Joey Molland was born June 21 1947 in Edge Hill, Lancashire. He began his career as a professional musician in 1965 as a member of the band The Masterminds. The group released one single, "She Belongs to Me." Members of The Masterminds would become part of the backing band for the vocal group The Merseys, The Fruit Eating Bears. The Fruit Eating Bears played on The Merseys' single "Nothing Can Change This Love."
After The Mersey's breakup, Joey Molland played briefly with The Cryin' Shames before joining Gary Walker & The Rain, a project of Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. Gary Walker & The Rain released the album Album No. 1, the EP Gary Walker & The Rain Best 4, and several singles. It was in 1969 that the original bassist of a band called The Iveys, Ron Griffins left the group. Joey Molland auditioned for The Iveys in November 1969. By the time he was hired, the band had been renamed Badfinger. Tom Evans took over playing bass, while Joey Holland became the band's lead guitarist.
Joey Molland's first recordings with Badfinger was their second album, No Dice. He played lead guitar on their second major hit, "No Matter What." He also co-wrote some of the songs on No Dice with Tom Evans and wrote the song "Love Me Do." Joey Molland also wrote songs for Badfinger's next few albums, Straight Up, Ass, Badfinger, and Wish You Were Here.
Unfortunately, Badfinger would have problems with their label, Warner, which even rejected the album Wish You Were Here at one point. On top of this, there were conflicts between band members themselves. It was then that Joey Molland left Badfinger in late 1974. It was in April 1975 that he formed Natural Gas with Jerry Shirley (formerly of Humble Pie). They released the album Private Stock in 1976, but disbanded in 1977. As to Badfinger, lead vocalist Pete Ham committed suicide on April 24 1975. The following moth Warner terminated their contract with Badfinger, after which the band broke up.
It was in 1977 that drummer Kenny Harck and guitarist Joe Tansin expressed the desire to form a new band with Joey Molland. The group needed a bassist, so Joey Molland brought Tom Evans onto the project. It was their label Elektra Records, who encouraged them to use the name Badfinger. It was then in 1979 that this new incarnation of Badfinger released the album Airwaves. With a different lineup, but retaining Tom Evans and Joey Molland, they released the album Say No More in 1981. Tom Evans and Joey Molland split up following Say No More. Until Tom Evans's 1983 suicide they both led touring bands called "Badfinger."
In 1983 Joey Molland released his first solo album, After the Pearl. It would be followed by five more solo albums, the last of which was Be True to Yourself in 2020. Joey Molland appeared as a guest artist a few times, including on George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh, George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass, John Lennon's album Imagine, and folk-duo John & Mary's album Victory Gardens. He produced Tim Schools's albums Wear a New Face and Love Her. In 2015 he collaborated with 10,000 Maniacs on a a cover of the Badfinger song "Sweet Tuesday Morning." In 2019 he toured with Todd Rundgren, Jason Scheff, Micky Dolenz, and Christopher Cross in tribute to The Beatles' "White Album." The tour was called, "It Was Fifty Years Ago Today – A Tribute to the Beatles' White Album."
While the career of Badfinger was one of the most tragic in the history of rock music, they were also one of the most pivotal bands in the evolution of power pop. As both a musician and a composer, Joey Molland was responsible for much of the band's success and much of the reason they would have a lasting influence on power pop groups from The Raspberries to Big Star to Cheap Trick. His guitar playing was precise and energetic, and would have a lasting impact on guitarists even beyond power pop. He either wrote or co-wrote some of Badfinger's more notable songs, including their singles "Love is Easy," "Love is Gonna Come at Last," "I Got You," and "Because of You." He also toured with Joey Mollland's Badfinger, for years, introducing the band's music to new generations. Joey Molland was a talented musician and a true pioneer.
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