Definitely one of your best videos. My God, what happened to Badfinger was a literal crime. Easily the most tragic Rock band story ever. Rocking In Peace forever: Pete Ham and Tom Evans.
My friend and I were driving through NJ in the early 80’s when we saw Badfinger on a billboard in front of a club. It was a Saturday afternoon, so we stopped and walked in to get more details as we both loved that band. As we walked into the club it was pretty dark as it was very early in the day and they were closed for business. There was nobody immediately there to talk to, but we heard some music coming from the back of the club, so we walked past the bar and to the back where, to our amazement, Badfinger was rehearsing. I don’t remember exactly how many people were there, but it was not many at all, like maybe 10 or 12. Nobody seemed to care that we were there, so we simply stood there and took in the rehearsal. One song after another, they played all their hits, and we got to enjoy it like we’ve never enjoyed a performance before or since. Badfinger was an incredible band that deserved much better than they got. That was about 40 years ago, and to this day I still look back on that moment as probably the best musical experience I have ever had.
@guildguitars6349 That's a terrific story. I have quite a number of terrific stories of my own. Some people just seem to be led by The Spirit, and ordinary people wind up in extraordinary situations. I shake my head daily, feeling grateful to the Master of my life.
A truly remarkable and talented band, as great as any British invasion band ever in all ways except deserved reputation. Badfinger's legs were cut out beneath them in their prime by a corrupt NYC 'businessman' criminal named Stan Polley. Unfortunately, the band is now synonymous with tragedy. Kudos for the video
They suffered a lot of tragedy, especially Pete Ham. Another tragedy is being almost entirely forgotten by classic rock radio. Straight Up is an amazing album.
@@CorbCorbin Oh yeah, I like all the albums they put out on Apple but I think Straight Up is the best. I was just spinning No Dice last night coincidentally.
Insanely underrated band. “Without You” and “No Matter What” are some of the best pop songs ever written. Their song “Knocking Down Our Home” is beautiful too.
In the early 70s, I worked the door at a rock club in Ohio. Baby Blue was a standard for all the bar bands that came through. I'd almost forgotten about 'Baby Blue', but when it was recommended in my feed, man, the memories came flooding back.
I’m 68 and still often listen to them, they did not deserve to be treated so bad….. Will put flowers on Pete’s grave next year when I visit Wales RIP boys you will always be remembered…
Good call mate ; "No Matter What" was an all time classic - Great Rock, great melody, great guitar fills Would LOVE to think you'll get to fulfil your wish to put flowers on Pete Ham's grave
Thank you for covering this! I am from the town that Pete ham and the band by and large came from, and the story of them was forever talked about. My dad got me my first kit came from John Ham (Petes's brother's music shop) in 1985 or something. I knew the sisters of the drummer too, Marian and Joyce. Years later, people still talk of it. A plaque has since been put up on a wall at Swansea Train station to commemorate Peter Ham.
They are such an underrated band. Stan Polley was an f-ing soulless monster. I can't believe he got away with that. Pete Hamm should have offed Polley instead of himself. What he did was evil and unforgivable.
Yes that would be and I would definitely go and see that bio pic of Badfinger it would be fantastic because it has all of the elements of drama and tragedy and success.
I got into Badfinger in the mid-1980's when all of their albums were long out of print. I recall finding them at used record swap meets in the late 1980's and playing them often. A couple of years later they were all reissued on CD. I own them all and enjoy them to this day. Some of my favorite songs are "They're Knocking Down Our Home", "I'd Die Babe", and "No One Knows". This story breaks my heart every time I hear it. May they all rest in peace.
I find it astonishing that Paul McCartney and the other Beatles did not assist the members of Badfinger in their disputes with their Management; they had all of the Lawyers and Accoutants and they could have prevented the tradegy that resulted in the deaths of Pete Ham and Tom Evans .... Tragic !!!!
Until I saw this and read more about the band I had no idea Ham and Evans were drinking in a pub I frequent in the village I grew up in on the Night Pete tragically committed suicide. Thanks for the upload. And if you ever feel there's no way out please don't be scared to go get help. Speak to someone. You're loved and not alone ❤
I was in my teens in the 80’s when I first heard Badfinger and was blown away at how good they were and saddened at the tragedy the band went through. I’m still a huge fan of there work in 2021 and thank you for doing a story on a band that left quite a legacy for being together just a short time.
I am a huge fan of the band as well even though there was a lot of tragedies going on their music is still great especially on songs like to come and get it and they after day with these two guitar players Pete ham and George Harrison playing on that wonderful guitar solo.
@@jesserussell7242 Check out Wish You Were Here (not the pink floyd record). Has some of their best work and is definitely their best album. Last with the classic lineup of Ham-Molland-Evans-Gibbins. My personal highlights are In the Meantime/Some Other Time and Meanwhile Back at the Ranch/Should I Smoke. Technically they're 4 songs, but pieced together to make them just two. Love Gibbins' vocals on In the Meantime, he should've sung more.
