Badfinger - Baby Blue - Pete Ham

[ziggyuno1]

it was tom and pete, the day the music died,

[stanibol]

I dunno which radio station I listened to in Sydney all through 1972 but they played this song 20 times a day. "Without You" must have occurred round that same era or soon after, because now it feels as if I was being doused with badfinger's music, or maybe it's just that their music kept on reverberating in my ear for eons afterwards, they were THAT good. Didn't even know who Pete Ham was until recently. Now truly convinced of his mighty talent.

[donpeks]

the original innocence of rock...

[007captain1]

the melody was so great in this band. and like the beatles their songs had such great bridges in them.

[catoohey]

It says in the description that it is LIVE VOCALS over the recorded backing track. And the drummer is a substitue - Mike left the band that summer - but came back shortly thereafter.

[Planktontwo]

Badfinger was a group that sadly did not receive their due credit for the classic tunes they put out.

[smilinstevie88]

@harryflocyberman - The reason it sounds like the recording is because it is the recording - they're lip-synching here. That was typical of TV shows of that time period. I don't even think the guitarists are even plugged into their amps. Tommy (bass) does have a cord coming out of his bass, but who knows where it leads! ( :

[chevy505]

@smilinstevie88 The vocals are live with the backing track of the record playing. Ham was that good a quality singer that he sounds like a record live. Compare it.

[smilinstevie88]

@chevy505 I didn't realize the vocals were live, but I knew that the music was that of the recorded version. I was replying to someone who had commented on Joey Molland's guitar playing skills and how much this performance sounded like the original record. Oddly, I don't see the comment any more. Ham was outstanding without question!

[MavGator1]

Love It... :)

[Daytona1099]

One of the best bands of the 70's whose career ended far too soon.

[MsWinterangel]

OMG! This is a great tune. Great video. Peter Ham is great on both vocals and guitar. It's hard to believe that this band was the "most cursed." It's ashame what these guys went through... When are they going to make a movie about these guys?! These guys deserve alot. If they can make a movie about Ritchie Valens (another tragedy), why not these guys. The world needs to recognize their music! it's great!

[jimmydenison]

actually that doesnt really look like mike gibbins drumming

[MsSpider26]

@jimmydenison no, it is not mike gibbins. he quit briefly. mike was a left handed drummer

[gtrDan1963]

As Badfinger, they released some wonderful tracks (including this one), but I personally feel that as the Iveys ( and with Ron Griffiths), they had a more balanced approach to their music...From ballads such as "Maybe Tomorrow" (one of the greatest songs ever recorded) to the pop of "Storm In A Teacup", to the edgier "I've Been Waiting", those earlier songs had more of a "group" feel, as opposed to a Pete song, aTom song or a Joey song.

[SuperNevile]

I reckon that Ham and Evans were up there with Jagger/Richards Marriot/Lane and yes I'm going to say it, Lennon and McCartney ~ taking into account their relative lack of exposure and limited history.

[Querencias]

Hmm, and I always thought this was a true live performance that was extremely close to their studio hit. Such a fine band.

[coolcat20million]

Okay - I'm not trying to be a wiseguy - but who is the drummer in this video? It almost looks like a woman. I realize 70's hairstyles and clothes were somewhat "unisex," but given that...the drummer's movements and profile look like a woman's.

There's really only one shot of the drummer at 3:44. Does anyone seriously know?

[sjpritchard1]

@coolcat20million

Mike Gibbons who sadly died in 2005 aged 60.

[MsSpider26]

@coolcat20million it is rob stravinsky. he filled in briefly when mike gibbins quit for a while. mike was a left handed drummer

[winstonwolf379]

this is back when music was music the 70s were the best time of my life

[titostacos]

@kazeet456 Are you being ironic or are you mentally handicapped?

[0000jacki]

Badfinger had it. Unfortunately the rest of world found out much much later

[0000jacki]

You said it!

[highstakesdonk]

older croud............just sitting on hands, y play 2 this bunch

[pmoyer50]

A great guitar band in action. I had no idea what happened to Pete Ham. They give and their managers take, take and take. Look what happened to Billy Joel. A brother in law was ripping him off for hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

[rob99rst]

mc cartney was writing their songs for them. And some really nice songs

[MsSpider26]

@rob99rst ONE SONG. count it, ONE song, he wrote for them. ALL the other songs were written by badfinger and only badfinger. so, yes, they wrote some great songs for themselves.

[kneapoe51]

@MsSpider26 Exactly right my friend. I'm a Beatles/all 4 solo fan....Big Time. But besides "Come and Get It", that's it. Thanks.

[mercuryjam85]

pete ham and tom evans were 1 trillion better musicians that that worthless fuck joey molland and the beatles

[titostacos]

@mercuryjam85 explain a bit?

