You may remember Badfinger’s “Baby Blue” from classic rock stations or from its starring role in the series finale of Breaking Bad. But you may not know that the band was the first to be signed by The Beatles’ Apple Records in 1968.
Their musical legacy is worth celebrating, and that’s exactly what will happen on April 28, when Let It Be Music Club in downtown Waukesha hosts a tribute to Badfinger — with a sprinkling of Red Hot Chili Peppers for good measure.
The 7 p.m. show (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) is a benefit for the Chad Smith Foundation, an organization founded by the RHCP drummer to expand access to high-quality music education. The foundation’s recently announced After-School Music Program — or AMP — will launch in Milwaukee and work with local partners to provide scholarships and instruments for students throughout the area.
The event at Let It Be will feature an all-star group led by Jeff Alan Ross, who played in Badfinger founding member Joey Molland’s band until Molland passed away in March of 2025. The night will also include:
- A sneak peak of an upcoming documentary about Molland, plus insights from director John Anderson.
- The CD release of Just Look Inside the Cover, a tribute recording based on songs written by Badfinger member Pete Ham.
- In-person stories from family of the band’s founding members, plus video messages.
- A display of rare Badfinger memorabilia and swag bags for attendees.
In the run-up to the show, I got some behind-the-scenes details from singer/songwriter Mary Karlzen, who will perform as part of the all-star band; Mark Strothman Jr., the agent for family members of Badfinger; and Brad Smith, board member of the Chad Smith Foundation. You can hear our conversation using the player at the top of the page and get tickets to the April 28 event via the Let It Be website.
