Consummate Rock artists BADFINGER are perhaps regrettably better known for their career tribulations resulting in the suicides of two key members than their musical legacy. To many the name BADFINGER is synonymous with HARRY NILSSON's massive double no. 1 single 'Without You' interpretation, given second wind as yet another million seller by R&B diva MARIAH CAREY in 1994. In truth BADFINGER were in their day an incredibly successful group that achieved both respect and major sales on both sides of the Atlantic.

Swansea born Pete Ham had paid his dues during the 60s with the trio THE PANTHERS. Operating mainly as a covers band THE PANTHERS boosted their line up to a quartet in order to start performing original material, gradually evolving into the BLACK VELVETS and the WILD ONES. Bass player Ron Griffiths would augment the line up as the band subsequently became THE IVEYS.

During 1965 Mike Gibbins enrolled on the drum stool as the group scored a number of valuable support slots to such high profile artists as THE YARDBIRDS, THE WHO and the SPENCER DAVIS GROUP. 1966 would find THE IVEYS relocated to London, not only undertaking their own gigs but also acting as a backing band for vocalist David Garrick.

In 1967 Tom Evans of R&B act THEM CALDERSTONES supplanted Dai Jenkins. The band had now forged such a reputation that various major labels were in pursuit of their signatures. However, THE IVEYS opted to audition for THE BEATLES label Apple Records in early 1968 and would immediately provoke the interest of PAUL McCARTNEY.

The group's opening gambit for Apple was the single 'Maybe Tomorrow'. Although achieving little in the UK the song did become a hit on mainland Europe. A Mal Evans produced album followed but is generally regarded as a confused affair. Furthermore, the record promotion was minimal and the album was not even granted an American release.

Hope would be extended by a composition, 'Come And Get It', given to the band by PAUL McCARTNEY. Although in actual fact the band had splintered even before 'Come And Get It's release with Griffiths leaving mid session. The song- originally written for a prospective movie soundtrack 'The Magic Christian', gave the band a massive hit reaching no. 7 in America and no. 4 in the UK.

The act decided to change titles to BADFINGER at this juncture. The new title was chosen from a working title of THE BEATLES song 'With A Little Help From My Friends' dubbed 'Bad Finger Boogie' although reportedly JOHN LENNON had put forward THE PRIX and others THE GLASS ONION. Previously there had been confusion with the more established Pop act THE IVY LEAGUE.

The band endeavoured to entice Hamish Stuart away from MARMALADE but this ploy failed. Tom Evans manoeuvred over to bass as Joey Molland, previously with THE MASTERMINDS and the bizarrely titled FRUIT EATING BEARS, took the position as guitarist. BADFINGER arrived officially with the 'Magic Christian Music' album, a collection of tracks intended for the movie and re-worked numbers from THE IVEYS previous album. Produced by McCartney and Tony Visconti this ad hoc collection would lead off with the 'Come And Get It' hit.

The album reaped heady praise and secured a fanbase almost immediately. A downside to THE BEATLES connection though would soon be encountered when, on BADFINGER's initial American dates, hysterical female audience members took some convincing that BADFINGER were not in fact THE BEATLES in disguise.

BADINGER's follow up 'No Dice' solidified their repute. 'No Matter What was quickly hailed as a classic and the heart rending 'Without You', in the hands of HARRY NILSSON, would become a huge international hit. Coincidentally, BADFINGER and Nilsson would be sharing the same studio complex, unaware of each others presence when members of BADFINGER would be stopped in their tracks to hear someone else singing their song.

As Apple artists the individual musicians would often session on many noteworthy projects including GEORGE HARRISON's 'All Things Must Pass' and even JOHN LENNON's 'Imagine'. BADFINGER members would also form Harrison's backing band for his ambitious 'Concert For Bangladesh' festival.

Toward the close of 1971 BADFINGER issued 'Straight Up' album, with production credits going to both GEORGE HARRISON and TODD RUNDGREN. The record provided the launch platform for a brace of major radio hits in 'Day After Day' and 'Baby Blue'. A mammoth series of American tour dates ensued into 1972. BADFINGER's swansong for the Apple organisation would be the Chris Thomas produced 'Ass', released in November 1973. The record snuk out just prior to Apple's bankruptcy.

The 'Badfinger' album, their first for new label Warner Bros., emerged with an unexpected rapidity but failed to sell. The group then cut 'Wish You Were Here', a seminal work cited by many to be BADFINGER's finest creative moment. However, behind the scenes machinations had revealed the loss of millions of dollars from the band's bank accounts. Upon legal advice the record was withdrawn almost as soon as it arrived in stores.

In spite of global chart success and an enviable set of sales figures BADFINGER would find themselves virtually destitute. A third album for Warner Bros., 'Head First', was laid down but was subsequently shelved. The group then found themselves without a record deal. Disillusioned Molland quit in order to team up with NATURAL GAS as BADFINGER formally folded on the 1st of May 1975. Evans subsequently joined the DODGERS.

On the 23rd April 1975 Pete Ham committed suicide by hanging himself in his garage. This blow would come as legal wranglings and costs escalated in the pursuit of the missing millions. Amidst it all Evans and Molland attempted a comeback with the 1978 'Airwaves' album. Essentially a Molland / Evans collaboration 'Airwaves' sees a whole host of session men contributing including the renowned CACTUS keyboard player Duane Hitchings.

A welcome tour of America was launched and the enthusiasm generated provided the recording of a further album, 1981's 'Say No More'. Employed for these sessions would be guitarist Glenn Sherba, Tony Kaye of YES on keyboards and erstwhile AVIARY drummer Richard Bryans.

The BADFINGER duo of guitarist Rod Roche and bass player Tom Evans would form part of the backing band to Australian Hard Rocking siblings Lindsay and Chrissie Hammond- better known as CHEETAH, for their memorable 1982 Reading Festival performance.

Confusion reigned for fans, torn between two variants of the band as both Molland and Gibbins both had different versions of BADFINGER on the road. JOEY MOLLAND would opt for the solo route with his first effort 'After The Pearl' released in 1983. Unbelievably, further tragedy occurred when in November of 1983 Evans too hanged himself.

Molland would go on to release a live BADFINGER album in 1990 which was roundly criticised for studio obvious overdubs. Hard Rock band LILLIAN AXE would give their acoustic version of 'No Matter What' another stab at the Billboard charts in 1991.

Molland has since kept BADFINGER on the road in America buoyed by the success of CD re-releases and compilations. During 2000 BADFINGER would be caught sharing festival stages with acts such as FOREIGNER and KANSAS. In August though a mishap befell Molland when, attempting to talk to a fan in the audience at the '3rd Annual Classic Rock' festival in Whitehouse Mountain, Washington, the guitarist fell offstage fracturing his leg.

Drummer MIKE GIBBINS would go solo working in tandem with fellow Welshman and former LONE STAR and UFO guitarist PAUL CHAPMAN. In light of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks MIKE GIBBINS released a fund raising single entitled 'Dream Harder'. Gibbins released a further solo outing, 'In The Meantime', in 2003 and featured his son Owen Gibbins on guitar and bass. Sadly, Gibbins passed away in his sleep on October 4th, 2005 in Florida. He was 56-years-old.