Badfinger drummer Mike Gibbins has died at the age of fifty six at his home in Florida. A statement on his website says: "To all Mike's fans, it is with deepest regret to inform all that he passed away on 4 October, in his sleep by natural causes. He will be terribly missed by all."
The sixties band, formed in Wales and signed to The Beatles Apple Corps label, were best known for writing the song 'Without You', a massive hit for both Harry Nillson and Mariah Carey. They were, however, beset with tragedy, and the two main songwriters Pete Ham and Tom Evans took their own lives when plagued by financial difficulties. Badfinger biographer Dan Matovina told the BBC: "Badfinger was the highlight of his life, coming out of Wales, having success, touring America. But the tragedy of losing his two bandmates to suicides weighed heavily on that."