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Pete Ham

Pete Ham was born on April 27, 1947 in Swansea. When he was twelve years old, he got his first guitar on Christmas. He began to teach himself how to play the instrument and in 1961 he started his first group with some friends.

After their first experiences in front of an audience, which were not good, the three friends decide to go on. They start to add some songs with vocals to their repertoire and they call themselves the PANTHERS.

After a few more weeks they add a bass player to their line up. They now were able to play a lot of concerts. Pete Ham is pushing the development of the group forward by asking for a lot of rehearsals.

Pete Ham and his friends were not only practising and playing concerts. Whenever they had the chance to see concerts by other groups they went there to learn. Unfortunately David Franklin could not continue to play as much as he wanted with the PANTHERS, when he started to work on a regular job. The group started to search for a new guitarist. They soon found a good looking guy, who was working as an auto mechanic. David Jenkins - he became the new guitarist.

In 1964 the group changed their name several times. At first they called themselves the BLACK VELVETS.

Shortly after the group was found playing as the WILD ONES.

During this time the band was not playing much in public. There were only very few concerts. Pete Ham was convinced that he would go for the big time. Even when his friend Roy Anderson announced that he was leaving the band this led not to the break up of the WILD ONES. The group soon found a replacement for Roy Anderson. Terry Gleason was the new drummer.

It didn't take a long time until Pete Ham had to find another new musician. This time John Horrel left the WILD ONES. Pete Ham did not search for a long time. He had been impressed by the young bass player of another local group, the JAGUARS. Pete Ham asks Ron Griffiths if he was interested to join the WILD ONES and in winter 1964 Ron Griffiths joins Pete Ham's band. Now the group had all new members except for Pete Ham.

When Ron Griffiths had joined Pete Ham's band WILD ONES in the winter of 1964 they decided to change the name of that band. Ron Griffiths made the proposal to call the group the IVEYS, taken from a small street in Swansea. David Jenkins' elder brother Alwyne becomes the "unofficial manager" of the band. The first concert of the IVEYS was a talent contest and the group came up to the third place in the end. At the end of 1964 and early 1965 they played in the Swansea area. They did not earn a lot of money but they were able to gain a lot of experience on stage. When Terry Gleason got a regular job in early 1965 the group was facing new problems. Terry Gleason often had to work the evening shift and the IVEYS were forced to find a replacement for him

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)

During the UK tour of 1972 Mike Gibbins decided to quit BADFINGER. He was replaced by Rob Strawinski from the group SKY. Strawinski stayed in BADFINGER for the remaining UK tour and for the next US tour.

Early in the seventies Pete Ham started to do some session work.

Pete Ham session
	1970: Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy (Richard Starkey) b/w Early 1970 (Richard Starkey) (Single; Apple R 5898)
	1970: HEAVY JELLY - Heavy Jelly (Head Records)
	1971: Ronnie Spector - Try Some Buy Some b/w Tandoori Chicken (Single; UK: Apple 33 / US: Apple 1832 / JAP: Apple AR-2811)
	1971: George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (Apple STCH-639)

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)

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.

"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 the nineties several of Pete Ham's demo recordings spanning all of his career were released on CD.

Pete Ham album
	1997: Pete Ham - 7 Park Avenue (Rykodisc 14431 03492)
	1999: Pete Ham - Golders Green (Rykodisc VACK 1164)