R.I.P. PETE HAM
The Tragic Story Of Pete Ham. The Most Gifted Songwriter, (Along With James Taylor) To Be Signed By Apple Records :
April 24, 1975. Imagine being a young and talented musician looking back at the past few years of your life. You think back to when The Beatles of all people are so impressed with you and your talent that they sign you to their record label "Apple".
You see how you were picked and other artists like David Bowie and Crosby, Stills, Nash were not. You meet Paul McCartney and he tells you that during your first sessions he is going to be in the studio with you to write you a hit.
You get to hang with John Lennon and George Harrison. They request you to play on their solo records. You have George Harrison respect you so much and your musical abilities that he asks you to play a duet of "Here Comes The Sun" at the "Concert For Bangladesh".
Sounds too good to be true right ?
But it gets even better. You yourself are starting to develop into an excellent songwriter too. You no longer need a "Paul McCartney" to write you a song because you are writing songs just as good as his.
You start selling lots of records, you have top 40 hits. Singer Harry Nilsson does a cover of the song you wrote with your band mate Tom Evans, (“Without You”), and the song tops the American charts. You have now officially written a number 1 song.
You and your bandmates decide that for a few years you only want to take a "small salary" and have the business manager you trust hold on to your money so when the success dies down you will have a nice "nest egg" for you and your family.
You're told that you have millions and millions of dollars and not to worry about anything but making music. You start to see and hear of signs that things are not well though. Your other bandmates sense something is wrong. Problems with money, a record company who won't release your album because of missing money in an "escrow account". You don't want to hear it though. You trust your financial advisor , after all he is like family to you.
Then one day your girlfriend comes to you. She's going to have a baby. You realize it's time to get some of your money to pay for your new home and to provide for your new daughter. You call and call your financial advisor over and over. Yet he never returns your calls.
You begin to worry, you think the worst. Finally he contacts you. He tells you you're broke and your money is all gone. You have absolutely nothing left. You go into shock, you start drinking. You go into your basement. You write a letter to your business manager calling him a “Soul-less Bastard". You’re scared and afraid. You think you’re washed up. You’ve given your all to your band and your music and seem to have nothing to show for it.
Then you hang yourself. That's it, you're gone. At the age of 27 your life is over.
That is the sad story of Pete Ham, one of the most talented musicians and songwriters that took his life 48 years ago today.
The story of Pete and his band Badfinger is one of the most tragic stories of what can happen in the music business and many of the greedy people who run it. All Pete wanted to do was make music and provide for his family. Throughout his whole musical career he never got to see the fruits of his labor. He did leave behind an excellent musical legacy though. The band Badfinger released some great records especially their 1971 album "Straight Up" which is a "Pop/Rock masterpiece.
The past few years espeically have proven that Pete is still relevant and his music lives on.
The final episode of the television show "Breaking Bad" used one of his songs to end the show "Baby Blue".
This is a man who felt worthless and washed up in 1975. In 2014 his song once again became a "top 100" download and billboard hit. Too bad he wasn't around to get the recognition he so rightfully deserves.
The rest of the band would never recover from his loss, especially bass player Tom Evans who also would hang himself from a tree eight years later.
People close to Tom think he did this thinking he would go to the same place as Pete.
Such a sad and tragic story of a band truly talented enough to become legendary.
Essential Albums :
With Badfinger :
Magic Christian Music (1970)
No Dice (1970)
Straight Up (1971)
Ass (1973)
Badfinger (Warner Brothers Self Titled) (1974)
Wish You Were Here (1974)
Head First (Recorded 1975, released in 2000)
Posthumous Solo :
7 Park Avenue (1997)
Golders Green (1999)
The Keyhole Street Demos 1967-1969
With The Iveys :
Maybe Tomorrow (1969)
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