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Mike Gibbins

In the early sixties Mike Gibbins played with his first band the PLANETS. Little is known about this group.

With the CLUB FOUR Mike Gibbins had his first professional photo shooting. The group played some concerts but did not recordings.

In 1964 Mike Gibbins joined another local group, the MISFITS. While playing with the band he was discovered by Ron Griffiths, who asked him to join the IVEYS.

Mike Gibbins replaced Terry Gleason in March 1965. In June 1966 Alwyne Jenkins is replaced by Bill Collins as the group's manager. The IVEYS started to work on and off as backing band for David Garrick. Bill Collins encouraged the group members to write their own material.

IVEYS demo recordings
	1966: IVEYS - Turn On Your Loving Mood (Bill Collins / Ron Griffiths) / Memories (Pete Ham) / Man Without A Heart (Pete Ham) / Another Day (Pete Ham) / Hey Baby (Mike Gibbins) / Taxi (Pete Ham) / I Believe In You Girl (Mike Griffiths) / Sausage And Eggs (Pete Ham)

In 1966 the IVEYS started to work together with David Garrick. They backed David Garrick also on one of his biggest hits "Dear Mrs. Applebee". In 1968 a live recording of their cooperation from the previous year was released. The name of the group was mentioned as the DANDY.

David Garrick single
	1967: David Garrick - Dear Mrs. Applebee (B. Meshell / P.L. Barr) b/w You're What I'm Living For (Mort Shuman) (Single; Pye N 35335)

DAVID GARRICK & THE DANDY album
	1968: DAVID GARRICK AND THE DANDY - Blow Up Live! (Pye HTSLP 340058)

In August 1967 David Jenkins was replaced by Tom Evans from the CALDERSTONES. This version of the IVEYS recorded a lot of demos and several acetates were made. The IVEYS also performed for the BBC. Their set included various cover-versions of songs by other artists such as "Just One Look", "You Can All Join In" , "Summer In The City" or "Drive My Car"

IVEYS recordings
	1967: IVEYS - I'm Too Shy (Tom Evans) / Maybe Tomorrow (Tom Evans) / Tube Train (Ron Griffiths) / She Came Out Of The Cold (Tom Evans / Pete Ham) / I've Been There Once Before (Pete Ham) (erschienen auf / released on: "v.a. - 94 Baker Street / The Pop-Psych Sounds Of The Apple Era 1967 - 1969" ; RPM Records 013929 527027)
	1968: PLEASURE GARDEN - Permissive Paradise (Jeremy Cox / John Sidey) (erschienen auf / released on: flexidisc im Buch / in the book "Young London: permissive paradise"; London, Toronto [etc.] Harrap, 1969)

IVEYS Singles
	1968: IVEYS - Maybe Tomorrow (Tom Evans) b/w And Her Daddy's A Millionaire (Tom Evans / Pete Ham) (Single; UK: Apple 5 / US: Apple 1803)
	1969: IVEYS - Dear Angie (Ron Griffiths) b/w No Escaping Your Love (Tom Evans) (Single; Apple 14)

IVEYS album
	1969: IVEYS - Maybe Tomorrow (Apple SAPCOR 8)

In 1968 the IVEYS decided to change their name. Various ideas were discussed. John Lennon of the BEATLES made the proposal to call the group the PRIX. Another idea was to call themselves GLASS ONION - after a song from the BEATLES "White Album". In the end they choose BADFINGER, again basing the name on a BEATLES song, as their "With A Little Help From My Friends" was originally titled "Bad Finger Boogie".Once the new name was found the group had to look for a replacement for Ron Griffiths, who had decided to leave.

BADFINGER signed to the BEATLES' Apple label in 1969, and their first single was the Paul McCartney written "Come And Get It". It reached the top five in the UK, and also appeared on the soundtrack to "The Magic Christian" film. The group recorded some more songs with the producers Tony Visconti and Mal Evans. When it came to selecting the right songs for the debut album of BADFINGER "Dear Angie", "Beautiful And Blue", "I'm In Love", "Angelique", "Knocking Down Our Home" and "Maybe Tomorrow" were taken off the IVEYS album "Maybe Tomorrow". Another IVEYS song "Fisherman" was included in a different version. The rest of the album was made up by the songs from the soundtrack album "The Magic Christian" plus the newly recorded songs.