[cdadave83814]

Bad chemistry between the group members also weighed Pete down, especially between Pete and Joey. From what I've read/heard, Pete was a gentle person, very serious about the band and songwriting. Sometimes I think that any group that has had some sort of Beatles affiliation is subject to all kinds of Bad Karma.

[0000jacki]

@cdadave83814

why do you suppose that was?

[1uptospeed]

allways had a special LOVE for this tune !! stands the test of TIME.

[Querencias]

@1uptospeed . No doub, amigo -- such a great, great tune! A very fine sound that they had, went along with some terrific songwriting too.

[picark]

All the best music came out during the time Richard Nixon was President.

[calalilygirl]

@picark Wow....loved your comment.

[TalaJenta]

@picark Badfinger were a Welsh band so what has an American president got to do with it.

[Vermontist]

Just great music. :)

[marjar1985]

One thing before I go.....let it show...

God I love Badfinger...Gone too soon.

[dandeexxxx]

why did this incrediblly talented man choose to hang himself in his garage at age 27?

[mrbluesky4ever]

Awesome....I had all their albums but this stuff wasn't on TV back when I was a kid.

I've been in bands that covered some of their material.

Thanks for posting!!!

[wvcoonazz]

The greatest decade of music.....Badfinger was just one of the great the just didn't guite stand out far enough.....great song..great song......I am so glad I was alive to hear this from a single speaker in a WV Beetle with no equalizer or booster......who needs all that "enhancement"...long live rock!

[IansWatch]

Can you just imagine what the concert stage in Heaven is like? WOW! It would make Woodstock look like a field trip!

[bnetwise]

Thanks for posting I never heard of this song but I would like to know more about them----They could write

[glynnth]

this song just kind of thunders in your heart, doesn't it??

[TheWhofan62]

One of my faves along with "Day after Day". They were big during my confusing preteen years. Hey wait, what am I thinking? Life is still confusing,lol!

[johnnykov]

Stan Polley is a soulless bastard!

[johngmcgowan]

They can take their money, but never the music. Live on baby!

[lilynick1]

My fav. Badfinger song. I would love to have been there in the audience!

[MiKikaIwaShizaru]

Some people (the "Givers") are born thinking about how much they can share with the world, and others (the "Takers") only see the world as a zero sum game, thinking only about how much they can take from others, and hoarding as much as possible.

It seems to me that the Badfinger story is a story of the "Givers" being sadly victimized by the "Takers".

[chops333333]

When this songs gets to the second verse (The 1:00 mark) and both Pete Ham and Tom Evans are harmonizing...it is incredible!

These two were great song writers and great singers . They are so underrated!

It is still so sad they were both taken away at such young ages and they way they left us.

But, they still left a ton of great music for all of us to enjoy!

Thanks Badfinger!

[sanantharamiah1]

I totally concur with you. Such magnificent talent was taken away from us! Badfinger was one of the most underrated bands of all time, yet they were promoted initially as the sucessor to The Beatles, who served as their mentors. May these fine performers and song wiriters RIP!

[mightywind99]

Thanks for posting. One of my all time favourite songs!

5 stars!

[AnBon74]

To all people in bands: Take the time to learn the business end of things. THOROUGHLY. It's a lot of work, but well worth your time. Oh and, LOVE THESE GUYS!!

[csrhiatt]

Still get sad every time I hear these gems.

They were screwed so bad they never recovered...our loss.

[thehenryal]

brilliant playing from liverpudlians and welshmen, maybe the next Beatles it was.

[robharding1957]

thehenryal,beatles,,,,,,,,,,,,­,,,,,,no man that was pure badfinger,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,out on there own,,they didnt need the beatles, they had all the talent in the world, its just the beatles give em a leg up,, shame they couldnt have supported the guys when things got financially crytical,,

[evelynmh]

No they didn't Rob...something sort of strange but cool happened today...left work "Baby Blue" playing on the oldies station in the car...stopped at the supermarket "Day After Day" playing in the background...and then got back in the car....."No Matter What " on the radio...when will all that ever happen again???

[rhotspot]

On the technical side to play along with Pete Ham I had to

play B-F#-E-A-C#m+G#m. Based on the chords he's using he's playing in the Key of B, E, or both.

[lwpducks]

Tragic Crime. RIP Lads

[Kevin1954J]

First record I ever brought,damn near wore it out.They were a tragic ,sad loss to music.

[Sejsc]

I used to love this band back in high school. but unfortunately they were overshadowed by silly little Paul McCartney and his cute little Wings. But like the Hollies, they didnt last long, but they made the 70s what they were.

[evelynmh]

they would have lasted a lot longer if they hadn't been screwed by poor management ...and the animosity of some of the band members

[spadarkyman]

Magical! RIP guys! Love Ya!

