Joey Molland, the last remaining member of the classic Badfinger lineup, passed away on Saturday night at the age of 77. According to the band's Facebook page, Joey was surrounded by his long-time girlfriend Mary, his two sons, and other family members when he passed. Although there's no official cause of death, Joey had been hospitalized since December due to a bacterial infection related to his diabetes, which later developed into pneumonia.
Joey joined Badfinger in 1969, just after the band completed their album Magic Christian Music, which featured the Top 10 hit "Come and Get It." He contributed to other major hits like "No Matter What," "Day After Day," and their final Top 40 hit "Baby Blue." Despite the band's success, they faced numerous legal issues with their manager, leading to the tragic suicide of singer-guitarist Pete Ham in 1975. Joey and bassist Tom Evans reformed the band in 1978, but this version of Badfinger split in 1982. Sadly, Tom Evans also took his own life in 1983 after a dispute over royalties.
In 1984, Joey and drummer Mike Gibbins began touring under the Badfinger name. Mike left the band in 1990 and passed away in 2005 from a brain aneurysm. Joey continued to keep the band's legacy alive, touring in the U.S. under the name Joey Molland's Badfinger and releasing six solo albums.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]