A True Music Tragedy: The Story Of The Band “Badfinger…”
Since I work in entertainment, I have interacted with so many Artists across movies, TV, theater and music…I have seen some go on to iconic careers, and I have seen some fail to maintain their careers…and some seem to be cursed.
Meet Rock Music’s Most Cursed Band…
Badfinger was a pioneering Welsh rock group – and one of the 1970’s “Power Pop” legends. Known for their Beatle-esque melodies, soaring vocal harmonies, and ringing guitars, they were the first group signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records.
They were also possibly the most cursed rock band of all time…
Here’s how it happened: they had some great hit songs, and their albums were critically acclaimed – but the curse began on their first release – they were called “also-ran” Beatles because they were signed to the band’s Apple Records – and Paul wrote their first hit “Come And Get It.”
“Come And Get It”
It’s pure Paul McCartney late 60’s pop/rock: tight, fast and it had a terrific hook – the band ran with it and it pure pop confection – enjoy:
Paul had written the song originally for the Ringo Starr – Peter Sellers comedy “The Magic Christian” – more on that later. By giving it to the band, Apple Records strategically got them instant success – but that was also the beginning of the curse.
The song was a top ten hit, and was included on their album “Magic Christian Music.”
Their biggest hit of all time was written by the band – but even that was cursed!
The song they wrote that was a worldwide #1 hit was “Without You” – but it was not their version, the #1 worldwide smash was the cover version of the song recorded by Singer / Songwriter Harry Nilsson!
Nilsson’s album was a #1 smash – but the band got no credit for the song!
They had also recorded the song “Without You” which had a slightly different vibe – check it out:
The band continued to release music, but their career trajectory changed when they hired American businessman Stan Polley to manage their business affairs. Polley orchestrated massive, seemingly lucrative contracts—including a major deal with Warner Bros. Records—but completely controlled the band’s finances through a web of offshore and escrow accounts…
With new management in place, the band released a string of great pop/rock hit like this one:
“Day After Day”
I will explain where the term “power pop? came from, but this Badfinger song is a great example…a catchy hit for the band – take a listen:
So, the band had hit songs, well-received albums, yet by 1975, the band was suddenly broke. Their new Manager Polley had allegedly embezzled or mismanaged hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving the band with millions of dollars in pending lawsuits, no income, and mounting pressure to deliver money-making hits.
“No Matter What”
It’s very sad to have the band under such pressure, because all they wanted to do was make great music, like they did with this song.
“No Matter What” reached #6 on the top pop songs in 1970. They were writing top ten hits for years and yet were suddenly broke!
Take a listen to this:
Then, Tragedy…
As you read, the band had years of hits yet had nothing to show for it. It was pressure that the lead singer could no longer bear.
Pete Ham (1975): Despondent over the financial ruin and the total disappearance of their manager, the 27-year-old co-writer of “Without You” hanged himself in his garage, leaving a note calling Polley a “soulless bastard”
In 1991, Polley pleased “no contest” to misappropriating money from another client, but received no jail time.
Tom Evans (1983): Eight years later, the band’s bassist and co-songwriter of “Without You” hanged himself in his own garden following a bitter, escalating argument with bandmate Joey Molland and the lingering stress from the financial collapse of the band…
Two suicides by the two creative minds behind the band…here’s another of there great hits:
“Baby Blue”
This was another top ten hit by the band in the early 70’s, and as the decades have gone by, tthe music was re-discovered by rock fans.
Their hit song “Baby Blue” found massive mainstream resurgence years later as the iconic final song that plays in the closing moments of the Breaking Bad finale.
Here’s the song:
The two surviving members of the band also had untimely deaths:
Mike Gibbins (2005): The drummer died unexpectedly in his sleep from a brain aneurysm
Joey Molland (2025): The last surviving member of the classic lineup passed away from complications of diabetes
In an industry that is difficult to succeed in, the band did – but they were seemingly cursed…
As I said, Harry Nilsson had the biggest hit of 1971 with the Badfinger song “Without You”…it is gorgeous – take a listen:
Nilsson also had a Beatles connection: see that wild wild wild story here:
And now, the story of “power pop”:
I mentioned that Badfinger’s first hit was for this film:
What a wacky film this is! See more about the film here:
Why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, books, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
Leave a comment and let me know your favorite Badfinger song – and if you like this story, please share on social media – thanks!
Categories: 70's Cinema, 70's Music, Art, British Cinema, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
Leave a comment