BADFINGER singles
	1969: BADFINGER - Come And Get It (Paul McCartney) b/w Rock Of All Ages (Pete Ham / Tom Evans / Mike Gibbins) (Single; UK: Apple 20 / US: Apple 1815)
	1970: BADFINGER - Midnight Sun (Pete Ham) b/w Walk Out In The Rain (Pete Ham) (Single; Philippines: Apple 16)

In November 1969 Joey Molland joined BADFINGER after a short stint with GARY WALKER & RAIN. The group started to tour again, performing the Material of their debut album as well as some cover versions of other people's songs. In between tours BADFINGER recorded their second album. The group released the single "No Matter What" as the follow-up to "Come And Get It". It became an instant hit worldwide and proved that BADFINGER were not just a group in the shadows of the BEATLES. The album "No Dice", which was released shortly after the single showed a strong rock influence. BADFINGER continued touring and even played their first tour of America, where they also included some cover versions and a Joey Molland song ("Suitcase"), which hadn't even been recorded.

At the end of 1970 BADFINGER started to record their third album "Straight Up". The final mixes were done in March 1971, just in time for the departure of another US tour. After their return to England BADFINGER had to cancel their planned tour of Australia because their record company insisted on having most of the new album rerecorded.

One of the highlights in 1971 was George Harrison's Concert For Bangla Desh, where all the members of BADFINGER played in the backing band.

The rerecorded album was finally released 1972. It included with "Day After Day" another hit single.

BADFINGER singles
	1970: BADFINGER - No Matter What (Pete ham) b/w Better Days (Tom Evans / Joey Molland) (Single; UK: Apple 31 / D: Apple 1C006-92064)
	1970: BADFINGER - No Matter What (Pete Ham) b/w Carry On Till Tomorrow (Tom Evans / Pete Ham) (Single; US: Apple A-1822)
	1971: BADFINGER - Name Of The Game (Pete Ham) b/w Suitcase (Joey Molland) (Single; UK: Apple 35)
	1972: BADFINGER - Day After Day (Pete Ham) b/w Sweet Tuesday Morning (Joey Molland) (Single; UK: Apple 40 / D: Apple 1C006-93159)
	1972: BADFINGER - Day After Day (Pete Ham) b/w Money (Tom Evans) (Single; US: Apple A-1841)
	1972: BADFINGER - Baby Blue (Pete Ham) b/w Flying (Tom Evans / Joey Molland) (Single; UK: Apple 42 / US: Apple 1844 / D: Apple 1C006-933391)
	1972: BADFINGER - Carry On Til Tomorrow (Tom Evans / Pete Ham) b/w Without You (Tom Evans / Pete Ham) (Single; JP: EAR-10151)

BADFINGER album
	1970: BADFINGER - Magic Christian Music (Apple SAPCOR 12)
	1970: BADFINGER - No Dice (Apple SAPCOR 16)
	1971: v.a. - The Concert For Bangla Desh (Apple 3385)
	1972: BADFINGER - Straight Up (UK: Apple SAPCOR 19 / D: EMI-Apple 1C062-93234)

Early in the seventies Mike Gibbins started to do some session work.

Mike Gibbins session
	1971: George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (Apple STCH-639)
	1973: Deke Leonard - Iceberg (United Artists UAG 29464)

After the return to England Mike Gibbins returned to BADFINGER. The group recorded their next album for Apple records and started for another US tour. They had hoped that the new album would be ready in time for the tour but as they delivered the master tapes to the record company the day before leaving, this was not possible. They nevertheless played some of the new songs during the concerts. After their return to England they had to learn that the album was rejected again and that they had to rerecord some of the songs. For BADFINGER it became clear that this would be their last album for Apple. During the concerts in England they added even more new songs, which would later appear on their debut album for Warner Brothers.

Only six weeks after completing "Ass", BADFINGER started to record the songs they already had introduced during the England tour plus new songs written by the various members for their first Warner Brothers release, "Badfinger".

In 1974 BADFINGER started their 6th U.S. tour. In the past they often had the problem that there was new album to promote. During the tour of 1974 they had two new albums: "Ass" on Apple Records and "Badfinger" on Warner Brothers Records. Many of the songs that BADFINGER played during the tour turned into long jam sessions, extending the songs up to 10 minutes.

At this time BADFINGER's popularity in America was big. The group hoped to get a little bit of money out of the American market and therefore recorded their next album for Warner Brothers "Wish You Were Here" immediately. The album was released in November 1974. Unfortunately the American and British critics did not like that album at all and described it as bland and disappointing.

