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Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger
A thoroughly engaging biography of an incredible band who was so impressive they became favorably compared to the Beatles. Ironically, they were discovered by the same Fab Four’s roadie, Mal Evans, then mentored by Paul McCartney. Subsequently they were hired to session for all four Beatles members. Ultimately, they were controlled in release by the entire Apple Corps Ltd. empire. The group even started to surpass commercially the Fab Four’s solo successes with their major worldwide hits such as “Come And Get It,” “No Matter What,” “Day After Day,” “Baby Blue” and a cover version by Harry Nilsson of “Without You,” written by group members Pete Ham and Tom Evans, but were never given much promotional support, as The Beatles interest in them continued to wane.
Once the band launched off to another record company, Warner Brothers Records, late in 1972, the rot had been set internally toward eventual group dissolution because of deceptive business practices by their various management teams and the splintered group politics holding them back.
Dan Matovina’s deep research of documentation and hundreds of thorough interviews sets up this tome of absolute devastation leading to two suicides of group members. The band’s music becomes more and more iconic over time with the eventual explosion of interest coming from the use of the group’s recording of Ham’s “Baby Blue” for the final song heard in one of the all-time television series Breaking Bad in 2013.
Since this book’s first publication in 1997, it has proven virtually faultless in accuracy. Now, with the first Kindle version in 2022, along with a .pdf made available, it will live on for future study and continual re-discovery of this amazing band’s story and their classic catalog.
Once the band launched off to another record company, Warner Brothers Records, late in 1972, the rot had been set internally toward eventual group dissolution because of deceptive business practices by their various management teams and the splintered group politics holding them back.
Dan Matovina’s deep research of documentation and hundreds of thorough interviews sets up this tome of absolute devastation leading to two suicides of group members. The band’s music becomes more and more iconic over time with the eventual explosion of interest coming from the use of the group’s recording of Ham’s “Baby Blue” for the final song heard in one of the all-time television series Breaking Bad in 2013.
Since this book’s first publication in 1997, it has proven virtually faultless in accuracy. Now, with the first Kindle version in 2022, along with a .pdf made available, it will live on for future study and continual re-discovery of this amazing band’s story and their classic catalog.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
509 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 1941
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 16, 2025
Bad(Management)Finger...
WITHOUT YOU:
The Tragic Story of Badfinger
by Dan Matovina
Documentary. 4 stars. One of my favorite bands of all time was the Welsh band Badfinger with their hit songs No Matter What, Baby Blue, Day After Day, and Come and Get it (written for them by Paul McCartney).
Then there was their mega hit Without You, which was covered by Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey.
They were the first group to sign with The Beatles' Apple Corporation. Then, they rapidly descended into oblivion.
A 60s group out of Swansea, South Wales, known as the Iveys, in 1968 they changed their name to Badfinger. The group consisted of Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins, and Joey Molland.
In 1975, Pete Ham hung himself out of depression and desperation due to extremely bad management and illegal legal advice. With all of their hits, he couldn't even afford a new pair of shoes to wear on stage at engagements. He wore an old pair that flapped when he walked.
Additionally, the band had to deal with a John Lennon/Yoko Ono situation in that Joey Molland's wife Kathie had music aspirations for herself and constantly sat in on band sessions, giving her unwelcome input. She and Pete Ham went heat-to-head many times, causing friction.
Tom Evans, who lived close by, came at once when called by Pete's girlfriend Anne, and he witnessed Pete hanging in his garage. It was a sight Tom never forgot.
Following Pete's death, Tom felt like his other songwriting half was gone. He was lost and lonely and often said: I want to be where Pete is.
Tom tried valiantly and desperately to keep the band together by constantly touring America, but ultimately, he returned to England penniless. He was physically and mentally exhausted. His marriage was strained, and his musical future was uncertain.
In 1983, Tom Evans hung himself. He was desperate and broke, and he felt this was the only way out of his problems. The last member of the original band, Joey Molland, died March 1, 2025.
For years afterward, there were virtually no records by the band available, but in 1988, their music had a resurgence. Their fans were still out there.
This was a sad tale. Evans and Ham were very talented songwriters who were prevented from enjoying the fruits of their labor. It's alarming that in today's world, that kind of theft can still happen.
Great band with great music gone too soon due to some really bad luck with evil, greedy management.
I like to read at least one biography a year, and I recommend this one, but if you are depressed, don't read this book until you're in a better frame of mind.
WITHOUT YOU:
The Tragic Story of Badfinger
by Dan Matovina
Documentary. 4 stars. One of my favorite bands of all time was the Welsh band Badfinger with their hit songs No Matter What, Baby Blue, Day After Day, and Come and Get it (written for them by Paul McCartney).
Then there was their mega hit Without You, which was covered by Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey.
They were the first group to sign with The Beatles' Apple Corporation. Then, they rapidly descended into oblivion.
