14 Facts About Pete Ham

Pete Ham co-wrote the ballad "Without You", a worldwide number-one hit for Harry Nilsson that has become a standard covered by hundreds of artists.

Pete Ham grew up in Gwent Gardens, at the foot of the Townhill estate.

Pete Ham attended Gors Junior School, and showed early signs of musical talent.

Pete Ham's older brother John was a jazz trumpeter, and encouraged young Ham to enter the Swansea music scene.

Pete Ham formed a local rock group called The Panthers circa 1961.

Pete Ham initially protested against using a non-original to promote the band, as he had gained confidence in the group's compositions, but he was quickly convinced of the springboard effect of having a likely hit single.

Pete Ham followed up with two more worldwide hits in "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue".

Pete Ham reportedly tried on many occasions to contact Polley by telephone during the early months of 1975, but he was never able to reach him.

Pete Ham was in a relationship with Anne Ferguson, who was eight months pregnant at the time of his suicide.

Later that night, he met Tom Evans and they went to The White Hart Pub in Surrey together, where Pete Ham drank ten whiskies.

Pete Ham hanged himself in his garage studio in Woking later that morning, just three days shy of his 28th birthday.

Pete Ham had shown growing signs of mental illness over the preceding months, with Gibbins remembering Pete Ham burning his hands and arms with cigarettes.

Pete Ham was cremated at the Morriston Crematorium, Swansea; his ashes were spread in the memorial gardens.

Pete Ham is often credited as being one of the earliest purveyors of the power pop genre.