Tribute: Badfinger
Badfinger was poised to claim their place in the pantheon among the gods of Rock - heir apparent to The Beatles, discovered, signed, and produced by the Fab Four, they were four young guys with a talent for creating catchy pop songs and heart-wrenching ballads. With several top hits within the first few years of the 1970s, by the middle of the decade, the band would be shattered and one member driven to suicide. Less than a decade later, another band member would follow in his friend's desperate footsteps. This is the tragic story of Badfinger.
Badfinger, originally from Wales and known as The Iveys, were "discovered" in 1968 by Mal Evans, a friend and roadie of The Beatles (whom some referred to as the "Fifth Beatle"). A few personnel changes ensued, and eventually the "classic" Badfinger line-up emerged: founder and singer-songwriter Pete Ham, founder and drummer, Mike Gibbins, guitarist Joey Molland, and bassist Tom Evans. The group was the first to be signed to The Beatles' Apple Records, and their first hit, "If You Want It (Come and Get It)", was written and produced by Paul McCartney. (It reached #4 in the UK and #7 on the US Hot 100.) Two more major hits followed with the band's own singles, "No Matter What" (#5 in the UK; #8 on the US Hot 100) and "Day After Day" (#10 in the UK; #4 on the US Hot 100). Their song "Without You" was covered by Harry Nilsson in 1972 and reached #1 on both the UK and US charts. (You can read about Badfinger's connection to the Curse of Harry Nilsson.) The band, sensing the gravity of their new-found fame and its monetary implications, decided that they needed to hire a business manager. They turned to New York-based Stan Polley.
Polley, who also managed Al Kooper (of Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Lou Christie ("Lightnin' Strikes"), signed the group to a contract that gave the members a salary while supposedly saving the remainder of their income for a rainy day. The salaries given to the band members were so low that, despite touring the US and charting several top singles, the group were still forced to live collectively in one modest house with their significant others.
In late 1970, The Beatles dropped a bombshell - they were breaking-up. Badfinger continued to work for Apple Records, despite its uncertain future. During this time, the group also backed George Harrison on his solo album, All Things Must Pass (including the single, "My Sweet Lord"), Ham and Evans performed backing vocals on Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy", and Evans and Molland performed on John Lennon's Imagine. The band also performed at George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh. Pete Ham duetted on guitar with Harrison on "Here Comes the Sun".
Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins, Joey Molland and Pete Ham.
With The Beatles dissolved, and the success of Badfinger, so closely intertwined with the Fab Four, seeming to be on an unstoppable rise, many saw the group as the heir apparent to the Rock & Roll throne. But with the future of Apple Records now in question on account of The Beatles' dissolution, Stan Polley moved Badfinger to Warner Brothers Records.
But...the band's business was incomplete with Apple Records. In an effort to reap the benefits of a new album released on Warner Brothers, the company and Polley rushed the band to release a record. The result was that both records companies realeased Badfinger albums, simultaneously. The result was disastrous.
Badfinger attempted to get back on track with 1974's Wish You Were Here - which was abruptly pulled from record store shelves. Warner Brothers filed a lawsuit against Badfinger and Polley stating that a $100,000.00 advanced payment had gone missing. Joey Molland had quit the band just prior; the band was quickly unravelling. Polley demanded another album from the group, which Warner rejected because of the on-going litigation.
Pete Ham, described by those close to him as possibly too trusting, never questioned the practices of Polley, despite the obvious lack of funds. After the legal action, Polley disappeared. No money was coming in - or had ever come in, except for the miniscule salaries paid to the band. The litigation was looming heavy over Ham, and he had recently bought a house with his girlfriend, who was expecting their first child.
On the night of 23 April 1975, Ham received a call from the US, informing him that all the money was gone. He met Tom Evans at a bar and proceeded to get drunk. Evans droped him home at 3 o'clock in the morning on 24 April 1975. Later that morning, his girlfriend went to his studio in the garage to find him. What she found was Pete Ham hanging from a beam in the garage. He had committed suicide at the age of 27.
Pete Ham
Ham had left a suicide note: "Anne, I love you. Blair, I love you. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better. Pete. P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me." (I believe Blair was Anne's young son who was living with the couple. Ham's daughter was born one month after his death.) Pete Ham's memorial is located in Morriston Cemetery and Crematorium in Morriston, Swansea, Wales. According to Tom Evans's brother, Evans never came to terms with the death of his friend.
After the break-up of the band, Mike Gibbins joined the Flying Aces and did sessionwork. He appeared on Bonnie Tyler's hit, "It's a Heartache". Various projects were undertaken by Joey Molland and Tom Evans, without much success. In 1978, Joey Molland would form a new band with two Badfinger fans. He invited Tom Evans to join. The group was signed to Elektra Records, but the record company had one stipulation - the group must call itself Badfinger. They released two albums, which basically went unnoticed. It was at this point that Evans allegedly began abusing drugs and alcohol, behavior that would continue until the end of his life. Molland and Evans parted ways to work on separate ventures - each under the name Badfinger. (Evans would recuit Mike Gibbins, whose stay with the band was brief.) Molland employed a number of tactics to try and prevent Evans and his group from performing as Badfinger. Evans signed a management contract with a Milwaukee businessman. But Evans's version of the group was basically an unintentional parody of the original group. Evans's Badfinger endured a disastrous tour with little promotion. Joey Molland was successful in his attempts to stop Evans from using the name Badfinger. Unable to perform as Badfinger, and failing in his efforts to succeed with the band when it was known as Badfinger, the Milwaukee businessman who originally funded Evans's group brought a $5 million dollar lawsuit against him.
On the night of 18 November 1983, Molland called Evans, informing him that he and Gibbins wanted a share of the songwriting royaties for (the original) Badfinger hit, "Without You". Molland argued that the group had an unwritten agreement that all band members would split the royalties. Evans was still in litigation with the businessman from Milwaukee, and sinking deeper into his substance abuse.
The following morning, 19 November 1983, Tom Evans's six-year-old son went in search of his father. He found him in the backyard, hanging from a willow tree. Like his friend and former bandmate, Pete Ham, Tom Evans had committed suicide, and in the same manner. He was 36. Evans was cremated and the location of his ashes are unknown.
Tom Evans
In 1984, Molland and Gibbins reunited as Badfinger. In 1994, Mariah Carey covered "Without You", sending the song to the top of the charts once again. The song was honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1995. Molland, Gibbins, and others collected the award - to the consternation of the families of Ham and Evans, who insited that the two men were the only composers of the song.
Joey Molland continues to perform with "Joey Molland's Badfinger". Mike Gibbins died in his sleep from a brain aneurysm on 4 October 2005. He was 56. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at sea near South Wales.
Pete Ham's memorial.
The inscription on the front of his memorial reads:
Swansea born
Devoted son of William and Catherine Ham
He loved his family
And they cherished him
A compassionate man
A dedicated and loyal friend
Known for his smile and wit
He was generous and giving to all
Music meant the world to him
He founded The Iveys & Badfinger
Composed "No Matter What"
"Day After Day" and "Baby Blue"
And co-wrote "Without You"
A timeless classic for the ages
Two Ivor Novello Awards
In loving tribute to a gentle soul
Your daughter, Petera
and her mother, Anne.
"You will never be forgotten"
Peter William Ham
April 27, 1947 to April 24, 1975
The rear of the monument says:
Our sincerest love and gratitude to Dan Matovina
for coordination of this memorial and your
continuing support for Pete's legacy.
Thank you to Mark Perkins for the beautiful
lithograph image of Pete.
Thank you Peggy Burneka for securing this
wonderful site for us.
And to Pete - may you always Shine On.