A 60s group out of Swansea, South Wales, known as the Iveys, in 1968 they changed their name to Badfinger. The group consisted of Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins, and Joey Molland.
In 1975, Pete Ham hung himself out of depression and desperation due to extremely bad management and illegal legal advice. With all of their hits, he couldn't even afford a new pair of shoes to wear on stage at engagements. He wore an old pair that flapped when he walked.
Additionally, the band had to deal with a John Lennon/Yoko Ono situation in that Joey Molland's wife Kathie had music aspirations for herself and constantly sat in on band sessions, giving her unwelcome input. She and Pete Ham went heat-to-head many times, causing friction.
Tom Evans, who lived close by, came at once when called by Pete's girlfriend Anne, and he witnessed Pete hanging in his garage. It was a sight Tom never forgot.
Following Pete's death, Tom felt like his other songwriting half was gone. He was lost and lonely and often said: I want to be where Pete is.
Tom tried valiantly and desperately to keep the band together by constantly touring America, but ultimately, he returned to England penniless. He was physically and mentally exhausted. His marriage was strained, and his musical future was uncertain.
In 1983, Tom Evans hung himself. He was desperate and broke, and he felt this was the only way out of his problems. The last member of the original band, Joey Molland, died March 1, 2025.
For years afterward, there were virtually no records by the band available, but in 1988, their music had a resurgence. Their fans were still out there.
This was a sad tale. Evans and Ham were very talented songwriters who were prevented from enjoying the fruits of their labor. It's alarming that in today's world, that kind of theft can still happen.
Great band with great music gone too soon due to some really bad luck with evil, greedy management.
I like to read at least one biography a year, and I recommend this one, but if you are depressed, don't read this book until you're in a better frame of mind.
July 19, 2009
Another case where amazingly, everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. That's the appeal here, even if you are not a fan (how could that be?) of their legacy of beautiful music. It's been all but forgotten by folks younger than me. Inevitable, but sad nonetheless. One of the few good things about being old is that I got to see Badfinger live with all 4 original members. One of the innumerable cases where the record industry gobbles up naive, unsophisticated and trusting talent, but perhaps the most tragic.
December 24, 2011
This is the saddest story in rock music. If you are a musician, interested in music management, or are an attorney, I suggest that you get your hands on this out of print book. It's a sad lesson in Protect Your Copyright, Get Everything In Writing and Read What You Sign.
December 10, 2014
A bit torn about this one. It was very poorly written but is clearly the result of an enormous number of interviews and many hours of research. It's undoubtedly the definitive book about Badfinger. The content is great; I just wish the prose was a bit more compelling. Still, I'm glad I read it.
December 26, 2020
It's actually a good book and worth a read, but save the outrageous $200 to $600 cost - it's better spent by taking one out at the library. But remember to look for it in the fiction section.
Dan Matovina is a fraud. Although Without You is very entertaining (I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down), it's supposed to be biographical. Instead it's fraudulent, just as it's author is. It's replete with conjecture and extrapolations. This is a person who attached himself, and has capitalized off of a family who's endured significant tragedy,
In 1997 he embarked on writing a book that is largely fictitious in content. I have been told this by numerous persons who know Dan well, and have the inside story of this person who most likely didn't even author the book. A celebrity told me this from what he learned. He's a leech off the families and off this person he stayed with. Lastly, but very importantly: Joey Molland and his late wife Kathie were asked to contribute to the book. They refused for understandable reasons. So, being the controlling vindictive person Dan is, he wrote nothing but very negative things about them. His joy is poisoning people against others. He should never have been published. He did not know any Badfinger members. This comes down to glorification of an undeserving person.
Dan Matovina is a fraud. Although Without You is very entertaining (I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down), it's supposed to be biographical. Instead it's fraudulent, just as it's author is. It's replete with conjecture and extrapolations. This is a person who attached himself, and has capitalized off of a family who's endured significant tragedy,
In 1997 he embarked on writing a book that is largely fictitious in content. I have been told this by numerous persons who know Dan well, and have the inside story of this person who most likely didn't even author the book. A celebrity told me this from what he learned. He's a leech off the families and off this person he stayed with. Lastly, but very importantly: Joey Molland and his late wife Kathie were asked to contribute to the book. They refused for understandable reasons. So, being the controlling vindictive person Dan is, he wrote nothing but very negative things about them. His joy is poisoning people against others. He should never have been published. He did not know any Badfinger members. This comes down to glorification of an undeserving person.
November 7, 2025
Great information, but poorly written.
September 9, 2013
Matovina details the origin of Badfinger from their early roots as The Iveys to Badfinger and beyond. The book is out of print and I had to order it through library loan, but it is an engaging read. The tragedy is basically two fold. One is that two members commited suicide ( a third passed away in 2005 )and second is that the band was wrecked by a heartless manager.
