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This page is dedicated to drummer Mike Gibbins

New Badfinger Live Album from drummer Mike Gibbins

DBA-BFR is the title of the archival release from Badfinger.  Recorded on October 19, 1982 in Bloomington, Indiana, the disc has been manufactured from an audience audio tape.  According to Gibbins' website, the disc has been "painstakingly cleaned for posterity."  Doing Business As Badfinger at that time were founding members Gibbins and Tom Evans with keyboardist Bob Jackson, Chicago's Donny Dacus, and the Grass Roots' Reed Kailing.  Included are all of the groups top hits and a cover of The Beatles' "Back in the U.S.S.R."  Click here for ordering information.  

To read the Cottage Views interview with Mike Gibbins scroll down 

Dream Harder

Former Badfinger Drummer Mike Gibbins has issued a limited edition CD single which will benefit the families of the September 11th terrorist attacks on America.   All profits from the sale of the disc will be donated to the American Red Cross.  The song, "Dream Harder," is an update of a track that Gibbins had previously contributed to a now out-of-print sampler, Young Savage Florida.  To order a copy go to www.mikegibbins.com now.  

March 2001

     Mike Gibbins unveiled his new solo disc to fans at Beatlefest   

  Interview previously published in Cottage Views Classic Rock News © 2002 Cottage Views

Unauthorized duplication punishable by law.

In an exclusive interview with Cottage Views Mike talked about the disc and what's to come in the future.  

Cottage Views: I just got a copy of your new album and from listening to the music it seems like you’re enjoying yourself more these days.

Mike Gibbins: Oh, yeah. Well, I got all the shit out of my head (laughs).

C.V.: So, you’re finally at the point where you’re recording music just for the fun of it, again?

M.G.: It was an excuse to just have a bit of fun. I had a laugh with it. There’s only one or two serious songs on it.

C.V.: Do you play all of the instruments on it?

M.G.: I play keyboards and drums. Rick Warsing plays bass and guitar. I got Ron Griffiths - I rubbed off one of my vocals and let him sing it. Ron was one of the singers in the Iveys. He’s a singer. I’m not a singer, I’m a drummer (laughs).

I want to get to the point where I can actually do it live. Get some soul into the music. For what I’ve got, I’m pleased with it. For the equipment and the way I did it. I just wish I could sell a couple! (laughs)

C.V.: Did you record More Annoying Songs in your home studio?

M.G.: I recorded it at my house on 8 track. My little studio was initially a drum room - 8’ x 9’. I’ve been writing with a keyboard, then playing my drums, and then getting the guitar player in to finish it off. I haven’t the technology to sit down and mix for hours. In the old days the band spent more time mixing than they did actually playing.

C.V.: Do you find it easier to record like this?

M.G.: Well, I like it when the clock is not running. I’d like to go into a major studio with a producer. That would sound a lot nicer, obviously, but I haven’t got that kind of money. And my kind of music is for an older audience, and they don’t buy records really. All the old people do, which I’m included, is replenish their old stash (laughs).

C.V.: Now that the entire catalog is available, a younger audience will have the opportunity to check out Badfinger.

M.G.: Yeah. When the VH1 thing hit the airwaves the sales rocketed. I wish they’d re-run it.

C.V.: Where you happy with the way VH1 handled your Behind the Music?

M.G.: It’s such a long, involved, story it’s tough to get it into one hour. Plus, with the commercials you’re talking 40 - 45 minutes, really. I think they did a splendid job of piecing it together.

C.V.: VH1 always seems to play up the tragic aspect of everything.

M.G.: The only thing that I can criticize is that they didn’t play enough of the music.

C.V.: What is your favorite memory from those times?

M.G.: From that time I would have to say recording “Come and Get It” with (Paul) McCartney playing the piano. Actually playing with a Beatle. We played with George (Harrison), too, on one of (Badfinger guitarist) Joey (Molland)’s songs, “I’d die Babe.” He played guitar on that. When we actually played with The Beatles it was nice.

C.V.: I just watched the Magic Christian movie again...

M.G.: Bizarre, isn’t it?

C.V.: Yeah, but it was great in the way that they used Badfinger’s music. They utilized the music to it’s best ability.

M.G.: In fact, we had to go there to watch the movie with no sound, and it would say ‘insert music here.’ That was great of Paul to give us that, you know. I owe him big time.

C.V.: Do you keep in touch?

