"Badfinger" Premium Unisex T-Shirt

Badfinger wrote some of the most beautiful songs of the early 1970s. They were managed by a con man who stole everything. And two of them didn't survive it.

The bones of the story: Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins, and Joey Molland. Welsh lads who came up through the Liverpool scene, got signed to Apple Records in 1969, and had Paul McCartney hand them their debut hit — "Come and Get It," which he wrote and produced specifically for them. They followed it with "No Matter What," "Day After Day" (produced by George Harrison), and "Baby Blue" — four top-ten singles in three years, each one a lesson in how to write a melody that doesn't quit.

Then there was "Without You." Ham and Evans wrote it as a deep cut on No Dice in 1970. Harry Nilsson recorded it in 1971 and it went to number one. Mariah Carey recorded it in 1994 and it went to number one again. Two number-one hits from a song its authors never performed as a single. The world heard it. They didn't get the credit.

What followed was a management catastrophe. Stan Polley, their American manager, ran the band's finances into the ground — misappropriating funds, leaving them unable to pay basic bills while their records kept selling. The legal and financial wreckage was total. Pete Ham hanged himself in 1975, at 27, days before what would have been a breakthrough settlement. Tom Evans, his closest collaborator and co-writer of "Without You," hanged himself in 1983.

Badfinger's catalog has never stopped selling. Their songs have never stopped being covered. The tragedy is that they never got to see it.

After 30+ years designing apparel for major retailers, we know that Badfinger fans carry this story personally. This tee is for people who know what it means to love a band that deserved so much more than it got.

More power pop & the Beatles universe: Explore our Beatles Universe collection or discover our 70s Rock collection celebrating the era's greatest songwriters.

Premium Quality

• 4.2 oz. Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton (32 singles) — Soft, lightweight, and breathable
• Pre-shrunk fabric — Maintains size and shape wash after wash
• Side-seamed construction — Tailored fit that holds its shape
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping — Reinforced for long-lasting wear
• Unisex sizing, XS–4XL — Runs true to size; size up for a relaxed, vintage feel

Why Badfinger Matters

"No Matter What." "Day After Day." "Baby Blue." "Without You." Four songs that defined an era, written by a band that was cheated out of everything they earned. This tee is for fans who know the full story — and know that Badfinger were as good as anyone who came out of that moment.

Made-to-order for environmental and quality reasons. Typically produced within one week. Tracking information provided as soon as it ships.