Their story is probably the most tragic in rock in that there was talent there and true passion from a band who was getting screwed by their management keeping money from them. Matovina is very thourough in his writing and leaves no stone unturned. It was hard to put the book down once I started it, but I have always had an interest in Badfinger and their music.
The book was worth the read and I highly recommend it to any music fan. Badfinger could never really escape comparisons to the Beatles because they were signed to their Apple lable in the later 60's and this sort of attachment kind of haunted the band with every new album release because that was a lot to live up to.
Their story is probably the most tragic in rock in that there was talent there and true passion from a band who was getting screwed by their management keeping money from them. Matovina is very thourough in his writing and leaves no stone unturned. It was hard to put the book down once I started it, but I have always had an interest in Badfinger and their music.
The book was worth the read and I highly recommend it to any music fan. Badfinger could never really escape comparisons to the Beatles because they were signed to their Apple lable in the later 60's and this sort of attachment kind of haunted the band with every new album release because that was a lot to live up to.
March 30, 2010
"Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger" is the best rock 'n roll book I have ever read. Matovina does exhaustive research into a band that was clearly star-crossed. What first seemed to be their biggest break---getting a recording contract on the Beatles' Apple lable---turns into a nightmare as the band constantly lives in the shadow of the label's legendary owners. Comparisons to the Beatles eventually destroy the band, and the members turn on each other with a vengeance. Corrupt management strips the band of all its funding and finally, two members decide to take their own lives.
But good luck finding a copy of this book anywhere. It's out of print and so much in demand that it's hard to find a copy anywhere for less than $100. But for this book, it is worth it. Don't miss it.
But good luck finding a copy of this book anywhere. It's out of print and so much in demand that it's hard to find a copy anywhere for less than $100. But for this book, it is worth it. Don't miss it.
January 7, 2023
The book has all the trappings of rock-n-roll fiction; what to believe and what not to believe is anyone's guess, but even if only half of what's written here is true, then Badfinger has to be the most screwed-over band in the history of rock ... It's an unbelievably sad tale ("tragically" written) and though I have much respect for the musicians and the band, it is a story that in most ways I wish I didn't know; many bad people, bad ideas, bad karma ... can't help but feel o-so-sad for Pete Ham and Tom Evans
May 12, 2009
This book belongs to the genre of superfan rock journalism, but if you are interested in Badfinger it is worth checking out. Matovina is at his worst when describing how songs sound and delivering his opinion on the saga of the band, and at his best when organizing reams of quotes from Badfinger-related persons and teasing out the timeline of the band. Not a happy story.
December 30, 2018
If you're a fan of post-Beatles pop-rock bands that never got their due (Badfinger, Big Star, The Raspberries, Stories, Strawbs, etc.), then I highly recommend this book.
The travails of this talented band are figured very prominently in the passages of this book. It's a brutal business, the entertainment industry.
The travails of this talented band are figured very prominently in the passages of this book. It's a brutal business, the entertainment industry.
March 12, 2009
One of the most detailed and thorough books on any rock & roll band out there. Dan Matovina set a new standard for the rock bio tome with this one. The bonus CD with outtakes, interviews, and demos is a huge plus!
February 2, 2024
Great book but the financial info is cumbersome to say the least. Absolutely needed in order to understand their story so I don't begrudge its inclusion but I found myself skipping a lot of it with the simple understanding of they got screwed
June 10, 2009
A great overview...but horribly depressing.
May 10, 2014
A depressing, great read.
August 11, 2018
Crazy and Sad story of on the cusp of Super Stardom friends and cohorts with the Beatles . .I wont spoil the rest . . but a must read
December 31, 2021
It's a pretty thorough bio of a tragically underrated rock band. I feel that the author perhaps strays from objectivity a little. It would be really nice if an updated edition were published.
January 13, 2024
If there is a sadder story in Rock n' Roll history than the Badfinger story, I don't know it. They were used and abused time after time....so much talent wasted.
June 16, 2023
Fantastic book!
Great read and wonderfully positive... until the Shakespearian-like Tragedy becomes the norm for poor Pete, Tom, Mike, Ron, and the rest of Badfinger. I thought the book was very well-written.
Everything in this book was relentlessly researched and 100% dependent on reviews with every pertinent player in this drama. If Dan couldn't substantiate every tidbit with documented interviews, then, obviously the parties that be, would have sued Dan long ago.
That said, there is no real negativity in this book. Dan never directly implies that anyone is a "Bad Actor." In fact, Joey comes-off as a Positive Important player here. Joey obviously doesn't think so.
Joanie Baker "is a fraud," and obviously one of Joey's mindless hacks... and obviously a few sandwiches short a picnic, since her review contradicts itself in just three short paragraphs. Her opinion is blatant hearsay, and even with her specific character assassination of Dan, she still says it's a "good book and worth a read..." Obviously not the brightest bulb in the socket. Keep in mind that this is the ONLY review she wrote in here.