Pete Ham could not stand the situation any longer and therefore he left BADFINGER in order to concentrate on his songwriting

BADFINGER singles
	1973: BADFINGER - Apple Of My Eye (Pete Ham) b/w Blind Owl (Tom Evans) (Single; UK: Apple 49 / US: Apple 1864)
	1973: BADFINGER - Apple Of My Eye (Pete Ham) b/w Cowboy (Mike Gibbins) (Single; JP: EAR-10547)
	1974: BADFINGER - Love Is Easy (Joey Molland) b/we My Heart Goes Out (Mike Gibbins) (Single; UK: Warner Brothers 16323 / D: WEA 16323)
	1974: BADFINGER - I Miss You (Pete Ham) b/w Shine On (Pete Ham / Tom Evans) (Single; JP: Warner Brothers WB 7801)

BADFINGER album
	1973: BADFINGER - Ass (Apple SAPCOR 27)
	1972 - 1973: BADFINGER - BBC In Concert 1972/3 (Strange Fruit Records SFRSCD 031) (veröffentlicht / released 1997)
	1973: BADFINGER - Badfinger (Warner Brothers WB 56023)
	1974: BADFINGER - Wish You Were Here (Warner Brothers K 56076)
	1974: BADFINGER - Day After Day - Live (Rykodisc ALCB-181) (veröffentlicht / released 1990)

BADFINGER replaced Pete Ham by Bob Jackson who had just left ROSS. The new line-up rehearsed a lot for the next tour. Only a short time before the tour started, Pete Ham wanted to rejoin BADFINGER.

The other members of BADFINGER agreed to the return of Pete Ham, because they were glad to have their most prolific songwriter back on board. Bob Jackson stayed in the line-up. So for the first time in their history BADFINGER had five members. The sound of the group now was richer due to the keyboards of Bob Jackson. Bob Jackson even brought some of his songs to the repertoire of the group. After the tour, Joey Molland quit the band. He did not like the way, the management was handling the business.

Without Joey Molland BADFINGER started to rehears new songs for their next album. The recording sessions took place in early December 1974 at Apple Studios. When Warner Brothers realized that the advance payments they had given for the album production were misused by the group's management, they not only rejected the new album "Head First" but also withdraw "Wish You Were Here" from the stores.

"Head First" was lost for many years, as Warner Brothers kept the original master tapes. Luckily enough Bob Jackson had made a copy of the rough mixes which he kept in his own archive. This tape was later remixed and released in 2000 be Snapper records.

On 24 April 1975, Pete Ham hanged himself in his garage studio in Surrey.

BADFINGER album
	1975: BADFINGER - Head First (Snappermusic SMADD 829) (veröffentlicht / released 2000)

In 1976 Martin and George Ace were restructuring the FLYING ACES with ex-BADFINGER drummer Mike Gibbins and guitarist Richard Treece.

During the summer of 1977 the FLYING ACES became a quintet by adding Phil Ryan on keyboards. Towards the end of the summer of 1977 the FLYING ACES were drawing big crowds but in August 1977 Martin Ace was becoming dissatisfied with the way things were progressing and announced that the group were splitting up. Though the stage presence of the FLYING ACES always was very good the group never recorded anything.

In 1977 Bonnie Tyler formed her own BONNIE TYLER BAND. Mike Gibbins was playing the drums. The group did not only tour extensiveley throughout Europe but they also recorded an album together. The single release off that album "It's A Heartache" was a number 1 record for Bonnie Tyler.

Bonnie Tyler single
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - It's A Heartache (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) b/w Got So Used To Loving You (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) (Single; DE: RCA PB 5057)
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - It's A Heartache (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) b/w It's About Time (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) (Single; FR: RCA PB 5057)
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - It's A Heartache (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) b/w More Than A Lover (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) (Single; JP: RCA SS 3139)
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - Heaven (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) b/w If I Sing You A Love Song (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) (Single; DE: RCA:PB5044)
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - Here Am I (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) b/w Don't Stop The Music (Ronnie Scott / Steve Wolfe) (Single; UK: RCA Victor PB5076)
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - Hey Love (It's A Feeling) b/w It's About Time (Single; UK: RCA PB 5100)

Bonnie Tyler album
	1978: Bonnie Tyler - Natural Force (EU: RCA 25152) / It's A Heartache (US: RCA 2821)

Digby Richards made some recordings in 1978, which were later on released on the album "Whiskey Sundown". He used Bonnie Tyler's backing band for the recordings.