[MsSpider26]

those stains will probably induct WHAM into rr hall of fame before this awesome band. just a reflection of the powers that be not knowing real talent.or appreciating it for that matter. rock on badass badfinger

[rlobrown55]

the saddest story in rock.

[robharding1957]

it is the saddest story in rock,but at the same time these guys are legends,and they have left us something which is timeless, pete tom mike joey,you were the buisness

[MegaRiffraff]

one more thing , why can madonna get in the R&R hall of fame and these guys can't. , thought she was hip hop, flop or whatever! it's called.

[MegaRiffraff]

wish i had one of those SG'S and could play it as well as well as Ham , always heard it was him and George Harrison who played the 2 lead's in this.

[PeachWNK]

It was Pete and George playing dual slide in "Day After Day." Love the sound of the SG....it was Badfinger that made me develop an ear for it. :-)

[ox455]

absolutely awesome .

[SunnBurn]

Simply a great song. Baby Blue is a real-life, so it was written from the heart. It is a great story expressed with great lyrics, beautiful melody and harmony. And dig those Gibson SGs.

[bill0w]

Great band

[vwtch]

Tommy Evans could sing those high harmonies with incredible effect, just as well as Paul McCartney's high harmonies did so much for The Beatles' recordings. Such a shame the group was screwed so badly by Stan Polley.

[MsSpider26]

the music is the record track the singing is live

[contact1araya]

Dude if this is over a recorde track it is the best synch job ever.

[chh5555]

Such beautiful guitar work, speechless

[sergrod1]

such a lovely song

[taegooksaram]

I love Pete Ham and Bad Finger's songs

RIP

[cantankerouslandlord]

Pete Ham committed suicide by hanging himself over money disputes he had with his manager. I believe a part of his suicide note disclosed contempt for his manager, calling him a bastard.

[chh5555]

With all due respect, there must have been more to it than that.

[efeeley]

When Tom Evans breaks off into the harmony part at 2:02 and at 2:20....wow

[SommieReturns]

Isn't that HOT?

With his passionate vocals really melts my heart..

[snowdog03]

They got Shafted by You Know Whats!!!.

[deankyrwood]

all my hairs stand on end listening to these geniuses...no auto tune..no tits and ass,no bling ....just heartfelt beatiful melody and harmony...where are we now ???...lost

[dodgev8440]

thats right mate the younger generation is lost

[drummerkid71]

you hit the nail on the head dead on dude!

[cloycebox]

Yeah, no autotune, just some dudes pretending to play their instruments on a television show. There's nothing new under the sun.

[leonaofficial]

These arent `just some dudes` .

These are `Badfinger` boyo !

[venderstrat]

This is the SG GIBSON once owned by george harrison.... beautiful song.

[okland3]

Pete ,God is holding you with comfort

[brendafig]

Great perfomance by a great band. Pete looks so happy, it's just wonderful to see. Thanks for posting this!

[poettesse]

I just love them, still.....

[phileustace]

Pete Ham is a Legend. It's so sad the way he died. Poor bloke ... to be shunned by his manager who was taking all the proceeds. Typically, the artist must always have to fight for their own creations. It's a shame that artists have to be subjected to penny pinching maggots.

[deankyrwood]

may all those maggot managers and record companies burn in hell where they belong...god damn leeches

[Giselle62]

You just read story after story of music biz bigwigs ripping musicians off--the anger is justified---the music biz is now going down the tubes but the music will live on--haha bastards

[patrickgreig]

Hi all. Well this is what i think ok, you can agree, or you can't. At less i do, and that is the main thing. I think Paul Mccartney is a Sir, but Pete ham is a GOD. Nothing is close to Pete ham. Quality music. Beatles were good, but badfinger were fucking good. I mean FUCKING. 10/10 for badfinger. I will be a fan forever.

[schenut]

Patrick I respectfully agree with you. Gosh it is so damn hard to go wrong with either Pete or Paul.

[markmusicman]

I have to agree with you on this one, but we can't forget about Tom Evans & John Lennon. Anyways, I have yet to see anyone capture Pete's vocals on any covers I have seen here on YouTube or anywhere else for that matter. His voice is very difficult for anyone to duplicate, he had a great range and depth to his vocals that are unmatched.

[patrickgreig]

Music will never be the same. Most are good, paul mccartney is a sir yes, i wouldn't say he wasn't.. Freddy mercury was too. the list can go on. But for you to agree or not i don't care. Pete Ham, was GOD, not sir, not good, but GOD. Ok he killed him self, but i'm happy for what he gave. I will be a big fan 4life, end of story. Sad story, but for what he done we're still lucky to have the quality here. thanks for having the time to read my comment. If you agree please give me a tick. :)

[danguitar142]

cool

[harryflocyberman]

The good days of creative rock music this music was so powerful in those days it was spiritual and just melted all over you and made you high, to bad the musicians today can not find this magic, I think it has to do with the times and the end of innocence and imagination to bad I'm just glad I was able to live in those times.

