Joey Molland, Last Member of Classic Badfinger Lineup, Facing Health Issues

Share This:

Badfinger in 1971. L-R: Joey Molland, Tom Evans, Pete Ham and Mike Gibbens.

Joey Molland, a singer and guitarist for Badfinger’s classic lineup in the early ’70s on such songs as “No Matter What” and “Day After Day,” has been facing significant health issues since November 2024. The 77 year-old has been in a hospital since early December with what his longtime girlfriend, Mary Joyce, describes as a “very bad bacterial infection due to his diabetes.” Joyce has been regularly sharing health updates on her own Facebook page with his fans, noting that he has been re-diagnosed with pneumonia and is “in-and-out of consciousness.” On January 17, she started a GoFundMe page on his behalf to cover the costs of “a comprehensive, consistent physical and mental regimen.”

With Badfinger signed to the Beatles’ Apple label, Molland’s resumé includes also playing on John Lennon’s Imagine album, on George Harrison’s Grammy-winning album All Things Must Pass, and joining Harrison for the Concert For Bangladesh.

The story of Badfinger is one of rock’s saddest and most tragic tales. But one thing is for certain: the group that was at the forefront of power pop was abundantly filled with talent with hook-laden singles that also included “Baby Blue” and “Come and Get It.”

“No Matter What,” released in October 1970, was the band’s first hit single with Molland on lead guitar. The worldwide hit—and Beatles soundalike—reached the Top 10 in the U.K. and the U.S.

“Come and Get It,” written and produced by Paul McCartney, pre-dated Molland’s tenure in the band, though it was a song he would perform for another five decades. Released on December 5, 1969, in the U.K. (and January 12, 1970 in the U.S.), “Come and Get It” took off on both sides of the Atlantic in early 1970, reaching #4 in the U.K. and #7 on the American Billboard singles chart.

The group’s other guitarist, Pete Ham, and bassist, Tom Evans, were the band’s primary songwriters and their biggest success came when one of their compositions was recorded by Harry Nilsson. “Without You,” from their 1970 album, No Dice, was covered by Nilsson on his 1971 LP, Nilsson Schmilsson LP. His single held the #1 spot on the Hot 100 for four weeks in 1972.

Perhaps the most unheralded of the three in Badfinger was Liverpudlian guitarist Molland. His songwriting talent started to blossom with the group’s most acclaimed album, 1971’s Straight Up. Molland contributed five songs to the group’s fourth release including “I’d Die Babe,” “Sweet Tuesday Morning” and “Suitcase.” Badfinger continued recording and touring. However, following dissension within the group and management turmoil following the lackluster response to a pair of 1974 albums, Molland departed the group. Several months later, in 1975, the group’s leader, Pete Ham, took his own life at age 27.

By then, Molland had launched his own solo career. He later played in various groups and subsequently performed under the name Joey Molland’s Badfinger since 1983, the same year that Tom Evans also took his own life. In recent years including 2024, Molland had participated as part of the “Happy Together” tour of mostly ’60s hitmakers. In recent years, also including 2024, he collaborated with a revolving number of acclaimed musicians including Todd Rundgren, Micky Dolenz, Christopher Cross and several others in a Beatles tribute tour called “It Was 50 Years Ago Today.”

Badfinger began in 1961 as the Iveys, from Swansea, Wales. By the late ’60s the personnel had stabilized as Ham (vocals/guitar/piano), Mike Gibbins (drums), Ron Griffiths (bass) and David Jenkins (guitar). A couple of changes later, and the classic lineup emerged, with Evans replacing Griffiths and Molland taking the place of Jenkins.

Badfinger’s recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.