Digby Richards single
	1978: Digby Richards - Dallas b/w Play Mama Play (Single; RCA 2761)
	1978: Digby Richards - Whiskey Sundown b/w Too Long Gone (Single; RCA PB5095)

Digby Richards album
	1978: Digby Richards - Whiskey Sundown (RCA 25154)

In October 1978 BADFINGER were almost complete again with Mike Gibbins replacing Kenny Harck at the drums. But the time was not right for a real reunion and so Mike Gibbins left the group again after only a few weeks.

In 1981 Mike Gibbins played together with his former partner in the FLYING ACES in a new group called FADED GLORY. The group played a few concerts and afterwards Mike Gibbins helped to revive BADFINGER again.

When Tom Evans learned about Joey Molland's BADFINGER he assembled his own version of the group. Then he got a call from Mike Gibbins and that led to a new version of BADFINGER with Tom Evans and Mike Gibbins. The group was completed with Bob Evans, who previously had led the BADFINGER Tribute Band STRAIGHT UP, and two more musicians. They rehearsed a lot and played some concerts. The group was not able to record something in the studio though. In May 1982 this version of BADFINGER broke up.

In May 1982 Tom Evans and Mike Gibbins got in contact with Bob Jackson. The three of them planned to have another BADFINGER reunion. They were rehearsing some guitarists, but they could not find the right person for the group. So in June they had the idea to call Joey Molland to see whether he would be interested in the reunion. But before they got in contact with him they got Adam Allen as their new guitarist. After the end of the tour, which earned them no money, Tom Evans and Bob Jackson flew back to England.

Early October 1982 Tom Evans and Bob Jackson got a phone call from Jack Koshick, whom they had met earlier that year in Milwaukee. He had promised then to arrange a tour for BADFINGER. His phone call was confirming now that a complete tour had been arranged and that he needed BADFINGER.

But there was no BADFINGER. Tom Evans and Bob Jackson immediately got in contact with Reed Kailing, who had toured with the GRASSROOTS. Reed Kailing called Donnie Dacus, who had played with Stephen Stills and CHICAGO, and asked him to become the lead guitar player for BADFINGER. The drummer for this new line-up was no other than Mike Gibbins. The tour lasted till December 1982. In 2003 Mike Gibbins released a 2-CD-album with one of the shows of this tour.

BADFINGER album
	1982: BADFINGER - DBABFR / Live In Bloomington, Indiana (Mike Gibbins Records) (veröffentlicht / released 2003)

In the eighties Mike Gibbins did some more session work.

Mike Gibbins session
	1983: David Tipton - Queen Of China (Sonet SNKF174)

After the death of Tommy Evans, Bob Jackson was asked to do a tour in the U.S. When he started to form a new band for the tour he first got Mike Gibbins and Al Wodtke. Then somebody proposed to invite Joey Molland. Molland accepted and after the addition of Randy Anderson as second guitarist the new line-up of BADFINGER was complete. They toured in August. People who attended these shows reported that those were not as good as shows from 1982, but the sound was quite okay.

Once Mike Gibbins had fullfilled his other commitments he was ready to rejoin BADFINGER. For a short time the group even played with two drummers, which enabled Mike Gibbins to step out front for some songs.

Mike Gibbins recordings
	1996: various artists - Young Savage Florida (Rotten Sun)

Mike Gibbins album
	1997: Mike Gibbins - A Place In Time (Forbidden Records 38023 19622)

Mike Gibbins single
	2001: Mike Gibbins - Dream Harder (Exile Music)

Mike Gibbins album
	2000: Mike Gibbins - More Annoying Songs (Exile Music 00665 76232)
	2001: Mike Gibbins - A Place In Time (Exile Music) (Wiederveröffentlichung mit Bonus Stücken / rerelease with bonus tracks)
	2002: Mike Gibbins - Archeology / Can You Dig It? (Exile Music)
	2003: Mike Gibbins - In The Meantime (Exile Music)

Mike Gibbins sessions
	1999: BEDROOM BOY - Secret Garden (Exile Music)
	1999: Allen Hewgley - Psychedelic Frenzy (Exile Music)

In the year 2005 Mike Gibbins and Joey Molland settled their differences and they started to discuss a joint project with Ron Griffiths. Unfortunately the plans to play music together again never became reality as Mike Gibbins passed away on October 4th, 2005. All we can say is: Thank you for the music and rest in peace. Your music will make sure that you will never be forgotten.