He was just a kid, really, and did not understand how great he was. Enormous talent and enormous self doubt... a lethal combination. Ah, but the music lives on!
Pete Ham had an extraordinary talent, but I feel he also had tremendous self-doubt. If only he had truly believed in himself, maybe he could have gotten through the bad times and would still be making his wonderful music today. This is just my theory, but I think that the whole sad situation leading up to Pete's death caused many who knew him, including George Harrison and Paul McCartney, to be ashamed at what happened to him - that they didn't or couldn't help him. Pete's music lives on.
Great song - and Kristen is right in making the point that this was ahead if it's time! And just listen to the passion in the singing and the tasty guitar licks.... Thanks for sharing this demo version!!
Wow! He wrote this in 1970? This was composed before the Bangladesh concert, before John Lennon's "Imagine", before CSNY's "Ohio" ...... A sincere heart of a special human being
Pete Ham was just too good for this world. It is fitting , yet so sad, the Beatles said nothing when he died. He was a Paul, John and George all wrapped into one. He probably would have been a great drummer too, if he put his mind to it. it took years for Apple (Beatles label) to put out the albums on CD's. They were way behind on downloads. And I also learned the Badfinger albums were kept out-of-print for 18 years after Pete died. I'm sorry, but let's face it. They really didnt give a ...
@powerpopsmith When news of Pete's death reached me, part of me died--my innocence. My mother had been house mother at 7 Park Ave in London--this was personal. But don't blame the Beatles. Paul and George were among their greatest fans. As Apple and the Beatles fell apart, Badfinger was at a loss. Stan Polley, a NY thug, was the "soulless bastard" as Pete wrote in his suicide note, who used them to death. For those of us closest, the sun never shined as brightly again, We cared; we always will.
@MsKath1eena Sorry about the personal loss. You missed the point. It's the way The Beatles contributed to burying his memory and legacy from the time of his death. That is obvious. Pete's depression was much more involved than just Stan Polley, too. You should read the book on Badfinger by Dan Matovina. I'm sure there's stuff in there you didn't know about at the time.
@powerpopsmith Well Paul was the only one stil in the publics eye when pete died. The other 3 were still making music, but they were more low key by that time. They probably just didnt give an interview about pete because they werent around the media at the time as much.
Thanks for posting this... it's a powerful song!
mlkbeat 3 weeks ago
R.I.P. Sweet Soul. Your Music blessed us and helped us on our way through this world.
loZoneranger560 1 month ago
Thanks for the lyrics and the demo post! So wonderful to hear it this way...... always loved this song!
petiedink 2 months ago
loved this. thanks.
SydnRain 4 months ago
So much talent. Thanks for another glimpse into Petes music Dan.
russtyler 5 months ago
He was just a kid, really, and did not understand how great he was. Enormous talent and enormous self doubt... a lethal combination. Ah, but the music lives on!
211FairyTale 6 months ago
What a gem - I'd forgotten about this song.
favorsham 6 months ago
In my opinion, "Perfection" is the best Badfinger song. What do the rest of you think?
fpa102659 6 months ago 2
Pete Ham had an extraordinary talent, but I feel he also had tremendous self-doubt. If only he had truly believed in himself, maybe he could have gotten through the bad times and would still be making his wonderful music today. This is just my theory, but I think that the whole sad situation leading up to Pete's death caused many who knew him, including George Harrison and Paul McCartney, to be ashamed at what happened to him - that they didn't or couldn't help him. Pete's music lives on.
toomanycats13 6 months ago
Comment removed
MsKath1eena 6 months ago
Great song - and Kristen is right in making the point that this was ahead if it's time! And just listen to the passion in the singing and the tasty guitar licks.... Thanks for sharing this demo version!!
catoohey 6 months ago
Wow! He wrote this in 1970? This was composed before the Bangladesh concert, before John Lennon's "Imagine", before CSNY's "Ohio" ...... A sincere heart of a special human being
Kristenbillick 6 months ago 8
Pete Ham was just too good for this world. It is fitting , yet so sad, the Beatles said nothing when he died. He was a Paul, John and George all wrapped into one. He probably would have been a great drummer too, if he put his mind to it. it took years for Apple (Beatles label) to put out the albums on CD's. They were way behind on downloads. And I also learned the Badfinger albums were kept out-of-print for 18 years after Pete died. I'm sorry, but let's face it. They really didnt give a ...
powerpopsmith 6 months ago 10
@powerpopsmith Pete did learn how to drum pretty well, and left handed too! A lot of his drum tracks are on the demo cds that were released.
Seej1982 6 months ago
@powerpopsmith That's a shame that Badfinger albums were out of print because Pete was an outstanding lyricist.
johnny10301968 6 months ago
@powerpopsmith When news of Pete's death reached me, part of me died--my innocence. My mother had been house mother at 7 Park Ave in London--this was personal. But don't blame the Beatles. Paul and George were among their greatest fans. As Apple and the Beatles fell apart, Badfinger was at a loss. Stan Polley, a NY thug, was the "soulless bastard" as Pete wrote in his suicide note, who used them to death. For those of us closest, the sun never shined as brightly again, We cared; we always will.
MsKath1eena 6 months ago
@MsKath1eena Sorry about the personal loss. You missed the point. It's the way The Beatles contributed to burying his memory and legacy from the time of his death. That is obvious. Pete's depression was much more involved than just Stan Polley, too. You should read the book on Badfinger by Dan Matovina. I'm sure there's stuff in there you didn't know about at the time.
powerpopsmith 6 months ago
@powerpopsmith Well Paul was the only one stil in the publics eye when pete died. The other 3 were still making music, but they were more low key by that time. They probably just didnt give an interview about pete because they werent around the media at the time as much.
wwekane2468 5 months ago
Wonderful. Keep those coming, "BadfingerIveys". A timely surprise just as we were discussing the "Straight Up" album on a Beatles website.
PapillonJunkie 6 months ago 3
I've been a Badfinger fan for a long time.this is classic. Thanks for posting.
tlrod56 6 months ago 2