Brando's Badfinger Pages
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...This page last updated on July 19, 2008...
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"Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger"
Great New Website!
www.Badfinger-Iveys.com
***** LATEST UPDATES *****
BADFINGER ON YOUTUBE
BADFINGER RADIO DOCUMENTARY ON JAN 1
DAY AFTER DAY IN NBA COMMERCIAL
NEW SITE: BADFINGER-IVEYS.COM
BADFINGER ON YOUTUBE
(July 19, 2008) Badfinger videos on Youtube have been increasing at an alarming rate lately. It seems that just when you thought there wasn't anything left, someone uploads a never before seen gem on Youtube. I recently noticed the original Apple promo for "No Matter What", the Top of the Pops performance of "Come and Get It" and the 1981 performance of "Hold On" on Solid Gold, all with excellent quality. What I wanted to do here was list direct links for some of these excellent Badfinger videos. Some videos appear multiple times on Youtube and I thought it would be good to have direct links to the best quality videos of each performance. Enjoy!
BADFINGER'S APPLE CATALOG NOT ON ITUNES
(June 17, 2008) Badfinger's Apple catalog which contains the original (hit single) versions of "Come and Get It," "No Matter What," "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue" are still not available to be purchased on Itunes. The lone exception, "Baby Blue" is available only if you purchase the entire soundtrack to the movie The Departed. Unfortunately, there are numerous songs listed that do not designate that they are re-recordings and not the Apple originals. On the bright side, Badfinger's self titled Warner's LP, Wish You Were Here, Airwaves, Say No More and Rhino's Best of Volume 2 (which features four songs from Head First) are available for purchase as well as the two Pete Ham CD's "7 Park Avenue" and "Golders Green." You can also purchase the Very Best of Badfinger CD on Apple Records to obtain the original versions.
BADFINGER RADIO DOCUMENTARY ON JANUARY 1
(December 28, 2007) The BBC Wales radio station is broadcasting an hour long documentary on Badfinger on New Years Day. It is scheduled to air at 11:30 am (Wales time), thus in the USA it would be on anywhere from 3:30 to 6:30 am. The station also broadcasts online as well. Click here on this
BBC Radio-Wales link to search their programming schedule and how to listen online. The station also delivers podcasts of their programming. Audio podcasts are usually mp3 files that you can download to your computer (most of the time for free - as appears to be the case here). My point is, if you forget or are unable to listen to it live, you may be able to get the podcast of it later that day or week. If you click over to
Brennan's Badfinger Library, Tom Brennan gives a good description of what can be done to hear the broadcast. Enjoy!
(January 21, 2008) NOTE: The BBC Wales documentary on Badfinger is no longer online at this time. If it does become available again I'll list it here.
NEW EVANS & HAM HOLIDAY SONGS POSTED
(December 28, 2007) The Pete Ham estate has posted a Pete Ham demo titled "John Forgot to Sing." Although "Christmas" is not mentioned in the lyric, you can easily interrupt the words to represent the holiday. The lyrics tell of a spiritual gathering on a "special day" where many types of people have gathered to hear a message and to hear John sing a song in honor of this "special day." Was this Pete's lone attempt at a holiday tune? I don't know. I do know it's haunting and beautiful and Pete's voice is as captivating as always. Tom Evans also sings backup in the song.
To listen, click on this link to PeteHam.net and then to the link for "John Forgot to Sing"
The Tom Evans estate has posted a Dodgers holiday radio promo that features Tom Evans on lead vocal. It is an upbeat and enjoyable little Christmas song that is entirely too short (only one minute), but still it's a joy to hear Evans singing the tune.
To listen, click on this link to TomEvans.info and then to the link for the Dodgers "Radio Clyde Merry Christmas."
DAY AFTER DAY IN NBA COMMERCIAL
(November 21, 2007 - updated Dec 28) The National Basketball Association is using Badfinger's "Day After Day" in it's promotional campaign this basketball season. Tom Brennan is reporting on his website that Dan Matovina and Bug Music struck a deal with the NBA and Apple to have the original version of the recording (actually the remastered version from the Perfection Promo CD!!!) to be used in the 30 and 60 second promo spots. The commercials could air at anytime on the NBA-TV network or during NBA games across the nation on their respective national (NBC, ESPN, TNT) and regional telecasts. Brennan has an interview with Matovina on his website,
Brennan's Badfinger Library, in which Matovina discusses some of the details in securing the deal with the NBA. Also, if you click on the picture link in this news item you will go to a portion of the NBA's website that is dedicated to this ad campaign, though the Badfinger spot is not yet listed, I believe this is one place you may be able to find it soon.
Click here to view the NBA Promo featuring Badfinger - the full 60 Second Spot
With the potential for thousands, tens of thousands perhaps, dare I say hundred thousands of fans trying to go to ITunes to download the track for their Ipods, there is one unfortunate downside to this good news. The original version of "Day After Day" is not available on ITunes. There are many versions listed as "re-recordings" and unfortunately just as many that are listed with no such distinction that are also not the original version (just play a sample of the song an you will notice). They all appear to be the early 1990s version sung by Joey Molland.
