11 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 formed a local rock group called The Panthers circa 1961.

Pete Ham eventually became the prominent songwriter for the band, after a Revox tape recorder was made available by Collins to encourage him.

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.

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 at the age of 27 in his garage studio in Woking later that morning.

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.