Badfinger was formed in Swansea, Wales, in 1964 by Pete Ham, under the name the Iveys. In december 1968 the got a recording contract with the Beatles´ label Apple. They released a couple of singles and an album as the Iveys, but in autumn 1969, while recording music for the movie "The Magic Christian", they changed their name to Badfinger. The first single as Badfinger, "Come and Get it", written by Paul McCartney, was an instant hit. Soon original bassist Ron Griffiths left, to be replaced by Joey Molland
This new line-up recorded 3 more albums for Apple and in 1973-74 2 more for Warner Brothers. They had big chart successes with Pete Ham´s "No Matter What", "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue"
After their change to Warner Brothers they did not achieve any more hit-singles and the band slowly began to fall apart from bad management and financial troubles.
One final Warner album was recorded in late 1974 - early 1975, with new member Bob Jackson replacing Molland. Sadly this last great effort with Ham in the band was not released until 2000.
After Ham´s death in 1975 the band split up, but Tom Evans reformed the band with Molland in 1978, and the recorded two more albums.
In November Evans died, and no more new Badfinger material has been recorded since.
Tom Evans and especially Pete Ham were unusually gifted song-writers, who wrote the pop classic "Without You" which was a big hit for both Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey
Key Band Members:
Pete Ham: Born 1947, vocals, lead guitar and piano . Ham was beyond question the key member of Badfinger, and he wrote the majority of the greatest Badfinger recordings.
Tom Evans: Born 1947, vocals, guitar and bass. Evans joined the Iveys in 1966, and he is the only member featured on all Badfinger albums.
Mike Gibbins: Born 1949, drums . Original member, but was only briefly back in the re-united version of Badfinger in 1978 and 1982
Ron Griffiths: Born 1946, bass and vocals. Original member, but left the band in 1969.
Dai Jenkins: Born 1947, rhythm guitar. Original member, but left the band in 1966. Jenkins is only featured on very few demo-recordings
Joey Molland: Born 1947, rhythm guitar and vocals. Replaced Griffiths, which let Evans take over the bass. Molland left again in 1974, and was also a member in 1978-81
Bob Jackson: Born 1950, keyboards and vocals. Joined in 1974 which meant that Badfinger for a short tour in 1974 was a 5-piece. Jackson was in the "Head First" line-up, and he was also back for a short while in 1982-83
Joe Tansin: Born 1949, guitar and vocals. Joined Badfinger for their 1979 Elekra album "Airwaves"
Kenny Harck: Born 194-, drums. Joined Badfinger for their 1979 Elekra album "Airwaves"
Tony Kaye: Born 194-, keyboards. Formerly "Yes". Joined Badfinger in 1980 and was part of the "Say No More" line-up, and stayed until 1983
Peter Clarke: Born 194-, drums. Formerly "Stealers Wheel". Joined Badfinger in 1980 and was part of the "Say No More" line-up
Reed Kailing: Born 194-, guitar, vocals. Joined in 1982
Donnie Dacus: Born 194-, guitar. Joined in 1982
Al Wodtke: Born 194-, bass. Joined shortly in 1983
Greg Gehring: Born 194-, guitar. Joined shortly in 1983
Glen Sherba: Born 194-, guitar. Joined shortly in 1983
Discography:
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