Joey Molland, the guitarist and last surviving member of the 1970s rock band Badfinger, has died ata the age of 77.
Molland played a crucial role in Badfinger’s success during their years with Apple Records in the late 1960s. His guitar work was a defining feature of classic hits like No Matter What, Day After Day, and Baby Blue.
The news of his passing was announced on Badfinger’s official Facebook page. The statement read: “Well, the day we never wanted to see has arrived. Joey (Joseph Charles) Molland passed away last night, surrounded by Mary, his two sons, and other family members at 11:39 PM CST.”
Molland’s health had been unstable since December 2024, when his wife, Mary, revealed that he was in the ICU. Though he initially showed signs of improvement, he ultimately passed away after being placed on a ventilator.
Beyond his contributions to Badfinger, Molland was an accomplished session musician, collaborating on various Beatles solo projects. He played on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass and contributed to John Lennon’s Imagine album, providing acoustic guitar on Jealous Guy and I Don’t Want to Be a Soldier.
He was also a key part of the backing band for The Concert for Bangladesh, an iconic event organized by Harrison. Molland performed alongside legendary musicians such as Jim Keltner, Klaus Voormann, and Jesse Ed Davis.
While Badfinger’s primary songwriters were Pete Ham and Tom Evans, Molland achieved his own songwriting success with Love Is Gonna Come at Last in 1979. Following Badfinger’s breakup in the 1980s, he pursued a solo career, releasing his most recent album, Be True to Yourself, in 2020.
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