Joey Molland, guitarist for the legendary Welsh rock band Badfinger, died on the age of 77 on Saturday (March 1st). Whereas no reason behind loss of life was introduced, the veteran musician had been battling quite a few well being points lately.
Molland’s passing was reported by his social media supervisor Paul (aka PD), who wrote on Instagram, “It’s with profound unhappiness to tell his followers right here on IG, and all over the world that Joey (Joseph Charles) Molland handed away final evening at 11:39pm CST, after a 3+ months lengthy battle with a number of well being points.”
Beforehand, PD had posted about Molland’s well being on January 18th, linking to a GoFundMe web page and writing, “Joey has spent the previous 2 months within the hospital because of a sophisticated listing of well being points, which facilities on issues from his 30+ years of managing diabetes. To not point out, he’s now 77. He’s below fixed care…has good days & unhealthy days. It’s an excessive amount of for his long-time angel of a girlfriend Mary, to deal with at house. Joey has medical health insurance, however everyone knows the ‘business’ solely covers a lot.”
On the GoFundMe web page, Molland’s girlfriend Mary wrote of the guitarist’s situation, “Joey was vaguely sick all through the autumn, after which in early December acquired a really unhealthy bacterial an infection because of his diabetes. The an infection prompted septicemia and traveled by his physique, inflicting hurt in a number of crucial organs and bones. His restoration has been gradual and arduous, together with a number of surgical procedures and procedures.”
Molland joined Badfinger in 1967, proper as they modified their identify from The Iveys. He was thought-about a part of the band’s core lineup, additionally consisting of singer-guitarist Pete Ham, drummer Mike Gibbins, and bassist Tom Evans, all of whom have additionally died.
Badfinger have been signed to the Beatles’ Apple Information, and launched six albums from 1970 by 1974. Nonetheless, they have been left financially ruined by their corrupt supervisor Stan Polley, and singer Pete Ham wound up taking his personal life in 1975.
Throughout that point, the band scored hits with such songs as “Come and Get It” (co-written by Paul McCartney), “No Matter What, “No Cube,” “Day After Day,” “Straight Up,” and “Child Blue.”
The band’s debut album, Magic Christian Music, was co-produced by McCartney, whereas their third album, Straight Up, was co-produced by George Harrison and Todd Rundgren.
Molland additionally contributed acoustic guitar to Harrison’s albums All Issues Should Go and The Live performance for Bangladesh, in addition to John Lennon’s 1971 album Think about.
Previous to Ham’s suicide, Molland left Badfinger in 1974, and shaped a band known as Pure Gasoline with Humble Pie’s Jerry Shirley. That outfit was comparatively short-lived, and Molland ended up forming a brand new model of Badfinger with Tom Evans, releasing two albums: Airwaves (1979) and Say No Extra (1981).
Sadly, Evans dedicated suicide in 1983, marking the top of the second incarnation of Badfinger. Molland went on to launch six solo albums, starting from 1983’s After the Pearl to 2020’s Be True to Your self.
Per Setlist.fm, Molland’s final live performance passed off November nineteenth, 2024, in Clearwater, Florida.
Our condolences exit to Joey Molland’s household and buddies throughout this troublesome time. See him performing with Badfinger within the clips beneath.