Great read and wonderfully positive... until the Shakespearian-like Tragedy becomes the norm for poor Pete, Tom, Mike, Ron, and the rest of Badfinger. I thought the book was very well-written.
Everything in this book was relentlessly researched and 100% dependent on reviews with every pertinent player in this drama. If Dan couldn't substantiate every tidbit with documented interviews, then, obviously the parties that be, would have sued Dan long ago.
That said, there is no real negativity in this book. Dan never directly implies that anyone is a "Bad Actor." In fact, Joey comes-off as a Positive Important player here. Joey obviously doesn't think so.
Joanie Baker "is a fraud," and obviously one of Joey's mindless hacks... and obviously a few sandwiches short a picnic, since her review contradicts itself in just three short paragraphs. Her opinion is blatant hearsay, and even with her specific character assassination of Dan, she still says it's a "good book and worth a read..." Obviously not the brightest bulb in the socket. Keep in mind that this is the ONLY review she wrote in here.
May 3, 2023
Matovina, Dan - Without You: The Tragic Story Of Badfinger
Extremely depressing book about a legendary pop group.
Their manager arranged the contract so he was a member, entitled to an equal share of revenue.
Their US business manager, royally fleeced all earning from recordings and touring.
(One of the girlfriends became the template for the blonde girlfriend in Spinal Tap.)
Songwriters Pete Ham and Tom Evans were ignorant they were due royalties for "Without You" which became a well covered standard.
Apple deleted their entire catalogue after tiring of threats and bullying from the business manager.
Warners deleted "Wish You Were Here" after seven weeks due to the manager threatening lawsuits.
"Head First" was similarly halted before it even came out.
In despair, Ham committed suicide by hanging.
Eight years later, Evans committed suicide by hanging.
It's a long way to the top, and for Badfinger, it was ugly and painful, up and down.
Brilliantly written, hundreds of photos, CD of unreleased material.
Extremely depressing book about a legendary pop group.
Their manager arranged the contract so he was a member, entitled to an equal share of revenue.
Their US business manager, royally fleeced all earning from recordings and touring.
(One of the girlfriends became the template for the blonde girlfriend in Spinal Tap.)
Songwriters Pete Ham and Tom Evans were ignorant they were due royalties for "Without You" which became a well covered standard.
Apple deleted their entire catalogue after tiring of threats and bullying from the business manager.
Warners deleted "Wish You Were Here" after seven weeks due to the manager threatening lawsuits.
"Head First" was similarly halted before it even came out.
In despair, Ham committed suicide by hanging.
Eight years later, Evans committed suicide by hanging.
It's a long way to the top, and for Badfinger, it was ugly and painful, up and down.
Brilliantly written, hundreds of photos, CD of unreleased material.
August 7, 2024
Such a tragic story, revealing how important it is for either artists to know the business side of the music business, or be able to trust those who look out for their business interests. I think the music business has improved in this manner, but every-so-often, another artist suffers because they trusted the wrong person(s) who (mis)handled their business affairs. It is maddening that stars have felt their only recourse is to end their own lives, but that is what the psyche does to those who already feel disappointment so deeply, causing them to want to end the pain above every other need, especially when that merely adds to the problems of those left behind.
September 24, 2025
Detailed story of the band Badfinger. I went down a bit of a rabbit hole after watching Breaking Bad. Listened to Badfinger's song Baby Blue a few times then started reading the YouTube comments, which led me to look for a book for some added perspective. I found this one, which is a broad look at the music scene of the 60s and 70s, and an exhaustively researched exploration of the band. Should be required reading for anyone contemplating a creative career in the music industry.
August 19, 2025
Heartbreaking!
I loved Bad finger when they were popular and their songs were played on the radio. I vaguely knew of the Polish management issues from previous stories, but this book pulled it all together to paint the heartbreaking tragedy.
I loved Bad finger when they were popular and their songs were played on the radio. I vaguely knew of the Polish management issues from previous stories, but this book pulled it all together to paint the heartbreaking tragedy.
March 16, 2019
An overlooked, great group scr-wed by management and The Beatles.
February 13, 2023
Amazing story of an incredible band, mediocre-at-best writing. Also heart-breakingly tragic.
February 19, 2023
4-1/2 stars rounded up to 5. If there's a sadder story than this one, I don't want to know about it.
December 14, 2023
Raw Coverage
Can you imagine how far they could have gotten, if not screwed by Stan Polley. Another Fab Four, always and forever.
Can you imagine how far they could have gotten, if not screwed by Stan Polley. Another Fab Four, always and forever.
January 13, 2024
Very confusing - jumped all over the place. Via Kindle Unlimited.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews