McCartney Times

Joey Molland Memorial Service – Live on Youtube

Joseph Charles Molland (21 June 1947 – 1 March 2025) was an English songwriter and rock guitarist whose recording career spanned five decades. He was best known as a member of Badfinger, the most successful of the acts he performed with. Molland was the last surviving member from the band’s classic line-up.

Molland’s recording career began in earnest in 1967 when he joined Gary Walker(formerly of the Walker Brothers) for the group Gary Walker & The Rain.^[1] The band released several singles, an EP, and an album on the Polydor and Philips labels in the UK and Japan between 1967 and 1969. Titled #1, the album featured four Molland songs and was especially well received in Japan,^[2] but the band broke up in early 1969.^[3]

Molland joined Badfinger as guitarist in 1969. During Molland’s association with Apple Records, he made guest appearances on two George Harrison albums, All Things Must Pass and The Concert for Bangladesh, and the 1971 John Lennon album, Imagine, including the single “Jealous Guy” released in 1985.^[4][5]

Molland left Badfinger in late 1974 due to disagreements over management,^[6] months before band member Pete Ham died by suicide in April 1975.^[7] Molland then joined with Jerry Shirley (formerly of Humble Pie) and formed a group called Natural Gas.^[8] The band released their self-titled album on Private Stock Records in 1976, and enjoyed a successful tour with Peter Frampton the following year. According to Molland, a general lack of organisation led to the band’s demise late in 1977.^[2]