Fucking capitalism and shit, record companies screwing over talent for pure profit sucks ass, thank god you can use the internet to release music nowadays
It's a shame that the Beatles wanting to take control of their finances and help out others is 'their egos out of control', but sadly they weren't businessmen and the pressure simply speeded up their break-up.
THANKS R N' R True Stories! it's ridiculous to say i nearly openly cried when Badfinger just... disappeared, but i WAS let down immensely. The Beatles were no more, and Badfingers' sound and talent was therapeutic to getting over that. Then they too were gone, and way too soon.
I cry every time I read about these poor guys...and hope someone makes a movie of them. The guy who ripped them off is nowt short of a murderer!! r.i.p. Pete and Tom 😪💙
I think there should be a movie made with the life story of a bad finger because there’s so much drama in their lives and they are one of the best bands ever and I am one of the big fans of Badfinger music since they were signed to the Apple records label founded by my all-time favorite rock band the Beatles. even though some of the members of Badfinger are gone their music will still live on which is really just magnificent songs like maybe tomorrow no matter what day after day among others.
Went to see Badfinger at the Whisky on Sunset Blvd back in the day, and wow! were they ever good! We sat on the balcony right above them and I can still run the video and soundtrack of them that night in my head. ^..^~~
How tragic. I was about 13 when Come and Get it hit the airwaves. As a huge Beatles fan I was certain they'd got back together to record and start over. Grand Funk also got crewed over by management, all of which could have been avoided if they'd only read their contract which was set to expire in only 2 more months! CCR got bigtime screwed as well. John Fogarty couldn't even perform the music he'd written! Artists need good management (which is hard to find). Queen got screwed, but then hired Elton John's manager, and Night at the Opera was born. Some artists take total control of not only their art, but of marketing and finances as well. Maxfield Parrish is a good example of that. It's rare. Most artist do not have a head for business.
My sister had a Badfinger album in our house when I was a kid and I listened to it a lot and always thought they were a really good band . I couldn't figure out why they weren't well known. Sweet, T Rex Badfinger and Humble Pie were the records I listened to the most in my sister's collection. This was the early 80s and most of my friends had never heard of any of those bands . They were all listening to Run DMC but I preferred 70s rock and roll
These guys really did capture the Beatles sound in their early years, before all the drama. To bad they had such poor management, because no one else ever filled that niche. They really could have been millionaires if they stayed together, under positive guidance & continued to produce big hits.
Honestly, filling that niche wasn't as good as how they grew into their own distinct sound and influenced the development of Power Pop and power ballads as genres.
I really can't believe this band wasn't even more popular. They were amazing songwriters and performers. They sound like a continuation of the Beatles but not just some imitation or tribute. No they have their own amazing material and sound. So sad that 2 of them committed suicide due to the tragic circumstances that troubled the band.
You should have mentioned that the Ham/Evans tune, 'Without You' was covered by Nilssonn and became a worldwide smash hit, robbed of what would have been millions in royalties for just that song, and seriously contributed to the suicides of Ham and Evans.
Nillson recorded that in what 1970? Very few bands, especially back then, owned their own masters or even songs when they started out. At best they owned a percentage. Record companies flash some quick cash, then promise the world, while they are billing you for everything they act like is a service provided by them while you’re one of their artists. Then they hit you with, “well, actually after what you spent touring, partying, buying stuff and in the studio, you owe us money…” It’s a shitty thing, but when they’re still making the same mistakes years later, what could anyone do? They also seemed to keep signing shit even after they knew the manager was ripping them off years later.
@@CorbCorbin The reason they were broke, and eventually took their own lives, was due to shitty, predatory management. I know that the music industry is a snake pit.
Day after day Hass to be one of my favorite songs and what’s great about Badfinger is that they were one of the greatest musicians and songwriters ever and I love the fact that one of the former Beatles George Harrison plays with Pete ham on that wonderful guitar solo one day after day it gives me chills every time I hear it and they are one of the most greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands ever even though the band had some tragedies but their music will still live on especially with songs like without you day after day no matter what and come and get it.
I met Joey Molland a couple years ago at a concert, it was a fantastic show! What a shame, talk about a fall from grace! Love their music! I told him that, he was really cool, like you were shaking hands and taking to your neighbor. Great guitar player, great band, awesome music! I will definitely see them again if they come back my way. Just a real shame all the crazy that happened. These guys were superstars!
It's just a damn shame that such an intelligent group of musicians had to go through such a tragic end I love every song they wrote and they will always remain one of my favorites
I saw Badfinger in the70's and I can say that it was one of the best sounding bands in concert. They sounded just as good as if they were in the studio singing. Very good sound I'll never forget! I'm sorry they were treated the way they were. They deserved so much better. Thank you Badfinger! Peace!
I love Badfinger. Straight Up is one of my favorite albums of all time. The ill-fated Wish You Were Here is also high on my list. Pete was the heart and soul of the band. He seemed to sneeze out great songs which often burned with such emotional intensity.
