Badfinger
Badfinger is one of my top five favorites (the others being The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Byrds and Raspberries). The story of Badfinger is probably the saddest in Rock history. The short version is that a manager screwed them and cheated them out of the money and royalties they had earned. This crime lead to the suicides of both Pete Ham and Tom Evans.
Ironically, Ham and Evans wrote the classic ballad "Without You". Now, writing one song like that should set you up for life. You may not live like a king, but you can live comfortably. I once read a story on MOJO about The Village People. The original lead singer of the song "YMCA" was one of three co-writers of that song. Thanks to that one song, he made about $50,000 a year in royalties...$50,000.00!
Tom and Pete would have probably made more, given the number of cover versions this song generated (including massive hit versions by Nilsson and Mariah Carey). It really is a crime.
To read about this tragic story, you have to get get "The Tragic Story of Badfinger" by Dan Matovina. Even if you are not a fan, it will break your heart.
The moral story for young bands- hire a competent attorney before signing any contracts.
Clip number one is low quality, but it is Badfinger lip syncing to "Without You".
Clip number two is a live performance of "No Matter What" on British TV from 1972. This was an amazing band.
Drummer Mike Gibbins died last year. Only Joey Molland survives from the classic version of the band (unless you count Ron Griffiths of the Iveys, who did record their first single as Badfinger, "Come and Get It").
RIP Pete, Tommy and Mike.
Ironically, Ham and Evans wrote the classic ballad "Without You". Now, writing one song like that should set you up for life. You may not live like a king, but you can live comfortably. I once read a story on MOJO about The Village People. The original lead singer of the song "YMCA" was one of three co-writers of that song. Thanks to that one song, he made about $50,000 a year in royalties...$50,000.00!
Tom and Pete would have probably made more, given the number of cover versions this song generated (including massive hit versions by Nilsson and Mariah Carey). It really is a crime.
To read about this tragic story, you have to get get "The Tragic Story of Badfinger" by Dan Matovina. Even if you are not a fan, it will break your heart.
The moral story for young bands- hire a competent attorney before signing any contracts.
Clip number one is low quality, but it is Badfinger lip syncing to "Without You".
Clip number two is a live performance of "No Matter What" on British TV from 1972. This was an amazing band.
Drummer Mike Gibbins died last year. Only Joey Molland survives from the classic version of the band (unless you count Ron Griffiths of the Iveys, who did record their first single as Badfinger, "Come and Get It").
RIP Pete, Tommy and Mike.
posted by Side3 at 9:03 AM
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