One might excuse former Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins if he were a bit cynical about life and his career.
After all, the highly acclaimed band that he was a key part of as drummer received only a fraction of the financial rewards it deserved. Also, consider:
- Apple Records, which some thought would make them the next Beatles, began to dissolve and Badfinger left for another label.
- In incidents 8 1/2 years apart, Pete Ham and Tom Evans, the band’s two most prominent members, killed themselves by hanging.
- After the deaths, there have been battles over who has the right to use the name Badfinger.
But Gibbins is upbeat about his music and his future. In late 2000, he released “More Annoying Songs,” a tremendous album that includes guest appearances on two songs by ex-fellow Iveys member Ronnie Griffiths.
In an interview, Gibbins said he has been saddened by his ex-band mates’ deaths, but has taken a more light-hearted attitude to life and music.
“When I think of Pete and Tommy, I think of the wasted talent and how much more they could have contributed to the music industry,” Gibbins said.
During their all too brief time at the forefront of the popular music scene, Badfinger as a band and Ham and Evans as composers made major contributions. Perhaps best known for their recording of Beatle Paul McCartney-composed “Come and Get It,” that song was just a part of their musical heritage. Here’s a brief glimpse at part of that heritage:
- “No Matter What,” produced by longtime Beatles associate Mal Evans and written by Ham, is classic pop.
- Beatle George Harrison was the producer for Ham’s marvelous “Day After Day.” You can hear Harrison-style guitar work on “Day After Day.”
- Pop maestro Todd Rundgren is credited as the producer for “Baby Blue.”
- McCartney produced several Badfinger songs and George Martin, the Beatles producer, provided the string arrangement for “Carry on Til Tomorrow.”
- The Ham/Evans composition “Without You” became a big hit for Harry Nilsson. According to Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits, it was the fourth most popular song in the United States in 1972, the year “American Pie” was the most popular.
In 1965, Gibbins became a member of The Iveys, the group that would become Badfinger. Music writers called Gibbins a powerful player who helped push the band to a new level of proficiency.
By 1968, the Beatles had started Apple Records and the Iveys auditioned for the label. Still going by the Iveys name, the first single and album met with limited success despite the inclusion of “Maybe Tomorrow.”
Ron Griffiths left and Joey Molland was recruited before the next album and the band changed its name to Badfinger, part of the working title of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
With the name and other changes in place, Badfinger’s recording of McCartney’s “Come and Get It” was a hit and it appeared pastures of plenty awaited them. However, financial disputes with management were to plague Badfinger for the rest of its days despite its creation of truly outstanding pop and rock music.
What happened to Badfinger was not Apple’s fault, Gibbins said.
“The Apple experience was totally positive,” Gibbins said. “Apple has never done anything to hurt this band and they were not involved in the financial problems of the band.
“We were released from Apple – a huge mistake from my point of view – when problems started occurring. Apple never abandoned us. We abandoned them by way of our management.”
While the management problems developed, Ham and Evans grew depressed, eventually committing suicide. But Gibbins took a different approach to life.
“I don’t take life too seriously….It’s a big cosmic joke,” he said.
“You can only go around once so you better make the best of it since it’s really too short on a normal basis.”
Despite the management difficulties, Gibbins has always made a living with his music.
“I have always been able to take care of my family by the means of music,” he said. “I have always pursued music and it has not failed me to date.
“I have played with many musicians over the years and, of course, lately with the release of my solo CD’s.”
In 1998, Gibbins released “A Place in Time.”
Gibbins worked two years on the new “More Annoying Songs,” which is currently available only through his web site,
http://www.mikegibbins.com
The new CD is anything but annoying, unless good rocking music annoys you. There is a taste of the old Badfinger sound here, along with Beatles influences. The album also contains just good rock, not readily identifiable as being influenced by anyone else.
“Wired,” “Two and Two,” “Dirty Old Bugger” and “Dream on… Fall to Pieces” are particularly impressive. Gibbins’ favorite is “Dirty Old Bugger.”
Gibbins wrote, produced and played piano and drums on all of the songs. Rick Warsings provides the impressive bass and guitar work.
Griffiths sings lead on “Time Will Tell Us” and back up vocals on “Oxydynamo.” Gibbins sings all the other songs.
With the mini-reunion with one-ex band member, some fans ask Gibbins if he will reunite with Molland for a Badfinger reunion.
“I can honestly say that this may never happen,” he said. “I would like to move on to my new songs and maybe play them live in the near future. I have great musicians to work with.”
Gibbins said he stays in regular contact with Apple. In 2000, a collection of Badfinger’s Apple and Warner work was released as “The Very Best of Badfinger.”
Gibbins also occasionally hears from various members of the surviving Beatles.
“The last Beatle I was in contact with was Sir Paul (McCartney),” Gibbins said. “It has been a few years, but he is always kind and responsive when we do get in touch.”
But Gibbins isn’t just relying on past associations or yesterday’s great music for his future successes. With the exception of gangster rap, he listens to a lot of current music via the influence of his sons who are active in the industry.
“It’s a very healthy music scene today with a lot of choices,” Gibbins said. “I do like rock, metal, blues, classical and so on.
“Today, I listen to a variety of music. My kids keep me in touch and to date my favorite artist to listen to is Kid Rock.”
Gibbins also has been making the Beatlefest circuit.
Gibbins attended Beatlefest in New Jersey in March and plans to attend Beatlefest in Chicago this August.
“The old Badfinger fans are awesome,” Gibbins said of the fans he met in March.
Gibbins is planning a tour for the future, but before that he plans to work in England with Bob Jackson.
Don’t expect Gibbins to disappear after that. He plans to produce lots more “annoying music” in the future, much to the delight of his fans.
Click
here for brief audio samples of "More Annoying Songs."
Copyright 2001, Ronald D. Hawkins, Stories to Tell Co., RDH MMI
Mike Gibbins kindly gave a phone interview to 'BeatlesandBeyond(c)' during August 2001.
