

Paul Rodgers' biggest influences

Bad Company lead singer Paul Rodgers, whose powerful vocals have been cited as an influence by The Black Crowes and Guns 'N Roses, has his own list of performers who have impacted his sound.

Although the list includes contemporaries such as Elton John and Rod Stewart, it's legendary R&B figures such as James Brown and especially Otis Redding, left, who really made their mark on him.

"I don't know what it is about when you're growing up, you attach yourself to somebody," Rodgers says. "They reach out and touch you and you stay touched the rest of your life. When I was 12 or 13 and going through the usual teenage angst, (Otis Redding) reached out to me with songs like, "A Change Is Gonna Come." I got from that, no matter how things are, everything changes - a change is gonna come - it's so beautiful. I can't listen to it now without being inspired."