Guitarist and songwriter Joey Molland of ‘70s power-pop giants Badfinger was special guest at this weekend’s Fest for Beatles Fans in Chicago. Though Badfinger became the first band signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records in 1968, their history is connected to the Fab Four for reasons beyond label support. While bandleader Pete Ham composed the majority of Badfinger’s hit singles, the group’s breakthrough “Come and Get It” was written by Paul McCartney.
During an afternoon interview conducted by WXRT disc jockey (and Breakfast with the Beatles host) Terri Hemmert, Molland thrilled fans with stories about Badfinger, the Beatles, and interaction between the two groups. He described recording George Harrison’s #1 charting triple album All Things Must Pass. Harrison entrusted a surprising level of creative freedom to his musicians, though Molland recalled one session guitarist who was unceremoniously ejected for grandstanding. Molland also recounted anecdotes from Harrison’s groundbreaking Concert for Bangla Desh, where he performed alongside luminaries such as Eric Clapton and a wildly dancing Billy Preston.
Stories from Badfinger’s star-crossed career were both witty and poignant. Memories of discovering America on tour together as young men were countered by Ham’s tragic suicide just shy of his twenty-eighth birthday.
In the evening, Molland joined the festival’s house band Liverpool. The set included Badfinger classics “Baby Blue,” “Day After Day,” and “No Matter What.” Molland sang lead vocals in place of late bandmates Ham and bassist Tom Evans, and dug into his familiar guitar solos with bite and energy.
During the performance, Molland described first meeting Harrison at Apple Records as Badfinger were poised for their first success. Harrison declared that the group had a big hit on their hands, and asked whether they were ready for rock star perks like fame, money and women. The band answered enthusiastically in the affirmative. According to Molland, Harrison then added, “But you’re going to have to play that song for the rest of your lives.”
“So, here it is for today,” said Molland, introducing 1969’s “Come and Get It” with a flourish of chiming guitar and a good-natured laugh.
Photos by Jeff Elbel.
