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The Moody Blues: Still Rocking Today

By Tiffany Broden High Plains Reade

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
There’s a generation of rock and roll unlike any other. The one that inspired, influenced and made rock and roll what it is today. It’s the first generation rock and roll, born in the 60s. No, this isn’t another article about the Beatles. It’s about the Moody Blues, a band that’s still rocking today with one original member from the beginning, Graeme Edge. “It was high wind back then. We used to party hard,” said Edge, describing the scene. “It was a jeans and t-shirt and you couldn’t trust anyone over 30.” But it was before the booze, sex and drugs when drummer Graeme Edge found his calling to be in a rock and roll band. “I used to be in a church boys group called the Boys Brigade. We used to walk around the streets in marching bands for an hour and a half. Of course this was back when traffic was so low 25 people could march around without interrupting traffic. I played the snare drum and I was just always interested in it. When I was 12, I got a snare bass and cymbal. Then one day 10 Little Indians by Bill Haley came on the radio. And I thought, Whoa! I likey! And that set the path for the rest of my life.” It was in 1967 when the Moodies released one of their biggest hits, “Nights in White Satin,” an almost magical song with beautiful, desperate poetry and lovely melodies. It hit both the UK and USA charts in the 60s and 70s, and reappeared on the UK Singles Chart last year. “It’s absolutely crazy to have a song like that reappear on the charts.” Edge chuckled with an almost raspy voice. It’s clear he’s lived a very fulfilling rock and roll lifestyle. And it’s a huge accomplishment for a band to have a single hit the charts 40 years after it was first released. If you listen carefully you can hear the Moodies’ influences. “One that surprised me, Gordan Marshall (a second drummer for the Moody Blues) showed me Thriller, a show about Michael Jackson.” Edge said. “So many of his songs have recognizable parts of the Moodies. Not copies, but they could be influences. Everyone is just a subtitle of their influence. Unique people are considered insane.” But after all these years, and all the fans and artists touched, the Moodies are still touring around the globe to millions – with a few different fan bases. “We have the fans that were with us in the 60s and 70s. And then with our single in 1985, we gained a new fan base. Lately we’ve been catching a lot of younger people and random ages around 23-25.” Edge said. “We’ve hit the mid-tour slump.” Edge said. “It’s the part of a tour where you can see the end of it. And I can’t wait to go back to my own bed.” But before Edge gets to sleep in his own bed, they will be playing in Moorhead at the Center for The Arts on June 8. It’s really a show of a lifetime and one that shouldn’t be passed up. It’s a chance to see the first rock and roll music, or relive the days of the old, which ever you may have. Just to get a grip of how big they are, the Moody Blues have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs. Their incredible roster of hits include: “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” to name a few. The Moody Blues’ No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles, have generated sold-out tours on a consistent basis over the course of several decades, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands in existence. And even after all these years, songs and awards, the Moodies are about to release one more album. A new greatest hits with the title “ICON” under Universal Music Enterprises. Keep your eyes open for it on July 19.

