The Law was a short-lived, not-quite-realized AOR supergroup centered around vocalist
Paul Rodgers (
Free,
Bad Company,
the Firm) and drummer Kenney Jones (
the Small Faces,
the Faces, latter-day
Who). The two teamed up with the idea of using different supporting musicians, in order to allow
Rodgers to pursue whatever musical style he felt like. They assembled a core band of studio musicians, including guitarist John Staehely and bassist
Pino Palladino, and landed guest spots from guitarists like
David Gilmour, Bryan Adams, and
Chris Rea. Tired of being a primary source of material (as he usually had been in the past),
Rodgers also decided to rely chiefly on outside contributions (from the likes of Adams,
Rea,
Def Leppard's
Phil Collen, and
Benny Mardones, among others). The group never really jelled, and the sole
Law album -- a self-titled effort released in 1991 -- was not all that popular. Ironically, its sole hit -- the rock-radio chart-topper "Laying Down the Law" -- was penned by
Rodgers; the album also contained the first recording of
Collen's "Miss You in a Heartbeat," later a hit for
Def Leppard. Faced with generally disappointing results, however,
Rodgers and
Jones laid the Law to rest. ~ Steve Huey