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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBADFINGERUK pop group formed in Wales mid-'60s as the Iveys: Pete Ham (b 27 April '47, Swansea; d 23 April '75, Weybridge), David Jenkins, guitars; Ron Griffiths, bass; Mike Gibbins, drums. Spotted '66 by former jazz-band leader Bill Collins (son Lewis, now an actor, played in Mojos); he introduced them to the Beatles' Apple organization through long-time friendship with Paul McCartney's musician father, Jim. First single 'Maybe Tomorrow' cut '68 with new guitarist Tom Evans (b 21 June '47, Liverpool; d 23 Nov. '83, New Haw, Surrey) replacing Jenkins; made no. 60 in USA chart but LP of same name (released in Europe only) flopped '69. McCartney lookalike guitarist Joey Molland (b 21 June '48, Liverpool) replaced Griffiths (Evans moving to bass) that year, coinciding with name change to Badfinger and the patronage of McCartney himself; version of his 'Day After Day' (with Paul on piano) was a transatlantic top ten hit, while rehash of much of first album into Magic Christian Music as soundtrack to Ringo Starr/Peter Sellers film also did well. Beatles- sounding hits followed: 'No Matter What', 'Day After Day' (produced by George Harrison) both USA/UK top ten hits, 'Baby Blue' USA no. 14; strong vocal harmony pop lapped up by fans bereaved by breakup of Beatles. Albums No Dice '70 (incl. 'Without You') and Straight Up '71 (prod. by Todd Rundgren) followed; they prospered as long the Beatles connection continued: sessions for Harrison (All Things Must Pass), Lennon (Imagine), Ringo ('It Don't Come Easy'); appearance at '71 all-star Concert for Bangladesh. But the disintegration of Apple and management problems took a terrible toll. An American manager talked Collins into signing a long turgid contract; touring in the USA they had no money to buy food; their first LP on WB Badfinger '74 was inferior to the Apples and had to compete with Ass, released by Apple after their departure. Their derivative style masked the talent of the Ham/Evans songwriting team: Harry Nilsson covered 'Without You' for a transatlantic no. 1, since covered by 120 artists. WB withdrew Wish You Were Here '74 pending investigation of alleged management problems; the group split and Ham hanged himself in fit of depression. New projects of Molland (Natural Gas), Evans (Dodgers) failed; they re-formed '78 with Tony Kaye (keyboards), Peter Clarke (drums) for two LPs on Elektra, minor US hit 'Hold On' '81. Evans hanged himself eight years after Ham, and for the same reason: he thought he was destitute; they had been cheated out of most of the income from a pop classic by the music industry. In '85 Collins, Molland and Gibbins won a claim to be named as co- writers of the songs; 'Without You' was covered by Mariah Carey for another transatlantic no. 1 '94 (it was also used in Martin Scorsese's film Casino); ASCAP predictably gave the song an award and named five writers, but have since adjusted their computers so that at least Ham and Evans get the writing credit; an Apple best-of CD also credits them. Molland lived in Minneapolis, toured as Badfinger occasionally with Gibbins, who lives in Florida; turned over tapes of a live '74 concert for issue on Rykodisc. Ham's 7 Park Avenue '97 on Rykodisc was 18 stripped-down tracks of poignant pop from the vault. |