Thanks for making this video. As someone who discovered Badfinger in recent years (never seen Breaking Bad), I’d heard their story was tragic. On a side note, if you’ve ever listensed to Guided by Voices, in my opinion Badfinger is clearly Robert Pollard’s single largest influence sound-wise.
They were such a great band with fantastic songs they had access to the best studio and equipment it's a tragic story and proof that even with hit singles and albums success isn't guaranteed their fourth record is a completely overlooked gem Sure wish we could get vinyl reissues of their apple catalog
I think all the bad fingers catalog should be reissued as deluxe box sets with all the bonus tracks and then release stuff on cd and on vinyl it would be very fantastic to hear and if the Beatles catalog can be remixed and remastered it into a box that why not Bad finger in all the other songs should be released in a really big box that on CD and vinyl it would be great to hear the songs not just remastered but remix as well from the original master tapes.
Some of the members of the band were also featured in the story Music Artists Died Before Age 60,Pete Ham,Tom Evans & Mike Gibbins died at ages earlier or younger than 60 in 3 decade difference 1975-2005😢🤧
Just a great band. With the right management and proper promotion I truly believe they would be more widely considered as among the best bands of the Seventies, then and now.
I "discovered" Badfinger by accident when I flipped the switch to FM. The line "I remember finding out about you..." always brings a smile to my face because the song was just freakin awesome. I had never heard anything like that at that time. It was the mid 70's - before classic rock was a thing - and I'm listening to the local college radio stations when they would put on an album and just drop the needle and let it play. Badfinger was always a go to. So sad to find out that they were screwed over and lead to the deaths of two gifted individuals. For The Love Of Money, indeed.
I listen to Badfinger at least three times a week. Can't remember the last time I had a week without them. Thanks BF. Since I have first heard "Come and get it"{ '69}. Then saw "The Magic Christian". Bad finger Forever
My top 16 Badfinger songs: 16.Love is gonna Come @ last 15.Dennis 14.Timeless 13.Suitcase 12.Apple of my eyes 11.I'll be the 1 10.Name of the game 9.Believe Me 8.Maybe tomorrow 7.Dear angie 6.Rock of all ages 5.Without U 4.Baby Blue 3.Come & Get it 2. Day after Day 1. No matter What
Heard it ages ago. Remember it, they, for a long time; played their favs. Over past three years. Interested in composition,, arrangement, notation--very pleasantly and charmingly accommodating for gentleness while still maintaining light-hearted Gentlemenly sophistication. These qualities are very enduring in both purpose of mind and social custom. Manipulating a cord is key to pitch! Tradition lives! Thank you for your this post.
I had not heard of badfinger, but I heard a song from them on Spotify yesterday, and I thought it was great! And today this video appears in my recommended feed, thank you so much!
Thank you! I love this band, way more than I loved the Beatles & they were my top band until around 1969-70. I will always listen to their music until I'm gone.
Such a great band. Pete, Tom, Joey, and Mike were all great songwriters. The two Warner Bros albums get forgotten, but both are good, Wish You Were Here is a 10/10 album. So sad how things turned out for the band.
Paul McCartney lamented it was one of those situations where a phone call from him would have made a difference. Stan Posner who was managing Eric Carmen of Raspberry game, planned to package him with Badfinger a year after they left their greedy manager Stan Polly. George Harrison was beside himself wondering why no one told him about their financial woes. I’m sure George would’ve paid Pete’s mortgage. There were so many escapes, it’s sad. Pete wasn’t thinking straight. He was drunk. Straight Up was the #1 fan pick for album to DVD. If only he and Tommy knew their fans hadn’t forgotten them.
So very sad indeed!!😓💕 Both men had amazing voices and all those great Badfinger tunes. A tune called "Name Of The Game" blew me away & was never on AM radio in 1970's but I found it on a greatest hits Cassette in 1990's. I played cassette a gazillion times!! RIP two Lads, you deserved so much better!!!!😞💕
I've got a copy of "Come and get it ". It's not a bad song to be fair. Badfinger didn't get the break they deserved. Just because they signed to Apple, people thought they would skyrocket! The Beatles let them down on the financial, and publicity side of things.
Thanks for doing this, I love Badfinger. I saw them live in 1986 when I was just 17 at a bar called Blondie's in Detroit. Someone was quick to point out that they lost their two top guys equating them as George and Ringo still performing as the Beatles, but I enjoyed the concert none the less.
Excellent history. Many posts ask about the Harry Nilsson, 'Without You' controversy, where Badfinger wrote that huge hit (sung by Nilsson) but got no royalties. That was another Stan Polley scam. Polley was eventually convicted of various crimes, and died in 2009, but never repaid Badfinger or Warner. RIP Ham and Evans. While Polley burns in hell, you guys are in Rock and Roll Heaven, and we STILL love your music!
Stan Polly unfortunately never paid for any of his crimes. In 71 his name was brought up for investigation by the US Senate and a New York supreme court judge, but he was never indicated on any charge. In 91 he scammed a aeronautics engineer and was ordered to pay 250,000 in restitution which never took place.
