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Joey Molland played in various bands in Liverpool around the time the Beatles took off and made history. Some of these bands played the same circuit and string of
clubs as the Beatles, like the Cavern and the Blue Angel, and were also influenced by the same artists as the Fab Four, such as Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and of course Elvis
Presley.
Joey played in The Merseybeats, The Masterminds, The Crying Shames, and Gary Walker and The Rain. He enjoyed the privilege of writing three hit singles in Japan, with The Rain and played on
such hits as "Spooky" and "She Belongs To Me" with The Masterminds.
Then in 1969 he was asked to join Badfinger. He moved down to London to live with the band and record their third album
for Apple Records, the Beatles own label. The first album was made under the name, The Iveys, and the second a reissue of songs from the first record and some new songs written for a movie starring
Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers called The Magic Christian. Joey appeared on the first 'new' album done under the new title "Badfinger", given to them by Neil Aspinall of Apple. Joey added some super
rhythm and gave them a new direction with his rock'n'roll
He wrote more tunes than anyone else in the band and played almost all the lead guitar on the hit singles created by Badfinger in the 70's.
They had 4 top ten singles, and they wrote one of the most famous hits of all time "Without You" (done by Harry Nilsson in '72 and Mariah Carey in '94). The hits include "Come And Get It" (which was given to them by Paul McCartney),
"No Matter What" "Day After Day", and "Baby Blue".
The band toured America 7 limes in four years and recorded 4 albums for Apple Records and then 2 more for Warner Bros. until they lost Pete the guitar player in '75. They performed
in '77-'78 with two of the former members and recorded 2 more albums. Joey has also penned four solo CDs, producing them himself.
While in Badfinger, at Apple, he played on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" album and played at the
Concert For Bangla Desh in '72 at Madison Square Garden and on the album that followed. He also played with John Lennon on his "Imagine" album.
He has produced several other bands in his career spanning over 35 years in the music
business.
He has performed all over the world with other famous acts and artists, as Badfinger and as himself with his own band. He has received rave reviews world-wide for his music and his records and has published over 400 songs on
CDs and albums, through the years.
Also adept at a bit of comedy, be has had them rolling in the aisles with laughter for years, with his Liverpudlian accent, 'wit and talent shining through in each new song or phrase that he
writes.
Joey is currently touring with his Badfinger Band, Featuring Mark Healey on Bass and vocals, Billy Davis (Foghat and The Outlaws) on guitar and vocals, John Richardson on Drums and Steve Wozny on piano and vocals.
It is
real a rare treat to hear these ageless hits being played by an original member, with such an exciting band, from such a notable career.
Look for Joey's new CD, "This Way Up", out now on independent Artists Records. |
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