M.G.: No. The last time I saw Paul was in London just after Pete (Ham) died. When he was forming Wings. I actually tried to get that job but it was too late. (Wings guitarist) Denny Laine already had his drummer friend all hooked up. I went to meet Joey and Kathie (Molland) at Blake’s Hotel in London and there was a (Led) Zeppelin concert we were going to. Joey had tickets and I ended up going there with one of the promoters. Zeppelin were staying at the Blake’s Hotel and McCartney came in later on with Linda (McCartney) and some of Wings and I talked to him then about Pete, and all that. He bought me a drink and he was patting me on the back, saying, “What can I say?” He was kind of devastated about that. That was the last time I saw Paul.

C.V.: I saw on your web site that your son Owen has a record out and you play drums on it?

M.G.: Yeah, he did some demos in my studio. He said, “What do you think of this?” And I said, “It’s alright. Not my cup of tea, but you know.” (laughs)

C.V.: What kind of music is it?

M.G.: He’s into the modern music. He’s an excellent guitar player. In fact, I had a tough time keeping up with him (laughs).

C.V.: What advice did you give him when you found out he was going to follow in your footsteps as a musician?

M.G.: None whatsoever. We can’t give kids advice. They won’t take it. It’s best to let them go and find their own way.

C.V.: Will you go out and play some gigs?

M.G.: Yeah. I’ve been on the phone with Ron Griffiths and (former Badfinger keyboardist) Bob Jackson. In fact, Bob is currently sending me tapes. I have to play drums on his new stuff. It’s just availability of getting everybody in the same place.

C.V.: Are they both still residing in England?

M.G.: Yeah. Ron and Bob are in England. Ron is already working with Bob, playing bass on the new stuff, and then I’m going to have to overdub the drums. Also, Ron is coming over here to visit me again in April and he’s going to do some vocals for the new stuff of mine. Eventually, I’m going to get Bob over here, but he’s playing with the Fortunes right now. He’s working round the clock, so when he gets a vacation from that band we’ll do something in my studio.

C.V.: You’ve already got new songs ready to go?

M.G.: I’ve got six finished from the old album. The old album could have been an extra six songs, but I thought it was too much for one listening. Especially ‘annoying songs’ (laughs). So, I kept it to an hour, or just under an hour. That’s plenty of time for listening to an album. And I didn’t want to bore people to death, you know? I thought it was a tasty few songs. It’s a cross-section.

On the next bunch of songs I’m going to feature Ron on at least four of ‘em. I think he’s got a nicer voice than me.

C.V.: Another thing that I noticed on the web site that you also have a few songs that you recorded with Man. Are they going to come out?

M.G.: Well, when I left Badfinger for a little stint I went into Rockfield with Deke Leonard and Martin Ace from the Man band. It’s a famous studio in Wales. I put down three or four tracks and we used one of the drummers from King Crimson, but it was never released. At the time I was contracted to Apple and when I played them the tapes all the people in the office said, ‘What was that? George?,’ and I thought, ‘Oh, yeah. That’s kind of neat.’ Anyway, they didn’t like it. I think one of the American executives didn’t like it. He said, ‘Thank you, but no thanks.’

C.V.: Do you own those tapes now?

M.G.: Well, I guess. The masters I burned. I threw them away a long time ago (laughs). I’ve got copies, but the actual big reels are gone.

C.V.: Do you think you’d put them out as a collectable?

M.G.: I probably could do that, yeah. But, right now I’ve just started this web site and I’m finding it pretty tough going. I’ve got an older audience, Badfinger fans, and a lot of them are only interested in actual Badfinger material. It would be nice if they would actually buy my album. It’s not available in stores. But it’s a labor of love on my part. I’m not trying to get famous. It’s just a labor of love. Any profit I make off of this CD, which I doubt I’ll make any, but if I did, it would just go into buying better equipment to make more music. That’s what it’s about.

By the way, if you plug the web site make sure you tell them it’s Mike Gibbins with an i. A lot of people can’t find my web site because they punch in ‘Gibbons.’

C.V.: How did the confusion over the spelling of your name happen?

M.G.: I don’t know. I’ve got a gold record sitting on the wall here with ‘Gibbons’ on it.

C.V.: You know, Badfinger sold thousands of records over the years. How come none of your records have never been certified by the R.I.A.A.?

M.G.: Who knows. I don’t know.

C.V.: I also heard that you never got your gold album for participating in the Concert for Bangla Desh.

M.G.: Un, uh. (Manager) Bill Collins got that. I’d like to have one of those, too. Hey, I’m going to get a tin one for my new album (laughs). You can quote me on that. 

To order Mike Gibbins music go to www.mikegibbins.com

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