Whatever Happened To The Career Of Badfinger?

Five decades ago, the Welsh band Badfinger released their second album, No Dice, featuring the now-iconic song “Without You.” Although it never saw a single release by the band, the song’s destiny would intertwine with their own, becoming both a significant achievement and a tragic burden.

Endorsed by the Beatles’ Apple label, Badfinger’s No Dice included “Without You” as a hidden gem. Its potential might have remained undiscovered if not for Harry Nilsson, who stumbled upon the song after a night of drinking. Mistaking it for a Beatles track, Nilsson decided to cover it on his 1971 album Nilsson Schmilsson. His version reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks in early 1972, propelling the song into the spotlight.

Badfinger’s story, however, is one of rock’s most heartbreaking. The original lineup—Pete Ham, Mike Gibbins, Tom Evans, and Joey Molland—created five albums for Apple between 1968 and 1973, touring extensively and earning a reputation as the “new Beatles.” This comparison, though flattering, proved to be a double-edged sword.

In 1973, with Apple’s disbandment, Badfinger found themselves entangled in a web of legal and financial troubles. The dissolution of their label led to a cascade of problems that the band couldn’t escape. The situation reached a tragic peak in 1975 when Pete Ham, overwhelmed by the band’s struggles, took his own life. Warner Bros had terminated their contract, and Apple had removed all Badfinger albums from its catalog, leaving the band in disarray.

The surviving members faced legal battles and financial hardships over the next three years. Debts and lawsuits plagued them, delaying royalty payments and making it nearly impossible to revive their careers. Despite these challenges, Badfinger’s music, especially “Without You,” showcased the band’s talent and the bittersweet legacy they left in rock history.