Badfinger

Sept. 14, 2008

The British Invasion on the 1960s brought with it some of rock and roll music’s all time greatest, with the Beatles kicking off the invasion and The Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin following. Other greats from that era included The Animals, The Kinks and Herman’s Hermits, who all reached super-group status as well.  If there was any other British group that could lay claim to helping anchor the British Invasion, it would be Badfinger.
Guitarist and vocalist Joey Molland who was with the group during their heyday from 1969-’74 brings the music from Badfinger to the Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge this Saturday night. Badfinger had a string of hits that included “Come And Get It,” “No Matter What,” “Day After Day,” and “Baby Blue” that had critics hailing them as the new Beatles.
But Badfinger found its way to the top of the list of one of the most tragic stories in rock and roll history (Buddy Holly and Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crashes are on that list).
“I would tell any young musician today thinking about this as a career to study the history of Badfinger,” said Molland. “We made a lot of mistakes that cost us financially and destroyed the band.”
RIPPED OFF
There are estimates that Badfinger was ripped off close to $7 million during a four-year period (the equivalent of about $35 million by today’s standards).
“Basically, we were rock stars rubbing elbows with the Beatles, playing major venues and having a great time, and we were not paying attention to the business end of things,” said Molland. “We had a dishonest manager. We were not the only ones in those days, but they say we were ripped off the worst.”
Gary Katz, who produced a documentary on the rise and fall of Badfinger, agrees with Molland
“It was definitely the biggest rip-off in rock and roll history,” said Katz. “Molland and drummer Mike Gibbins, the two surviving members, along with the families of deceased members Pete Ham and Tom Evans, resolved some differences in 1985 and came together and were able to collect some of the royalties owed, but to them it was not even close to what they earned.”
Molland tries to remain positive as he carries on the group’s legacy, now the only member still living from the band’s hit-making years. Drummer Gibbins passed away suddenly in 2005 and founding members Ham and Evans both committed suicide several years ago.
“All I know was we were on Apple Records, and along with the Beatles, the only band on the label selling a lot of records, and the next thing I know I am broke, living with my parents, selling my guitars and installing carpet for a living,” said Molland. “But things are a lot better now. The band is collecting royalties as our music continues to sell all over the world and I perform several shows a year. So I am making a decent living.”

ROOTS
Badfinger formed in the early ‘60’s with Ham, Evans and Gibbins as original members. In 1969 they were in need of a guitarist and vocalist when Molland, who was in the band Gary Walker and the Rain, auditioned and was immediately hired.
The band had just joined the Apple label and Molland’s talents were quickly recognized by both George Harrison and John Lennon. Harrison had Molland perform on his “All Things Must Pass” album and Lennon brought Molland in for his “Imagine” album.
Molland grew up in Liverpool. Today he resides in the suburbs of Minneapolis with his wife of 40 years.  As for the live show, Molland says to expect a little bit of everything.
“It is about half Badfinger and half my stuff,” said Molland.

Badfinger featuring Joey Molland performs Saturday, September 20 at the Leelanau Sands Casino (north of Suttons Bay). For tickets call the box office at 800.585.3737. To hear a sampling of Joey Molland’s solo work, go to: myspace.com/badfingerjoeymolland.