Not all is lost. If you are interested in acquiring the original version of "Day After Day" go to your favorite music shop or online store and acquire "The Very Best of Badfinger" CD on Apple or Badfinger's "Straight Up" CD to obtain the hit single.
NEW SITE: BADFINGER-IVEYS.COM
(June 12, 2007) An excellent new Badfinger (and Iveys) website has been put together. It is titled,
www.Badfinger-Iveys.com , it's mission statement, "To promote Badfinger & The Iveys, To dispel the myths & learn the facts, To study the music & history of these two great bands." It was created by Dan Matovina and Peggy Burneka. The site is sort of a Badfinger super-site in that it links to Tom Brennan's Badfinger Library Pages, Dan Matovina's pages for the book, The Tragic Story of Badfinger , as well as two new sites. One site is dedicated to Pete Ham. There are some very heartfelt words from Petra Ham and her mother Anne as well as a sound file of an alternate version Ham's "Where Will You Be." The other new site is dedicated to Tom Evans and features a sound file of an early version of "Carry On Til Tomorrow." A link to Mike Gibbins website is also provided.
However, there is so much more. There are three separate reports on the Badfinger Convention that took place last year in Wales. Dan Matovina, Keith James and Mark Perkins provide dozens of photos of the event and some interesting editorial on the two day event. Matovina's report features details of both days events plus audio files of portions of his speech that paid tributes to the members of the band. Bob Jackson performed at the event and several of these performances are available to hear. Ron Griffith also appeared on stage with Bob for a performance of "Come and Get It."
There is a portion of the site titled, Apple Seedlings, that features information on the sons and daughters from the members of Badfinger, John Lennon and George Harrison! Not only is information provided, but sound files of the naturally musically inclined offspring are also available to hear. A beautiful song by Bob Jackson's daughter, Emily, is provided along with material from Mike Gibbins son's band, Seven Sisters.
There is also a new Badfinger Guestbook! It is a topic specific board, in other words, topics are provided for you to share your thoughts on the band. All in all the new Badfinger-Iveys site looks fantastic and is sure to occupy your time for hours (Tom Brennan's library pages and Dan Matovina's pages for the great reviews of his book and Ham's solo CD's can take hours on their own to read). Enjoy!
NEW BOOK: THE 27s - THE GREATEST MYTH OF ROCK N ROLL - FEATURES PETE HAM
(November 12, 2007) We all know that Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Big Star's Chris Bell and Badfinger's Pete Ham had all passed away much too young. An oddity in their passings is that they were all 27 years old at the time of their deaths. A VH1 documentary about 7 years touched on this characteristic of their deaths that also featured the likes of Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones. Pete Ham's image was shown in the documentary for all of about 3 seconds. Does the number 27 have some mystical meaning as it pertains to gifted young musicians? The documentary I saw mentioned something about it's connection to the number 9 (2 + 7 = 9 ).
Well, I don't have an answer to the preceding question, but in early 2008 I might. That's because two gentlemen, Eric Segalstad and Josh Hunter have written and illustrated a book that explores the amazing talents and extraordinary lives of 30 musicians who all met their unfortunate demise at the age of 27. The book is titled "The 27s - The Greatest Myth of Rock n Roll" and features a section dedicated to Pete Ham. What follows is a press release for the book:
"The 27s-The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll, which will be published winter 2008, includes a
section with original illustrations dedicated to Pete Ham. Josh Hunter and Eric Segalstad,
the book's creators, says Badfinger's story demonstrates not only creative beauty, but also
everything that's wrong with rock & roll. "Pete's life, his abused brilliance and tragic
ending really gripped us, which is why we felt it was important to retell the story to
readers who aren't familiar with Pete, Badfinger, or Dan Matovina's excellent biography,"
Hunter says.
The 27s tell the story of rock & roll seen through the lives and legacies of
musicians who died at 27, a mysterious and talented list that includes Jimi Hendrix, Janis
Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Brian Jones, Robert Johnson, Uriah Heep's Gary Thain,
Pete de Freitas from Echo & the Bunnymen, Kristin Pfaff from Hole, Big Star's Chris Bell, D. Boon from the Minutemen, and about two-dozen more.
The creators have spent the last two years researching, interviewing, writing, and illustrating for the 224-page book. "This is a grassroots effort so we encourage people who are interested to visit
www.The27s.com (or click on the Pete Ham image) and sign up to our mailing list. Over the next few months we plan on releasing page spreads and offer specials and giveaways to our friends on the list," Segalstad says."
Thus, to re-state, click on the image of Ham or this link,
www.The27s.com, and add yourself to the mailing list! Also, on the webpage for the book is a link to a myspace page for the book where you can read short biographies on some of the other artists in the book. I'm sure it will be a great and informative read. Enjoy!
