Pete Ham
Pete Ham | |
---|---|
Warner Bros. Records | |
Partner(s) | Anne Herriot |
Website | www |
Peter William Ham (27 April 1947 – 24 April 1975) was a Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist best known as a lead vocalist of and composer for the 1970s rock band Badfinger, whose hit songs include "No Matter What", "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue". He also co-wrote the ballad "Without You", a worldwide number-one hit for Harry Nilsson that has become a standard covered by hundreds of artists. Ham was granted two Ivor Novello Awards related to the song in 1973.
Ham died by suicide in 1975 at the age of 27, when he became depressed while embroiled in band-related issues, such as label and management problems, as well as a lack of funds.
Early life
Ham was born in
Career
The Iveys changed their name to Badfinger with the single release of "Come and Get It", a composition written by Paul McCartney that became a worldwide top-ten hit. Ham had initially protested against using a non-original to promote the band, as he had gained confidence in the group's compositions, but he was quickly convinced of the springboard effect of having a likely hit single. His own creative perseverance paid off eventually, as his "No Matter What" became another top-ten worldwide hit in late 1970. He followed up with two more worldwide hits in "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue".[1]
Ham's greatest songwriting success came with his co-written composition with bandmate
Death
On the night of 23 April 1975, Ham received a phone call from the United States, telling him that all his money had disappeared. Later that night he met Tom Evans and they went to The White Hart Pub in Surrey together,[5][6] where Ham drank ten whiskies.[7] Evans drove him home at three o'clock on the morning of 24 April 1975.[5] Ham hanged himself at the age of 27 in his garage studio in Woking later that morning, just three days shy of his 28th Birthday.[5][8] His suicide note — addressed to his girlfriend, Anne Herriot; and her son, Blair — blamed Polley for much of his despair and inability to cope with his disappointments in life.[9][10] The note 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".[11]
Ham had shown growing signs of
Ham was cremated at the Morriston Crematorium, Swansea; his ashes were spread in the memorial gardens.[12] Ham's daughter, Petera, was born one month after his death.[13] In May, Warner Bros terminated its contract with Badfinger, and Badfinger dissolved.[14] Around that time, Apple also deleted all of Badfinger's albums from its catalogue.[15]
Legacy
Ham is often credited as being one of the earliest purveyors of the power pop genre.[16] His most widespread effect in popular music was with the ballad "Without You", which he wrote with Badfinger bandmate Tom Evans. Collections of Ham's home demo recordings have been released posthumously: 1997's 7 Park Avenue, 1999's Golders Green,[1] and 2013's The Keyhole Street Demos 1966–67.[17] In 2022 Ham's "Demos Variety Pack" was released.
On 27 April 2013, an official blue plaque was unveiled by Swansea City Council to honour Pete Ham in his hometown. The unveiling was attended by two former members of the original Badfinger band, The Iveys: Ron Griffiths and David Jenkins, plus former Badfinger member Bob Jackson. The plaque honoured Ham and all the Iveys and Badfinger members of his lifetime. The ceremony was followed by a concert featuring former Badfinger members Bob Jackson and Al Wodtke.[18]
Discography
- 7 Park Avenue (1997)
- Golders Green (1999)
- The Keyhole Street Demos 1966–67(2013)
- No, Don't Let It Go/You're Such a Good Woman (2013 - single)
- Demos Variety Pack (2022 - demos compilation)
- Misunderstood (2023)
- Gwent Gardens (2023)
Ham also appeared as a guest artist on
- The Concert for Bangladesh (the concert, the album, and the film)
- All Things Must Pass by George Harrison (album)
- "It Don't Come Easy" by Ringo Starr (single)
- "Try Some, Buy Some" by George Harrison (single)
- Living in the Material World (uncredited[19]) by George Harrison (album)
Charted singles
- "No Matter What" (Billboard charting number 8, by Badfinger)
- "Without You" (Billboard charting number 1 by Harry Nilsson, number 3 by Mariah Carey, number 28 by Clay Aiken).
- "Cash Boxcharting number 1, both by Badfinger)
- "Baby Blue" (Billboard charting number 14 by Badfinger)
See also
- 27 Club, of which Ham is a member
References
- ^ a b c d Matovina, Dan. Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger, Google Books, 2000. Retrieved 10 October 2008
- ^ Matovina 2000, p. 282.
- ^ Blake 1981, p. 195.
- ^ Matovina 2000, p. 281.
- ^ a b c d e Katz 1997.
- ^ "The Rebel Route Interview of Dan Matovina". Mindspring.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ Jones 2001, p. 116.
- ^ Simmonds 2008, p. 181.
- ^ "Badfinger Biography". Starpulse 1999–2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "Pete Ham". Pete Ham.net. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ^ Matovina 2000, p. 293.
- ^ Matovina 2000, p. 295.
- ^ Valentine 2006, p. 244.
- ^ Matovina 2000, pp. 301–304.
- ^ Matovina 2000, p. 296.
- ^ "All Music, Power Pop". AllMusic.
- ^ "Pete Ham of Badfinger". PledgeMusic. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ "Badfinger's Pete Ham: Beatle widow Olivia Harrison joins plaque tributes". BBC News. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ "Badfinger Biography Pages – Without You:The Tragic Story". Mindspring.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2014.