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This book has its positive and negative sides. The positive is that it actually attracts attention towards one of the most underrated bands of all time - Badfinger. The negative is that it has an anti-Molland bias. It is an interesting read but it must be read with the knowledge that it is only one view of events and the view of someone who was not there and also has an agenda. Unfortunately, for many years, this was the only resource available for Badfinger enthusiasts and fanatics, who read it not knowing of the politics behind it. As time often does, it has made this book almost completely obsolete. A fun read if understood that it is the tragic "story" and not the brutal truth. A replacement book is needed with less bias and greater input from all living participants in the tale of Badfinger (Ron Griffiths, Bob Jackson and of course Joey Molland for a start). I write this review as someone who owns every Badfinger release, including all solo works of all members and all their sessions with other artists (including 2 copies of a Mike Gibbins single of which only 12 were produced). I have also met Joey Molland, Bob Jackson, Ron Griffiths and many others relating to the Badfinger story (including the author of this book) as well as having written communication with Mike Gibbins. Read it and make up your own mind but remember that not everyone agrees with the story told here. The music is as good as ever and Joey continues to perform.Read full review
This is just a very long article and not the TRUE story of the band. The author was rejected by Joey and Kathie Molland and therefore this book is a self-published, UNAUTHORISED biography of Badfinger. The author has not reported the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, instead he has taken his rejection as an opportunity to brainwash any reader who did not personally know the band into believing that Peter Ham and Tommy Evans were little short of saints, ignores Mike Gibbins for the most part and tries to make Joey and his wife the 'villains'. Inaccurate reporting of incidents that the author did not witness makes me advuse, Always beware of UNAUTHORISED versions because there is always a reason.
From what I can see here, Pete_Tom is the gay author who wrote this book. I think it is disgusting how he has has the nerve to review his own book and give himself 5 stars, if that isn't blowing your own trumpet what is? I'm afraid the book is as stated by the other reviews, a one sided attack on one of the group who, tried to steal Mr Molland for himself. After being turned down by the Mollands after finding out there was more to Matavina than meets the eye, he went on a verbal rampage of the Mollands reputation. He did the same to the reviewer above after he turned down his advances, this mans work is driven by what's in his trousers not what's in his head, if only he could have stuck to the facts. This man is a lone gunman clutching to the memories of what he could never get. A torchered sole who wants nothing more than to be loved, when turned down by the McCartney look a like he took his pen and attempted to rewrite history into what he wanted to believe, not what really happened. He omitted to mention in his book the fact that he stayed with the Mollands for some time, giving Joey pictures that Matovina created with his own pencil showing him the love he felt Joey needed. He was thrown out of the Mollands dwelling together with his pictures, his chocolates and his wine, his life in tatters between his legs. This all led to the book which showed all the love of a man shattered, his only way to make amends to himself was to write this junk. He couldn't get a publisher to get this book out as they all saw what the aim of this book was, so he had to finance it himself, in other words nobody else would touch it. Over ten years on and this book didn't do the job it was intended to do, this is why Matovina hangs on to coatstrings of anybody who is willing to listen. I'm sure Matovina or one of his followers will have a reply for my review, probably going as far to say that I am 'nhbadfinger' nothing would surprise me these days, the fact is read this book at your own peril. You'll see where the daeths of the two memebers who took their own lives how much Matovina wanted to be, not just part of this group, but married to the group in someway or other. This he has succeded in, by making people believe what can happen when fiction and fact comes together. Matovina has found one thing out that many others dismiss, how much he is alike San Polley, the difference is this! Matovina you were never in the group, you were never the manager of the group and never married to one of the group. Get a life, get a boyfriend, be happy and shut up!Read full review
Anyone who reads this book can comprehend the strong credibility of it. What I love is the research gives all the viewpoints of all the participants (including the Mollands) and there is documentation galore to back it up. The book paints a excellent picture of Wales and the U.K. at the time. America in the early 70s. The cocaine era in L.A. that screwed up a lot of bands. If you go to the book's website you see comments from all the major players that they were accurately represented and thy think book is fantastic. Read the reviews from the press there, too. This book got me into all the band's material. The author also has promoted the release of some Pete Ham CD's, which were great. I did have to almost laugh when I saw the three reviews here listed the from almost same day!!!, apparently, three friends of Joey Molland. AGENDA, AGENDA, AGENDA... Joey and his wife, have slagged the author on discussion boards that I saw in the early 2000s, but they always stated 'never read the book.' Boy, THAT's credible. It is shame that the author had to come on here to defend this bullshit rhetoric, though I can't blame him. And some bootlegger is allegedly involved. What a lame crap thing that is. Believe me, you'll probably love the book, even if you barely know the band, and likely will be moved and become a big fan of this excellent band. I bought ten copies for friends of the revised book in 2000 and have shared some of the original CD's here on EBAY, as I make copies for others. Fascinating stuff that has to be heard...Read full review
I got this book as a gift several years ago. When the values started climbing and I heard an updated version was coming out I thought I'd sell my original copy and buy an update at publisher's price when it came out. Alas that has not happened. I'd like to buy another copy of the original, when I can find one that's affordable. As much of a cult classic as this book has become I still think a few hundred dollars doesn't make it a 'good value' unless it's a collectible copy signed by the author or someone in the book. It seems to me that there is some bad blood between Joey Molland and anyone who doesn't portray him as fully as responsible for the band's success as (say) Pete Ham. To be honest it leaves a bad taste with me when one band member continues touring under the name of the original band which really no longer exists. Paul McCartney tours as Paul McCartney though he's doing a lot of Beatles' music; he's not calling his touring band 'The Beatles'. I don't want to take away whatever Mr. Molland contributed to the success of Badfinger but I just don't see him as on the level of Pete Ham any more than I see Ringo Starr on the level of Lennon or McCartney. Important to be sure but not the heart and soul of the band. The story of Badfinger is a real tragedy, just as the cover of the book notes. Imagine being massively successful with songs in the top ten and your manager is seeing you get paid as if you were a grocery clerk or something. All the money that these young men should have been getting was being siphoned off and with the dubious wranglings of Stan Polley, nearly all the money seems to have gone to him or others instead of to the people who generated it with their talent and work. That is unconscionable. Badfinger is a band which deserves to be remembered and for young bands on the way up, it's worth noting that there are things that can go wrong and people who will steal from you. I hope that eventually Mr. Molland will come to some sort of terms instead of making an issue of things. Life is too short.Read full review
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