Singer Says Moody Blues Avoid Labels

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
John Lodge sang it best himself in the chorus of the Moody Blues’ 1972 hit, “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” When he wrote it, he was probably referring to the power music has on people, not as a statement denying the categorization of his band. John Lodge sang it best himself in the chorus of the Moody Blues’ 1972 hit, “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” When he wrote it, he was probably referring to the power music has on people, not as a statement denying the categorization of his band. “I don’t know how you can put a label on the Moody Blues,” the group’s 65-year-old singing bassist says from a resort in Temecula, Calif. “People have been trying to do that since 1966.” Lodge refers to labels frequently stuck to the band. Terms like “symphonic rock” are tagged to orchestrated classics like “Tuesday Afternoon” or “Nights in White Satin.” “Progressive” or “prog” gets linked to the group’s heavy use of mellotrons and other keyboards on tracks like “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone.” “If you listen to any of the Moody Blues songs, there’s such a wide range of the music,” Lodge says. Fans get a chance to hear a fair amount of the group’s music Wednesday night when the Moody Blues play the Bluestem Center for the Arts in Moorhead. The show will be the first rock concert at the 2-year-old venue, but it will be in careful hands. “There’s nothing better than late spring, summer or autumn to be outside, al fresco, listening to music,” the 65-year-old singer/bassist says. “If it’s possible, I prefer to play outside. There’s just something magical about playing outside. I think if you play an outside venue, it’s as though the venue belongs to the audience.” As much as Lodge likes open-air spaces, he has fond memories of the last time the group played the F-M area, a 1997 Fargodome show with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. “I do remember the concert well, in a huge building that was semi-underground. So that was cool,” the 65-year-old says. “It was a brilliant building and a great night. We really enjoyed it.” They weren’t the only ones. Bill Law, then the executive director of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, said it was a great opportunity for the local musicians. “It’s pretty different from the (traditional) concert orchestra experience,” Law says. Growing up in the late ’60s and ’70s, the Moody Blues were a favorite of Law’s. “To hear that music with our orchestra and in our venue and in front of our crowd, that was pretty exciting,” says Law, who managed the FMSO from ’96 to ’05. “It was a pretty cool moment in my life.” The Blues won’t bring the FMSO back for an encore this time around. But fans should still get the full Moody experience. “Within ourselves we create the illusion, I think, of an orchestra with a rock ’n’ roll core,” Lodge says. The live, symphonic show was most notably captured at the group’s 1992 concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, released on CD the following year. That concert was held to mark the 25th anniversary of their landmark concept album, “Days of Future Passed.” Lodge says there are no similar plans in the works for the group’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2014. “I’m sure record companies and touring companies will say, ‘You should do something special.’ I look at every concert and every tour as special,” Lodge says. He adds that this summer will see a new “definitive” best-of disc released. For a band that’s been around for nearly half a century, the group has survived with its core (singer/guitarist Justin Hayward and founding drummer Graeme Edge) avoiding typical rock-star troubles. “We became musicians, became artists, became singers for the love of music. I think of it like driving along the freeway and seeing a car crash and thinking, ‘I don’t know what caused that, but I’m glad it’s not me.’ ” Lodge says. “We’ve been going down our own road, and we’ve seen so many artists kind of fall by the wayside because of various things. By being committed to the music, I want to be on stage performing the music the best I can forever.” Lodge’s focus isn’t lost on hardcore fan David Wyum. Wednesday’s show will be the 22nd time he’s seen the group. As a member of the Moody’s fan club, he won a dinner in England with the band in 1996. “It’s just good music. It’s better than alcohol and drugs,” the 57-year-old West Fargoan says. He even got his daughter interested in the group, though what really hooked her was when Edge handed her his drumsticks after a concert in the early ’90s. Wednesday’s show will be the 16th for 27-year-old Melinda Wyum. The Moodys ’99 appearance on “The Simpsons” exposed them to a younger audience – and allowed them to poke fun at themselves. (In the episode, a hung-over Homer Simpson and Ned Flanders run away from their Las Vegas wives, only to be surrounded by Sin City enforcers, including the band. As Edge and Hayward start a poem spelling out the philanderers’ fate, Lodge interrupts, “Can the poems, its arse-whipping time.”) “I thought that was fantastic. To be asked to do the Simpsons was a great honor,” Lodge says, laughing. “It’s probably its own hall of fame, really, being on ‘The Simpsons.’ ” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has yet to open its doors to the Moody Blues, despite the group’s success, which includes more than 55 million albums sold. The snub doesn’t seem to bother Lodge, who is more interested in where he stands with fans. “I hope we’ll be remembered for our music,” Lodge says. “I hope the memory is when you listen to a Moody Blues record, it’s left you with an emotion. Even if it’s that one moment in time or the rest of your life, if it’s uplifted you, made you feel good, that’s what I’d like it to be.”