HAM & EVANS PERFECTION PROMO CD
(November 1, 2006) A promotional compact disc was issued by Bug Music in August of this year to promote the writings of Pete Ham and Tom Evans and the music of Badfinger to various outlets for use in films, television advertising and cover versions. The compact disc was a joint effort between Dan Matovina and the staff at Bug Music. The task to put together a disc like this must have been a formidable one judging by the all the companies (including Apple, EMI, Capital, Warners, Sony / BMG) and the estates that were involved in creating the disc. Aside from working with almost a dozen separate entities involved with the project, Matovina also remastered all the tracks presented in the collection (something that needs to be done to the entire catalog).
Also of interest is an edited version of the song "Dennis" from Badfinger's Wish You Were Here LP. It was edited to give it the feel / sound of a 45 RPM. It just makes you wonder if the singles, "Just a Chance," "Know One Knows" and an edited "Dennis" could have only seen the light of day in late 1974 / early 1975 if fortunes would have been different.
Matovina and the staff at Bug Music put together a fantastic collection that I'm sure will attract potential suitors for their material. If you'd like to read more about the creation of this promotional compact disc then click on this link to Matovina's website for information regarding:
Perfection: The Songs of Badfinger's Pete Ham and Tom Evans
CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH PREMIERE NIGHT
(November 23, 2005) The release of the DVD of The Concert for Bangladesh was cause for a recent celebration. On October 19, 2005 a premiere screening was given at a theater on the Warner Brothers studios lot. Many of those involved in the original event attended the celebration. Representing the members of Badfinger via invitations from Apple Corps, Olivia Harrison and UNICEF were Owen, David, Adam and Ellie Gibbins, Petera Ham, David and Stephen Evans, Joey and Kathie Molland and Dan Matovina. It appears that a fantastic time was had by all! Matovina has given a write-up of the evenings events and included a few photos of the event as well. A very enjoyable read, as enjoyable as it must have been seeing Badfinger (and others) honored for their contribution to The Concert for Bangladesh.
Click here to read Dan Matovina's article on The Concert for Bangladesh Premiere Night!
INTERVIEW WITH DAN MATOVINA REGARDING BUG MUSIC DEAL
(September 18, 2005) As mentioned in the previous news article regarding "Baby Blue" being featured on "The OC" television show, I requested and received an interview with Dan Matovina. I have been extremely curious as to how aggressive Bug Music was going to be in promoting the catalog. I was hoping Matovina could provide some insight on this matter and some other questions I had (including does this make it easier to release an Ivey's demo disc etc...). I'm sure a good portion of Matovina's responses are going to delight Badfinger fans who have been waiting a while for some good news!
Click here to go the Brando Feature: Interview with Dan Matovina regarding the Bug Music Deal
HAM & EVANS PUBLISHING TO BUG MUSIC
(August 19, 2005) On August 18, 2005, Dan Matovina reported via his website that he has secured publishing deals with Bug Music for material written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans and recorded by Badfinger. All the Ham material is covered in the agreement with his estate, while the Evans material appears to cover the Apple and then Warner era of Badfinger's existence. This appears to be a very positive and significant announcement from Matovina for several reasons (and please mind as I give my two cents, I'm no lawyer, just a fan).
First, there is an immediate cash advancement to all members of Badfinger. The estates of Ham, Evans, Collins as well as Joey and Mike are all entitled to a good portion of a $215,000 cash advance from Bug Music. All members are entitled to a portion of the money in accordance to the "1985 court settlement agreement."
Second, the reports during this past year (via guestbooks, a few Beatle websites and what we as Badfinger fans have noticed for years) about Apple not being aggressive in promoting Badfinger, no rarities disc or official release of "Baby Please" and other songs (that Badfinger fans have known about for almost two decades) or lack of effort to license their material appear to be true. Bug Music sounds as if they are going to be very aggressive in trying to earn money for the material. Why wouldn't they be aggressive, Bug Music just invested almost a quarter of a million dollars for the publishing contract!!!
Third, although it isn't mentioned at all in Matovina's report, with this significant three year long issue resolved, does this mean Matovina can turn his attention towards issuing an Iveys compact disc, Ham disc (volume 3) or Evans disc? Does resolving this publishing deal somehow make it easier to release demo material? I don't know, but I hope so (this is wishful thinking on my part).
Matovina has been involved with or the catalyst for so many Badfinger related projects that I've enjoyed (Seven Park Avenue, Golders Green, the Badfinger book, BBC Live, 94 Baker Street, Behind the Music, Very Best of Badfinger, Rhino's Best of Volume 2 and most likely a half dozen other things I don't know about or forgot to mention) that I'm eager to see what's on the horizon!
Click here to read Dan Matovina's announcement of the publishing deal with Bug Music.
Send questions to
badfinger2@comcast.net
Though www.badfinger.org does work as a link to this website, the actual address is
http://home.comcast.net/~badfinger2/
You know what they say,
million Badfinger fans can't be wrong.
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