Joey Molland was an English guitarist and songwriter with Badfinger, who carried on the band for years after its other core members died.
- Died: March 1, 2025 (Who else died on March 1?)
- Details of death: Died after fighting multiple health issues at the age of 77.
- We invite you to share condolences for Joey Molland in our Guest Book.
Joey Molland’s legacy
Molland was already an accomplished guitarist when he joined Badfinger in 1969. Earlier in the ‘60s, he was a member of Gary Walker & the Rain, and when he first heard The Iveys – the earlier incarnation of Badfinger – he never thought about being a part of the band. He was playing straightforward rock-and-roll, and The Iveys’ pop wasn’t really his style. But shortly after the Iveys signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records, the first band on the label, Molland’s friends encouraged him to go to their audition for a new guitarist. He got along well with the group, and they were interested in his songwriting abilities, so he became their newest member.
Molland was hired right around the same time the band changed their name to Badfinger, though he arrived a little too late to be a part of their first big single, “Come and Get It.” His first hit in Badfinger was “No Matter What.” Shepherded by The Beatles, the band continued to succeed in the early 1970s, following “No Matter What” with the successful tracks “Day After Day” and “Baby Blue.” Molland also wrote and co-wrote songs for them, his contributions including “Better Days,” “Sweet Tuesday Morning” and “I Can Love You.”
Badfinger began to falter after their mid-‘70s move to Warner Bros., due in part to problematic management. Molland left the band in 1974, shortly before they dissolved due to the suicide of lead singer Pete Ham (1947–1975). Hopes of a reunion seemed further dashed when bassist Tom Evans (1947–1983) died by the same means not 10 years later.
In the meantime, Molland continued his association with former members of The Beatles. He played guitar with George Harrison (1943–2001) on his iconic “The Concert for Bangladesh” and “All Things Must Pass” albums, and he played acoustic guitar on two tracks of John Lennon’s (1940–1980) classic “Imagine” LP.
The death of drummer Mike Gibbins (1949–2005) left Molland as Badfinger’s last surviving core member. In recent years, he carried on the band’s legacy, touring as the lead singer with new members under the name Joey Molland’s Badfinger.
Notable quote
“For me, getting into the guitar started when I heard Elvis Presley’s ‘Blue Suede Shoes.’ From that moment on, I wanted to be a guitar player.” — from a 2020 interview for Guitar World
Tributes to Joey Molland
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