Moody Blues stepping in a slide zone after rocking America for nearly 50 years

Huliq.com EUGENE, Ore. – They’re just singers in a rock and roll band, but England’s “Moody Blues,” are much more than that to fans here in Eugene who’ve sold out the Cuthbert Amphitheater -- near the University of Oregon for tonights June 1 show that – promises to take everyone “higher and higher,” while also telling followers “I know you’re out there somewhere.” Without question, the Moody Blues are members of rock and roll’s elite after forming in May 1964 – nearly 50 years ago – and rocking on and also expanding rock’s sonic and lyrical horizons with such classic songs as “Dawn is a Feeling,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” and “Nights in White Satin,” while also producing such ironic Sixties albums as “Days of Future Passed,” and “To Our Childrens Childrens Children,” and in the summer of 1970, “A Question of Balance.” In general, Eugene area locals have been “Moody” fans since the Sixties because, as one local stated, “they’re very steady and their songs and music just lifts one to a higher state of consciousness. They’re up there with the Beatles and Elvis.” Moody Blue’s have an impressive international success due to paying it forward During this current “Voyage 2011 Precious Cargo Tour,” the Moody Blues have also joined local charity groups from across the U.S. for a musical instrument drive, per “buy one ticket to see the Moodies and get one free ticket by donating an instrument to a local school district.” At a recent show in Houston, Texas, for example, the Moody Blues said they know “the benefits of music education in the lives of children are undeniable, yet in these troubling economic times – with school budgets for music education slashed – the Moodies wanted to pay it forward by looking for ways and means to help those schools in America during this summer tour. At the same time, fans in Eugene remember when members of the Moody’s “would party with us after a concert.” For example, a local musician named Roy remembers “Mike Pinder giving us all the drink and food that was set out for the band back when they played Eugene in 1969. “They’re known as a class band, a generous band and a band with real heart,” says Roy whose ads he’s eager to see the Moody Blues play in Eugene tonight “because it’s always a magical event.” The Moody Blues formed on May 4, 1964, in Erdington and Birmingham, England., with Ray Thomas, John Lodge, and Michael Pinder had been members of El Riot & the Rebels. They disbanded when Lodge, the youngest member, went to technical college and Michael Pinder joined the army. Michael Pinder then rejoined Thomas to form the Krew Cats. The pair recruited guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine, band manager-turned-drummer Graeme Edge, and bassist Clint Warwick. The five appeared as the Moody Blues for the first time in Birmingham in 1964. The name developed from a hoped-for sponsorship from the M&B Brewery which failed to materialize, the band calling themselves both "The M B's" and "The M B Five" and was also a subtle reference to the Duke Ellington song, "Mood Indigo,” states an overview of the Moodies history on Wikipedia. The group re-formed in November 1966 and new members were John Lodge, their bassist from El Riot, and Justin Hayward, formerly of The Wilde Three. Moody Blues “keep the faith,” for its fans, says bassist John Lodge During their last visit to Eugene back in 2008, the Moody Blues bassist John Lodge urged fans to “keep the faith” at the end of the concert. He later told this reporter that “we need to keep rocking,” and the fans help these 60something musicians do just that. More recently, Justin Hayward told Eugene’s Register Guard newspaper that he’s come such a long way since he was a 19-year-old joining the Moody Blues. “But I relive that every night because I share it with an audience, and that is the thing I would never want to give up. I am hooked on that. I am hooked on doing these songs.” In turn, Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge – who just turned 70 – is the only current member from the 1964 beginnings of the band. At the same time, lead guitarist and vocalist Justin Hayward, 64, and bassist and vocalist John Lodge, 65, remember joining the Moody Blues back in 1967. “The Moodies have such a large body of work that it’s really difficult for somebody to take it all in,” said Hayward during a recent interview with Eugene’s Register Guard newspaper that also noted how the band has sold “more than 70 million albums worldwide, and earned 14 platinum and gold discs.” Moody Blues are not a typical band with bouncy lyrics and melodies Fans of the Moody Blues include John Lennon and the Beatles, as well as Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, and hundreds of other artists who've put the Moodies up there as one of the great bands of all time. “Ask just about anyone who was around, or can remember being around in the Sixties, and they know the Moody Blues as a band that could take them higher and higher. They were the ones who pronounced that Timothy Leary’s dead, and they were the ones searching for that lost cord,” says a Eugene fan who’s offering to help the band set-up for tonight’s concert near the University of Oregon. During a November 1969 interview to introduce the Moodies classic album “To Our Childrens Childrens Children,” Hawyard explained the band’s muse for this album that explored themes of space travel, alien life and astral travel in what was dubbed as a “thematically adventurous” recording with cave man graphics on the album’s cover. “The hand on the front of the album was life size, but it was on the inside that we were really trying to say something. There we were gathered around a fire in a cave with a tape machine, and outside there was nothing. Where were we? I don’t know. We were trying to project the thought that we were on a plant that wasn’t Earth – it was just utopia for us.” “At the time I thought we were crazy,” Hayward says, “but looking back now I can see it was the only thing we could have done to make our kind of music." In turn, Hayward sings one of the Moody Blues most popular songs from the early 1970’s called: “Question.” “Why do we never get an answer When we’re knocking at the door With a thousand million questions About hate and death and war? ‘Cause when we stop and look around us There is nothing that we need In a world of persecution that its burning in its greed Why do we never get an answer Because the truth is hard to swallow That’s what the war of love is for It’s not the way that you say it When you do those things to me It’s more the way that you mean it When you tell me what will be And when you stop and think about it You won’t believe it’s true That all the love you’ve been giving Has all been meant for you I’m looking for someone to change my life I’m looking for a miracle in my life.” The Moody Blues also recorded such hits as “Ride My See Saw,” “Voices in the Sky,” “Dear Diary,” “Never Comes the Day,” “The Dream,” Never Thought I’d Live to be a Million,” Dawning is the Day,” You Can Never Go Home,” “Lost in a Lost World,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Saved by the Music,” “Blue Guitar,” “Driftwood,” and “The Day We Meet Again.”

