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| Pete Ham of Badfinger |
Again, thanks to http://www.wikipedia.com/, this is Ham's story:
Peter William Ham was born on April 27, 1947 in Swansea, Wales. In 1961, Ham formed a local rock group called The Panthers. After several name and member changes, the group became The Iveys in 1965. Ray Davies of The Kinks took an initial interest in the group and, in 1968, Mal Evans (The Beatles' personal assistant) introduced the group to the Fab Four, who unanimously approved their signing to Apple Records. Apparently, The Beatles were impressed by the band's songwriting abilities.
Upon the single release of Paul McCartney's Come And Get It, the group changed its name to Badfinger. Initially protesting against using a non-original song, Ham was convinced of the wisdom of having a likely hit single to propel the band's career. Indeed, the song became a worldwide Top Ten hit. In late 1970, Ham's song, No Matter What, became another Top Ten worldwide hit, which he followed with two more worldwide hits: Day After Day and Baby Blue. Ham's greatest songwriting success came with Without You, which he co-wrote. When Harry Nilsson covered the song in 1972, it became a worldwide #1 hit. The song was nominated for a Grammy and won an Ivor Novello award for Song of the Year in 1973. Badfinger was signed by Warner Bros. Records in 1972, when Apple Records began to fail.
From 1973 to 1975, during their time with Warner Bros. Records, Badfinger suffered financial and managerial problems. By 1975, Ham literally had no money in his bank account. With no explanation from the band's business manager Stan Polley, and a girlfriend who was eight months pregnant, Ham became despondent and hanged himself in the garage of his Surrey home. His blood alcohol was .27%. Ham's suicide note read: "I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better." The note had a post script about the band's business manager: "P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me." Some of Polley's other clients also accused him of corruption. Ham was 27 years old.
Watch Pete Ham and Badfinger sing No Matter What.
1 comment:
I was devastated by Pete Ham's suicide. He was so talented that it seemed that life was pointless indeed if someone like him could kill himself. I'm glad to see that his music still is justly valued and performed.
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