[1musiclvr]

Well said Harry. I never get tired of hearing this one.

[markmusicman]

I think its still here and just needs o be re-discovered!!

[winstonwolf379]

@harryflocyberman me too man those were the best times of my life

[lance1jcubsfan]

@harryflocyberman I totally agree. Ham may have been the real talent but who is the guy playing that effortless SG licks on lead. Also how close they sound live to the studio is uncanny.

That era of music, there was passion, songs meant something, it was far less about flash, although some did try, but it was on a way more modest scale, music was the thing, and I think it shows in what we see today that passes for music as compared to. They did more with less in all ways.

[smilinstevie88]

@lance1jcubsfan - In this video, both Pete Ham and guitarist Joey Molland are playing red SG's. Pete's was given to him by George Harrison in about 1969 or 1970. That guitar was used in the "Revolver" session, and beyond.

Of the two Badfinger guitarists, Pete Ham was by far the more talented of the two. Check out some of the videos on here like the Iveys cover of "Purple Haze" in 1968 (before Joey was in the band), some of the live versions of "Suitcase", and several others. Pete could shred!

[JohnQRandom]

@lance1jcubsfan

I think this was studio, not live. The vocals were live, but have look at the drummer at 2:39, no way was the music live (although I wish I could say it was).

[robharding1957]

this posting shows what a badfinger performance should be like,pete looks at ease and hes enjoying it,

[medellinrentals]

Rob Stawinski played here. But did Mike Gibbins play on the original studio version of the song?

[dunskie]

Thanks for posting.

LOVE the live vocals!

These guys sang together so frigging well. Kick ass harmonies.

Badfinger Rocks!

5 Stars.

[strawberrypicker123]

thats not mike druming. Who is htat

[brownsugah66]

It's Rob Stawinski

[brownsugah66]

He replaced Mike for a while in the summer of 1972

[pushad147]

His name is Rob Stawinski

[56rocket]

delpoz1, lighten up Francis! Geez...get a hold of yourself, man. Have a burger for God's sake! Get out more.

[ftsjr]

Thank you, chevy505, for a great posting. Badfinger was a terrific group! Their time in the spotlight was way too short.

[AshDrums7]

R.I.P Pete Ham!

[blairh1966]

Wonderful, thanks so much for posting.

[comicbookinker]

One of my favorite songs of all time!! Badfinger was the first act I ever saw in concert.  My father sat in the car the whole time waiting after driving me to San Antonio to see them! Pete was a rare talent.

[bostonbrat2]

Thanks, chevy505! It is good to see Pete Ham happy while performing. Yes, the vox are live. Badfinger's history is the "original" Behind The Music story; sad indeed, but delpoz1, please get a grip. No one else is responsible for their demise...

[08le09on51]

fico imaginando... Como seria hoje o bad company e os demais com todos os recursos eletronicos e a mídia?

Hoje ainda existe muita banda boa, mais continuo com bad company, beatles, bad company, deep purple, black sabbath, etc...

[gatogirlie]

Awsome harmonization... Tommy was great... Especially for a live show...they could really pull it off...

[gsnman]

What show did this come from?

[brownsugah66]

gsnman, it was from taken from the Kenny Rogers variety show in the early 70s.

[brownsugah66]

The variety show was called Rollin on the River

[delpoz1]

Dear YouTube friends: HUMAN BEINGS ARE MONSTERS!

BADFINGER finished and two members killed themselves because people are greed and selfish. Nobody, not even The Beatles, wanted to help them in despair. People care for money more than other in need persons. Lawyers and executives are PARASITES AND BASTARDS.

WE MISS YOU SO MUCH BADFINGERS! THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU.

PEOPLE PLEASE STOP KILLING ANIMALS! STOP EATING MEAT! STOP WEARING FUR/LEATHER! ThankyouAdemar)

[angusthethird]

So Pete was the one who sounded like Paul McCartney...

[bobbyvox]

Actually three of them are now gone... Mike Gibbins (original drummer) died in 2005. Yes, Pete and Mike were from Wales.. and Joey and Tommy were from Liverpool.

[midblu]

Phenomenal. Great songwriters are rare. Pete Ham was one of them. Were Badfinger from Wales?

[solitudeseeker]

Pete Ham and Mike Gibbins were Welsh. Tom Evans and Joey Molland were from Liverpool.

[PennPearson]

...and Tom Evans was of Welsh ancestry.

[xxpiggystardustxx]

great stuff im from wales ...met a few of these boys before two of them died ,,,great people

[kobyashi45]

Awesome voice, awesome band !!lOVED THESE GUYS!!!!

Thanks CHEVY505.

[gulfgypsy]

Always liked this group. Thanks for posting this song!