Peter Ham
William Peter Ham (
April 27,
1947 â€"
April 23,
1975) was a
Welsh singer and
songwriter, best known as the leader of the ill-fated group
Badfinger.
Ham was born in
Swansea, and formed the group while still in his teens. In
1968, the group came to the attention of
Paul McCartney and were signed to
the Beatles'
Apple label. During the band's tenure at Apple, Ham also performed guitar and vocal session work for ex-Beatles
George Harrison and
Ringo Starr.
After releasing six albums and four hit singles, Badfinger became embroiled in financial and managerial problems. By 1975, without an income and contractually confined, Ham
hanged himself, which was followed eight years later by the
suicide of his friend and fellow band member
Tom Evans. Together, Ham and Evans wrote the classic hit "
Without You".
Ham left behind a
pregnant girlfriend, his daughter being born one month after his death, and his personal
estate was nearing
foreclosure. His
suicide note accused Badfinger's manager of stealing the band's
royalties.
It read: "Anne, I love you. Blair, I love you. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better. Pete. P.S.
Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me."
Two collections of Ham's home demo recordings have been posthumously released: 1997's
7 Park Avenue and 1999's
Golders Green. The two releases provide insight into Ham's important role in the development of the genre of music known as
power pop.
Maybe Tomorrow (
1969 with "The Iveys")
Magic Christian Music (
1970)
No Dice (
1970)
Straight Up (
1971)
Ass (
1973)
Badfinger (
1974)
Wish You Were Here (
1974)
7 Park Avenue (
1997 as "Pete Ham")
Golders Green (
1999 as "Pete Ham")
Head First (
2000)
Ham also appeared as a guest artist on
The Concert For Bangla Desh (album)
All Things Must Pass by
George Harrison (album)
*"
It Don't Come Easy" by Ringo Starr (single)
*"
No Matter What" (
Billboard charting #8, by Badfinger)
*"
Without You" (
Billboard charting #1 by
Harry Nilsson)
*"Day After Day" (
Billboard charting #4 by Badfinger)
*"Baby Blue" (
Billboard charting #14 by Badfinger)
