Speaking to BBC's Week In Week Out programme in 1987, the band's solicitor Tim Douglas-Jones said no money from the US was ever recovered. What was Phil Spector like in the studio? Ironically, eight years later, Tom Evans would choose . Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. In 1974, Warner's publishing division filed a lawsuit against Polley when it was unsuccessful in locating the funds. Asss Tom Evans-devised coverdepicting a jackass gazing longingly at a giant carrot off in the distanceoffered a grim omen of Badfingers future. Bill Collins, related to classic-Kinks manager Grenville Collins of Robert owes half to Grenville? S tan Polley (1922- ) is a retired American music entrepreneur who, for a time, managed the business ventures of several musicians. The single 'Something'/'Come Together' was released on 31 October 1969. They played this bombastic version of Without You and we were flabbergasted.". Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? The giant conglomerate Warner Bros. Records was interested. Try again later. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. In 1991, Polley pleaded no contest to charges of misappropriating funds and money laundering in Riverside County, California. As far as out right stealing from, and cheating The Beatles, "NO"! Good riddance. THE TRUTH BEHIND THE BRAWL BETWEEN JOHN LENNON AND CHRIS MONTEZ IN 1963! In fact, some referred to the band as, The new Fab Four and they were handpicked by the members of the Beatles themselves. Did that sound like a hit when you were recording it? If you want advice in a year or two, call me.. He was replaced by Joey Molland. Please reset your password. Their songs and albums made millions but a series of financial and legal complications would lead to the deaths of two of the bands main songwriters, and leave behind a bittersweet legacy. The same year, the band released their third record Straight Up, producing two more hits, Day After Day and Baby Blue. When I first joined the band, it didnt seem as if anybody was paying attention to them. In November 1968, Apple released the Iveys first single, the bittersweet Evans-penned ballad Maybe Tomorrow, lushly produced by Tony Visconti. He was provided with unaudited accounts that said earnings had been eaten up by expensive US tours. It all became too much for Pete Ham who hanged himself in his garage on April 23, 1975 at the age of 27. This browser does not support getting your location. Mollands departure, and the fact that Wish You Were Here had been pulled from record-store shelves, didnt stop the band (which now included new keyboardist/guitarist Bob Jackson) from rushing into the studio in early 1975 to record yet another haphazardly-assembled album, Head First. Ask away and we will do our best to answer or find someone who can.We try to vet our answers to get you the most acurate answers. He said his ears were burnt as he'd been listening to it for hours and wanted our opinion," he said. Throughout his career, Polley defrauded a number of clients and associates, most notably Badfinger. Dr. Stan Polley teaches 2nd, 4th, and 7th grade science at Loveland Classical School in Loveland, Colorado. Everything contract-wise, you name it; he wasnt being a straight shooter.. 67 in America. Unable to get a hold of the bands manager, Warner filed a lawsuit against Badfinger Enterprises and Stan Polley over the missing funds. Pete and Tommy had been warned when the band left Apple and signed to Warners to get rid of him. By Gregg L. Friedman MD, Nirvana were really great - never liked any other 'grunge' bands, only later liked some Mudhoney - though i did own a flannel shirt, but, SAM CUTLER: LIFE WITH THE STONES, THE DEAD & OTHER WONDERFUL REPROBATES, ALL THE RAJ: HOW NORWEGIAN WOOD UNLEASHED THE INDIAN INVASION, THE KNACK AND HOW TO GET IT: AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESCOTT NILES, PLEASE READ ME: THE BEST OF PKM FOR 2021, PART II, UTOPIA PARKWAY: THE ENDURING MYSTERY OF JOSEPH CORNELL. As the first non-solo act on Apple Records, Badfinger had remarkable chemistry, huge hits on the charts, and theyd be critically acclaimed as natural successors to The Beatles. The records were on the radio all over the world, and we were doing 120 shows a year . [8], Polley's clients included singer-producer Hank Medress, the rock band Badfinger, musician Al Kooper, singer Lou Christie, Michael Cooper, Charles Calello, Sandy Linzer and Bob Lewis. The band signed a contract with Warner Brothers in late 1973 and very quickly, problems arose. Swanseas importance as a port city and industrial center had made it an attractive bombing target during World War II, and many of the buildings in Swanseas city center had been destroyed