Joey Molland, Last Surviving Guitarist of Badfinger, Passes Away at 77
Joey Molland, the last surviving member of the classic lineup of the rock band Badfinger, has passed away at the age of 77. The sad news was announced through the band’s official Facebook page.
According to the statement, Molland breathed his last on Saturday evening, surrounded by his family. While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, it is known that he had been battling health issues, including pneumonia, in recent months.
“Thank you, Joey, for keeping the band’s music alive for so long and for being a dear friend to us all,” read the message from the band on their official Facebook page.
Joey Molland’s Journey with Badfinger
Molland joined Badfinger in 1969, after the band—originally known as The Iveys—was signed by Apple Records, the label owned by The Beatles. Their debut album featured the song “Come and Get It”, written by Paul McCartney.
The first album showcasing Molland’s guitar skills, No Dice (1970), was produced by Mal Evans, The Beatles’ tour manager. This album gave rise to some of the band’s most well-known songs, including “No Matter What” and “Without You”, the latter of which became a global hit after being covered by Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey.
The classic Badfinger lineup—Joey Molland (guitar/vocals), Pete Ham (vocals/guitar), Tom Evans (vocals/bass), and Mike Gibbins (drums)—recorded five albums and produced hits such as “Day After Day” and “Baby Blue” before disbanding in 1974.
Revival Attempts and Collaborations with Beatles Members
During the late 1970s, Molland and Evans attempted to revive Badfinger, albeit without Ham and Gibbins. Molland played a bigger role in songwriting and vocals for albums Airwaves (1979) and Say No More (1981).
Apart from his contributions to Badfinger, Molland also collaborated with members of The Beatles. He played on George Harrison’s landmark solo album All Things Must Pass and performed at The Concert for Bangladesh. Additionally, Molland contributed guitar to John Lennon’s album Imagine, specifically on the tracks “Jealous Guy” and “I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier”.
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The Final Member of Classic Badfinger
With Molland’s passing, all members of Badfinger’s classic lineup have now passed away. Pete Ham and Tom Evans tragically took their own lives in 1975 and 1984, respectively, while Mike Gibbins died of a brain aneurysm in 2005.
Badfinger is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the power pop genre, achieving commercial success in the 1960s and 1970s with over 14 million albums sold worldwide. Their song “Baby Blue” experienced a resurgence in popularity when it was featured in the final scene of the hit TV series Breaking Bad.
As the last surviving member of one of rock music’s most influential yet tragic bands, Joey Molland’s legacy will live on through his music and contributions to rock history.
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