John Lodge: Toasting the Moody Blues

By Paul Freeman , PopCultureClassics

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are on tour again. And for John Lodge, founding member, bassist, singer and songwriter with the legendary British band, the Bay Area was the most anticipated destination. In Sausalito, the connoisseur unveiled his own wine in Sausalito prior to a Marin concert. A blend of cabernet, merlot and shiraz, it’s called Krisemma, after Lodge’s son Kristian and daughter Emily. Fine wine gets better with age... and so do The Moody Blues. The band’s timeless appeal was proven once again when their classic song “Nights in White Satin” soared up the U.K. charts again recently, reaching number two. It had been showcased on Simon Cowell’s hit British TV show “The X Factor.” The Moody Blues first huge chart success was 1965’s bluesy “Go Now.” They didn’t lock themselves into a formula, instead, veering off in a different direction, writing complex, classically influenced rock pieces, such as “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Question.” Lodge penned such enduring songs as “Ride My See Saw,” ”Eyes of a Child,” “Send Me No Wine,” “Candle of Life,” “Minstrel’s Song,” “Emily’s Song,” “Isn’t Life Strange” and “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band).” Album after album saw them expanding their musical vision. Among the magnificent creations are “Days of Future Passed,” “In Search of the Lost Chord,” “On The Threshold of a Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children,” “A Question of Balance,” Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, “Seventh Sojourn,” “Octave,” “Long Distance Voyager” and “Strange Times.” The band has amassed 14 platinum and gold discs. Lodge teamed with fellow Moody Justin Hayward for the 1975 album “Blue Jays” and released an excellent solo album, “Natural Avenue,” in 1977. In that decade, Lodge produced the band Trapeze. Moody Blues Fans remain firmly faithful. In July, Universal Music Enterprises will release a greatest hits CD, “Icon.” Married to wife Kirsten since 1968, Lodge has been able to find a beautiful balance in life. And he still relishes stepping on stage to thrill packed venues with memorable Moody Blues songs. The band’s musical integrity and innovative style has earned them remarkable longevity. It was a pleasure to chat with Lodge for Pop Culture Classics. POP CULTURE CLASSICS: It must have been a great feeling to have “Nights In White Satin” become a huge hit on the U.K. charts again. JOHN LODGE: Yes, number two in the charts. All from ‘X Factor.’ One of the most gratifying things about it being number two was that someone else from the television show performed it and you’d have expected that one to go flying up the charts. But everybody downloaded our version, which was a really, really nice thing for us, to be honest, because it’s out of the blue. PCC: But the band’s albums are so rich and textured, does it concern you that young people tend to pluck individual songs from iTunes, rather than complete albums?
The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
LODGE: That is a problem. But if a young person just hears one snippet of a Moody Blues song and they like it, maybe they’ll come to the concert and maybe they’ll see two hours of Moody Blues and then maybe they’ll go, ‘You know, I think I really should have bought the long-form version. That’s what we hope, of course. But it’s very difficult in some ways. If you were just coming to The Moody Blues now and said ‘Which album should I buy, that says who The Moody Blues are?,’ I wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know at all. I could say, ‘Start with the first one and work your way through.’ That’s probably the only way to do it. But I wouldn’t know what album sort of says who The Moody Blues are. PCC: Are there particular elements that make The Moody Blues’ music instantly recognizable? LODGE: Yeah, there are. And those elements are on all the albums, from day one. And the other interesting thing is, we’ve written the songs ourselves, the songs are really about us at a particular time in our lives and about experiences that we were having or we had had. And you suddenly realize, that transcends generations. When I was writing a song like, say, ‘Peak Hour,’ which I wrote probably when I was 22, it still seems to appeal on stage today. And the same words in that song are still relevant to what’s happening to everyone today. If you can transcend everything, transcend the leaps from one generation to the next, then you can still appeal. PCC: You were just 14, when you began playing in bands.? LODGE: Yes, at 14. And Ray Thomas, who was the flute player in The Moody Blues until just a few years ago, he was 16. And we met and formed a band. And we were together for four years before The Moody Blues. Interesting times. PCC: How did the fantasy of life as a rock musician compare to the reality? LODGE: I don’t know whether there was a fantasy. Until I was probably 13, although music was all around me - radio, at school, everywhere else - I never saw myself playing an instrument. But then this thing called rock ‘n’ roll turned up from America. It wasn’t just about the music. It was rock ‘n’ roll. It was something about young people. It was something new. It was about the bold adventure through the fifties. I wanted to be part of it. It wasn’t just the music. It was everything - the cars. American cars were just supreme. And ‘Rocket Man.’ All those things were just supreme. When I suddenly realized I did have ability to learn how to play a guitar and use it on stage, it just became an extension of me. I don’t think there’s any fantasies. It was just a case of, ‘It would be fantastic if we could go and play at the youth club next week.’ And that’s what we did. We played the youth club. And then eventually, we’d say, ‘It would be fantastic if we could go play at a proper club, where people pay to go and watch.’ And then, suddenly, you’re doing that. So, I suppose, you live the fantasy, as you go along. You don’t actually know that the fantasy is. PCC: It must have been a pioneering phase for electric bass in rock. LODGE: It was. I came from Birmingham, in England, and you could not buy an electric bass guitar. I actually didn’t even know what an electric bass guitar was. I was playing a regular electric guitar, but I was playing the bottom strings, because that’s the area of sound that I was really interested in. I was also interested in the driving force of what those bottom strings do. And there were people like Duane Eddy playing on the bottom strings of his guitar. And it just enthralled me. And then I went to see an American band, which you’ve probably never heard of, not many people have, but they are well worth looking up, a band called The Treniers. And I went to see them live in Birmingham, at a concert, and I’m looking, and there are like three guitarists. And I thought, ‘Just a moment, that guitar in the back doesn’t look like the other ones.’ It had only four strings. And I went, ‘Ah, that’s what the electric bass looks like.’ It was a Fender Telecaster bass. And that was it then. I just had to try and find this bass. And then one appeared in Birmingham, a Fender Precision bass, in 1959 this was. And I remember rushing home to my Dad and saying, ‘Dad, can you help me? I can’t afford to buy this. I have no money. I’m in school. Can you help me?’ And we bought this Precision bass and then I learned how to play it and had to build amplifiers to get the sound to come out of it. You needed some good speakers and a powerful amp. And then I recorded the first 10 albums with that bass, can you believe? PCC: At the beginning, in the Denny Laine days, it was more of a blues-oriented band? LODGE: Yeah, The Moody Blues, in the beginning, with Denny. ‘Go Now’ was a fabulous song. But it was written by Bessie Banks. It wasn’t written by The Moody Blues. And the band was based on a blues band. Strangely enough, none of us had ever been to America. And it was strange to be sort of copying American music, when you’ve never actually been. I think that’s why we decided to start writing all our own music and then we came up with ‘Days of Future Passed,’ because we wanted to be the blues, but English style. We wanted to sing about the blues in our lives, being from England. And that’s what we did. PCC: And the complexities of the music, the classical influences, where did all of that come from? LODGE: Well, that came about, because we are all different people within the band. And for me, personally, I went to what’s called a grammar school in England. And before that, I was at a very small school and every afternoon, there would be a quiet period and they would play classical music on a record. And the reason for this, I think, was that Birmingham had, still has, one of the great orchestras in the world, the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. So I have this influence of classical music, which I never thought was going into my psyche, to be honest. I thought I was just falling asleep. And then, Birmingham is a motor town, so you have all these heavy steel industries. So you’ve got the yin and yang, really. You’ve got the orchestra and then the heavy metal. That’s why you’ve got bands like Ozzy Osbourne out of Birmingham. You’ve got all the heavy metal bands that came out of Birmingham, as well. And then you’ve got the orchestral-leaning bands like Moody Blues and Electric Light Orchestra. That’s my theory, anyway. PCC: It must have been an exciting time for music generally, with all the stylistic experimentation going on. LODGE: It was absolutely a brilliant time. I don’t know exactly how many bands there were in Birmingham at the time. But there must have been at least a thousand bands in Birmingham, playing. And there were so many venues. When I was 15, 16, 17, I was playing probably five concerts a week in Birmingham, around the area. It was just a fabulous time. But you’d just meet up with all these other artists, they’re all friends, and talk about music. It was wonderful. Everyone would meet on a Saturday afternoon at two music shops in Birmingham and while you were in there, you’d be saying where you’d be working that night. Even if you weren’t working, you’d tell somebody you were. PCC: There were so many different directions in music happening at that time. LODGE: So many different directions. Because you’d go to see one band and say, ‘Yeah, I really like this band, but we’ve got to do something different. We don’t want to go that way.’ Continue Reading...