during the Nazis three-night Blitz in February 1941. Applebee, and the girls would be screaming, screaming, screaming, but then hed go, Hang on a minute, look to the other side andthere would be crowds around Dai. Polley was a slick, charming operator who'd served in the U.S. Army and worked in New York's garment industry, before entering the music business in the mid-'60s. Polley was placed on probation for five years and ordered by the court to return all missing funds to Brock, although the complainant said the restitution never materialized. In 1970, Polley formed a company called Badfinger Enterprises, Inc. as a management arm for the British rock group Badfinger, which had no American representation at the time. Failed to remove flower. PS: Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. "Pete trusted him [Polley], but was living in an attic, driving a second-hand Triumph Stag after winning an Ivor Novello award," he said. Polley was born on April 7, 1922 in New York City. His clients included rock band Badfinger, musician Al Kooper, and singer Lou Christie. American businessman Stan Polley, who had taken over their affairs from original manager, Bill Collins, defrauded the band out of millions, leaving them all but broke. Biography: Polley served in the U.S. Army before beginning his managerial career in New York's garment industry. At one point we met a manager by the name Stan Polley. Those close to him claimed he was loyal and stubborn, still not wanting to drop their management. He encouraged the band to focus on songwriting and Pete Ham took that to heart, demoing tons of original songs using the houses makeshift studio. His clients were mostly American artists, including Al Kooper and Lou Christie, but Polley is mostly known for his alleged mismanagement of the British band Badfinger. The un-cooperation of the Beatles isnt helping either. His clients included rock band Badfinger, musician Al Kooper, singer Lou Christie, singer-producer Hank Medress, arranger Charles Calello, composer Sandy Linzer, WABC disc jockey Bob Lewis, among others. In 2013, Baby Blue, a record Molland calls "one of the great rock songs" featured in television show Breaking Bad. By the next January, the band was done.". So he came over and played bass, and we made some demos. I did a lot more work with George than with John. "As the last one, I'm very aware of my responsibility to keep the music and band going," he said. [Laughs] He was a complete genius as a singer, writer and just well, he was John Lennon! Pete actually left the band at one time. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. His clients included rock band Badfinger, musician Al Kooper, and singer Lou Christie. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. There are times when it all feels like a dream, says guitarist Joey Molland, recalling the glory days a half century ago when Badfinger ruled the airwaves with a series of exquisitely crafted pop-rock hits like Come and Get It, No Matter What, Day After Day and Baby Blue. Collins was insistent that the band sign with Apple Records, which was owned by the Beatles themselves. "Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. People seemed to really like us over there, and we went over like mad. Tommys abiding love for the Everly Brothers manifested itself in his facility for vocal harmony. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Its been reported that it was because of an argument about royalties between you, Tom, Mike Gibbins and Bill Collins, your former manager, that Tom also hanged himself. Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. Success followed, but it was in 1974 after a switch to a US-based manager and the Warner Brothers label that things began going wrong, Molland said. "He introduced himself and asked us to listen to a mix he'd written. Learn more about merges. Most of the songs are Ham's - who he calls a "Welsh genius" who would have written many more brilliant tunes. Nearly 5000 downloads of the song were sold immediately after the shows broadcast, pushing the 40-year-old tune into iTunes Top 20. Like Evans, Molland had seen the Beatles perform in their early days, and had come of age on Liverpools booming beat-group scene. Mackintosh Academy - Boulder. We had guitars in our songs! I feel as if things couldve turned out differently. Later that morning, his body was cut down by his bandmate Tom Evans. Career Do you remember what kind of guitar and amp setup you used on that? The band fell apart. Anna was born on August 17 1868, in Griggsville, Pike, Illinois, USA. Throughout his career, Polley defrauded a number of clients and associates, most notably Badfinger. So, only six weeks after finishing Ass, the band returned