April 27

 Pete Ham

April 27, 1947 – April 24, 1975. The Iveys featured Peter William Ham as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and singer during their transition to becoming Badfinger in 1969. He emerged as a premier songwriter, penning melodic hits that defined the power pop genre throughout the early seventies. His work anchored several classic albums, showcasing his ability to blend sophisticated harmonies with rock sensibilities.

As the frontman of Badfinger, Peter Ham remained with the group from 1969 to 1975. He also contributed his talents as a session acoustic guitarist for George Harrison during the recording of All Things Must Pass. His professional legacy is centered on his significant compositional contributions and instrumental versatility within the Apple Records roster before his career ended in the mid seventies.

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Ace Frehley

April 27, 1951 – October 16, 2025. Paul Daniel Frehley joined Kiss as their lead guitarist and backing singer in 1973 after answering a newspaper advertisement. Adopting the persona of The Spaceman, he became a visual and sonic cornerstone of the group, contributing searing riffs and smoking guitar solos to their explosive stage shows. His heavy, blues influenced playing style helped define their early studio albums and the landmark live recording Alive in 1975.

He emerged as a primary creative force, writing and singing lead on several tracks before launching a successful self titled solo album in 1978. Throughout the late seventies, he remained a core member of the quartet, touring the world and performing on multi platinum records. Ace Frehley maintained his role as the lead guitarist for Kiss from 1973 to 1982.

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Jerry Mercer

April 27, 1939. Mashmakhan featured Gerald Mercer as the drummer and backing singer from 1969 through 1973. He provided the driving rhythms for their international hit As the Years Go By and played on two studio albums before the group disbanded. His technical proficiency and powerful style gained him significant attention within the Canadian rock circuit during these early years.

In 1973, he joined April Wine, where he remained the primary drummer through 2008. He became a cornerstone of their arena rock sound, contributing to massive records like First Glance and Harder Faster. Throughout the late seventies, he toured extensively across North America and performed on numerous gold and platinum releases. Mercer also lent his percussion skills to recording sessions for several other high profile rock artists.

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