Legendary 70s guitarist Joey Molland has died at the age of 77.
The news of the Badfinger musican’s death was confirmed in a statement on the band’s Facebook page on Sunday.
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 11:39pm CST.
‘When I receive the information regarding arrangements, I will post them here.
I was in bed when it happened, and I woke up to the news, so I apologize for the delay. I have already come across a few posts on my personal feed, and received half a dozen PMs this morning. (Thank you for the sympathies.)
Needless to say, although I was aware that the situation was serious, it still came as a shock. I’m sure if this is the first time you’re hearing about it, it’s also a shock to you. Long Live Badfinger.
Legendary 70s guitarist Joey Molland, aged 77, has passed away. The confirmation of the Badfinger musician’s death was made in a statement on the band’s Facebook page on Sunday (as seen in 2019).
‘Thank you, Joey…for keeping the band’s music alive for so long and for being a friend to us all.’
The guitarist’s official cause of death has not been revealed but he was diagnosed with pneumonia in recent months.
Joey’s girlfriend Mary revealed that the musician was in ICU in a Facebook update posted in December.
‘Joey is in the ICU,’ she wrote. ‘A higher level ICU than when we were admitted. He is battling multiple fronts right now, but seems more comfortable. Thankfully they have not had to resort to a ventilator’.
Mary set up a GoFundMe page in January to help with medical costs for her partner, explaining that the guitarist had first fallen ill in Autumn 2024 ‘and then in early December acquired a very bad bacterial infection due to his diabetes.’
‘The infection caused septicemia and traveled through his body, causing harm in multiple critical organs and bones.’
In another update shared in February she told fans: ‘I know I need to do an update, and I wish I could always do a super positive update, but things don’t always work that way.
‘Joey is still going through very complicated medical issues and they change daily. He is on day 61 here. The hospital he is at has been alright in some ways, but very inconsistent in others.
‘I just came in and his oxygen was SO low. It makes me feel so overwhelmed and helpless. Everything moves so slow and I feel like if I’m not here 24/7 that other things will happen too. And I might be too late in catching it.
Joey joined Badfinger — formerly the Iveys, and one of the first acts signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records — in 1969 following the recording of the band’s debut album. L-R Pete Ham, Tommy Evans, Mike Gibbons, Joey Molland
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’
‘My heart hurts. I want to absorb all his discomfort. Physically Joe is still on antibiotics for pneumonia. His blood sugar has fluctuated as it does with diabetes. His cognitive abilities have also fluctuated.
‘But the low oxygen could explain some of that recently. Exasperating. He is very fragile right now. But he is pure Joey when he is more with-it. We just need more of those times.’
Joey joined Badfinger — formerly the Iveys, and one of the first acts signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records — in 1969 following the recording of the band’s debut album.
Their hits were regularly produced by George Harrison. Joey was close to several Beatles members and played guitar on a vast catalogue of John Lennon songs as well as featuring on Harrison’s 1970 album All Things Must Pass.
Joey joined Badfinger — formerly the Iveys, and one of the first acts signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records — in 1969 following the recording of the band’s debut album (pictured in 1976)
Molland was the band’s songwriter and lead singer in the early seventies and after the lineup disbanded he formed Molland’s Badfinger (pictured in 2018)
The Badfinger lineup of Molland, singer/guitarist Pete Ham, singer/bassist Tom Evans, and drummer Mike Gibbins recorded five albums, together before disbanding in 1974.
Molland was the band’s songwriter and lead singer in the early seventies and after the lineup disbanded he formed Molland’s Badfinger, continuing to make music until shortly before his death.
He was the last surviving member of Badfinger. Pete Ham took his own life in 1975 and Tom Evans died by suicide eight years later.
Mike Gibbins died from a brain aneurysm in 2005.