to the studio with Chris Thomas to record their Warner debut, which would be released in 1974 as Badfinger (the band had originally wanted to title it For Love or Money). Im saddened that Badfinger will never carry on till tomorrow. George played slide guitar on Day After Day. As Badfingers chief creative force, the sensitive bandleader bore the lions share of the mental burden, and the prospect of the imminent birth of his first child intensified the pressure. As the only married occupant of the groups communal London home, and the father of a ten-month-old child, Griffiths family responsibilities sparked conflict between him and Evans, who questioned his level of dedication to the band. The Beatles rise to prominence gave him an impetus to expand the Panthers all-instrumental repertoire to include vocals. Oops, something didn't work. Dropping the Iveys moniker for Badfinger (a reference to Bad Finger Boogie, the working title of the Beatles With a Little Help from My Friends), the band saw the albums lead single, Come and Get It, a Paul McCartney-penned ear-candy gem that could have easily figured on Abbey Road, hit the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic in the spring of 1970. But I cant think about what might have been. You go crazy if you live your life like that., What I knew of the Iveys was that they were a bit too pop for me at the time. Tommy wanted it done a certain way, but I wanted it to be done the way we had agreed originally. It was in April 1975 that Ham hanged himself. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. His clients . The necessity of a wiki page on Stan Polley is rather dubious, especially if the bulk of it is in reference to Badfinger. Evans, Molland and Gibbins all drifted back into music, and in 1979, Evans and Molland reunited in a new U.S.-based band that eventually adopted the familiar Badfinger name. Soon after, the band did another demo session for CBS Records, although the label declined to sign them. The rock star was hopeless over his financial situation after their manager, Stan Polley, vanished with their money and left them penniless. The situation weighed most heavily on Pete Ham. Stanley Polley. No advertising or spamming is permitted. But he was cool, and we became good friends. A more conscience-free liar, thief and bullshitter . We were astounded when we heard Harrys version. "I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. "But he was spinning us a line. A financial statement prepared by Polleys accountants from December of 1970 to October 31, 1971 showed Polleys income from the band. When Warner Music found 385,000 missing from another account, they sued Badfinger and Polley. Stanley Herbert Polley (April 7, 1922 - July 20, 2009) was an American entertainment manager and fraudster active in the 1960s and 1970s. He formed further companies for legal and accounting purposes to manage artists including composers Irwin Levine and Larry Brown. They had a house and we settled down to play together. The subsequent lawsuit against Badfinger Enterprises resulted in Stan Polley being accused of mishandling the band's affairs. The rest, he claimed, was being saved and invested. Apple was facing financial troubles, and as a result, the 1969 release of their album Maybe Tomorrow, which was planned to be put out worldwide, didnt include the United States. Collins moved with the Iveys to London, England, where theyd set up base at his communal house in Golders Green. We needed a bass player, so I called Tommy and asked him what he was up to. But his involvement would ultimately seal the bands doom. Ten million people watched Sunday's final episode of Breaking Bad, with a touching farewell scene set to Badfinger's 1971 ballad Baby Blue. The vacancy was filled by another Liverpool native, Joey Molland, whose guitar, vocal and songwriting skills were well matched to those of Ham and Evans. The Rascals were amazing.. My feeling was, Just tag along, man. Signed by the Beatles The Iveys were the first band signed to The Beatles' Apple label in 1968. Most of Polley's American clients said they were already suspicious of their manager by this point, but the publicity of the hearings convinced several to sever ties with him. Id seen them on TV doing a song called Maybe Tomorrow, and it wasnt my cup of tea. On April 24, 1975, Hams girlfriend, who was pregnant with their daughter at the time, discovered his body hanging in their garage. Polleys business partner, Stan Poses had concerns with the new contract, recalling, Id started to figure out that what Polley had set up didnt make sense. He didnt really think about what he was going to say before he said it he just said it. We were driving secondhand cars. He was very rude, actually, and we didnt like him. Try again later. The strain had increasingly shown in his behavior, with friends seeing him put out cigarettes on his arms and hands. Badfingers roots date back to the early 60s, in the close-knit music scene of Swansea Wales. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). "The younger ones are curious about the band while musicians talk about the guitar parts that inspired them.". Please enter your email and password to sign in. He came back after a few weeks and wanted back in. Recognizing the Iveys talent and potential, he signed them to a management deal and moved them to London, where he installed them in a house that he rented in the suburb of Golders Green. WERE WE ALL BRAINWASHED BY THE CIA WITH SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK & ROLL? He was great as a producer. What was the buzz on them? The intense, emotionally volatile musicianthe one Badfinger member who had initially expressed reservations about signing with Stan Polleyhad never really come to terms with Hams suicide, and remained racked by guilt and depression. We were all quite freaked out about even seeing him. He knew exactly what he wanted as far as rhythm guitar: all straight up-and-down strokes. He was serious about being a rock band, so they argued about it. Ironically, although he was virtually penniless, Evans had more than a million dollars worth of publishing royalties that remained frozen at Apple, waiting for Badfingers tangled legal issues to be resolved. Alan T, Oct 26, 2009 #110 wildstar Senior Member Location: ontario, canada Alan T said: Badfinger were on a downward spiral in record sales after the last Apple LP. Thanks for your help! To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. In January 1968, Bill Collins invited the Beatles longtime personal assistant Mal Evans, along with Apple Records A&R head Peter Asher, to see the Iveys play at Londons Marquee Club. I will take him with me." - Pete Ham By the spring of 1975, Pete Ham learned he was penniless. In 1968, Polley formed a company called Five Arts Management, for his work with singer Lou Christie, musician Al Kooper, arranger Charles Calello, TV director Michael Cooper, composer Sandy Linzer and WABC disc jockey Bob Lewis. Already in his 50s, Collins had played piano in dance bands in the 1940s, and more recently had briefly road-managed the Kinks. On the night of November 18, 1983, Evans had a heated phone argument with Molland about the Apple stalemate. As detailed in "Suicide in the Entertainment Industry," by David K. Frasier, the band found financial representation in New York businessman Stan Polley, who netted them a six-figure contract with Warner Records in 1974, but would only give them a grand a month in allowance. People think that because the band was signed to Apple that they were just given a straight ride to success, but that wasnt the case. Straight Up spawned a pair of Ham-penned American hits in Day After Day and Baby Blue, although Apples business problems kept the latter from being released as a single in the U.K. Like No Matter What, both songs carried an unmistakable sense of bittersweet melancholy, giving them an emotional depth that transcended their ostensible status as fluffy pop-rock tunes. USD. When you go to the meetings, just tell Polley you dont want to sign his contracts and you dont want him to manage you. I asked him what we were going to do about Stan, and he didnt want to do anything. I think we would have gone a long way with that. Badfinger were the first act signed to the fab four's Apple Records and wrote Without You, which later became a massive hit for Harry Nilsson. I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody, Ham wrote. We were broke! Sex tapes, shady business dealings, and homicides we'd all rather forget. Head First contained a pair of scathing Tom Evans compositions, Hey Mr. Manager and Rock n Roll Contract, that offered his bitter assessment of Stan Polleys handling of the bands affairs. The Iveys had put out some records before Come and Get It that didnt really take off, Molland says. It would drag on through the courts for years, tying up millions of dollars. In April 1970, manager Bill Collins was in the US scouting prospects for a tour and he met Stan Polley. Failed to delete memorial. Getting involved with the crook was the worst thing we ever did. During the early months of 1975, Ham repeatedly tried in vain to reach Polley via telephone, hoping to get a handle on the bands out-of-control legal situation and the money that he was owed. Joey Molland keeps Badfinger alive as the sole surviving member of their classic lineup and continues to perform. 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