April 7, 1972 (Friday)
Midland High School gymnasium
Midland, Michigan, U.S.A.

When I was maybe 8 years old, my folks just got divorced, my mother had carted us all out of Kansas City back to her hometown of Milwaukee. On our first visit back with our dad, he and his new, young girlfriend took us to some place she worked called The Cowtown Ballroom. There was barely anybody there, and there was this stage over against one wall with shiny drums and mic stands and speakers and just... all the stage gear. I started to fall in love before the band ever hit the stage.

I don't really remember a massive crowd; I could walk right up to the front of the stage and look at all the stuff. Eventually, the band came out and it was this band (Badfinger). I distinctly remember Pete Ham had those jeans on that looked like it was all patches sewn together. I was standing right in front of him, literally. I remember him looking at me with a sort of kindness in his eye, almost an adoration of this young boy discovering Rock music with his songs. I still get goosebumps about it.

Their music, because of this, flows with my blood throughout my body. I'm super-sad for Pete and the struggles he must have had. As an artist, myself, it is scary. Notoriety can be scary. God bless you, Pete! Thanks for some of the greatest music in my lifetime...

Jay Francis (2018)

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