Who was/is Badfinger ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

Badfinger

Badfinger became musical sidekicks for the former Beatles, performing on George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass' (1970) and the 'Concert for Bangladesh' (1971) and backing John Lennon on 'Imagine' (1971) and Ringo Starr on his hit 'It Don't Come Easy' (1971). Despite their ties to the label's owners, Apple repeatedly rejected Badfinger's demos and quashed their recording sessions.

Their third album, 'Straighten Up' (1971), was produced by Todd Rundgren and included the downhearted hit singles 'Day After Day' and 'Baby Blue'; it marked the band's zenith. Although their music was all over AM and FM radio in the United States in 1972, Badfinger's success rapidly unravelled. A series of ill-conceived management deals left them with little money, and financial troubles at Apple resulted in slender advances. Their final album for Apple, the unfortunately titled 'Ass' (1973), contained a swipe at the label, 'Apple of My Eye', and sold poorly.

Badfinger moved to Warner Brothers and quickly recorded 'Badfinger' (1973), dashing off songs in the studio. Their eponymous LP was released almost simultaneously with 'Ass' and failed to garner attention. As management and legal problems mounted, Warner Brothers pulled Badfinger's 'Wish You Were Here' (1974) from distribution seven weeks after release. A year later, Pink Floyd had no difficulty titling their own next album 'Wish You Were Here'.

Told he had no money and unable to reach his management, Pete Ham hanged himself in his recording studio in April 1975. He left a note blaming the band's American manager, Stan Polley. Badfinger dissolved as its members joined bands of little note, played sessions, or did manual labour to survive in light of their missing royalties. Economic necessity led vocalist-bassist Tom Evans and vocalist-guitarist Joey Molland to call their new band Badfinger again. 'Love Is Gonna Come At Last' from the album 'Airwaves' (1979) received modest airplay, as did 'Hold On' from 'Say No More' (1981). Afterward, Evans and Molland led rival bands under the Badfinger name, dogged by lawsuits. In 1983, Evans followed Ham's lead and hanged himself at home. Despite his death, Molland reunited with other bandmates and toured as Badfinger.

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