Tuesday Afternoon: Tasting Wine with John Lodge

HOW TO ORDER (While Supplies Last!):
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WineBusiness.com Rock Stars and Wine? John Lodge of the Moody Blues is the latest of a handful of rock stars to release his own wine, though in this case, the wine has been cellared for a few years. An unassuming Lodge presented the wine to the public for the first time yesterday - Tuesday afternoon, and signed some bottles for fans too. The wine is called Krisemma, named for his children Kristen and Emma. It was made in Napa Valley by Joe Bob Hitchcock and Behrens & Hitchcock Winery. Krisemma is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, a big, powerful Bordeaux style blend. That event at Wellington’s Wine Bar in Sausalito coincided with the Moody Blues Tour, which is selling out. Last night they played the Marin Center in San Rafael and performed many hits, including “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Question,” and “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band).” Here’s a clip from yesterday’s KGO-TV newscast about them coming to the area and about John’s wine.
John Lodge discusses his wine with Joe Bob Hitchcock (right) and Don Sanchez of KGO-TV (left) John Lodge discusses his wine with Joe Bob Hitchcock (right) and Don Sanchez of KGO-TV (left)
I met up with Lodge at Wellington's and tasted the wine. It was lovely: a delicious, big, and complex wine with lots of fruit. Though it was from the 2002 vintage and bottled in 2004, it had held up quite nicely. It's ready to drink now. I was a bit surprised to see a wine held for release that long sealed with a Supreme Corq. They don’t make those anymore – and I don’t remember Supreme Corq having had a reputation as being ideal for long-term aging. Winemaker Joe Bob Hitchcock said that back in 2004 he was having difficulty getting reliable cork. He said the bottles aged with Supreme Corq for the most part held up well. Krisemma is $95 per bottle and 123 cases were produced. In January 2011, two cases sold at a charity auction, the Sandy Lane/John Lodge Golf Tournament Gala in Barbados, garnering $30,000 for the benefit of the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust. But again, yesterday was the first time it was available for tasting and for sale to the general public after being cellared nine years. Lodge said his enthusiasm for wine came from being introduced to Burgundy though his daughter’s headmistresses’ husband, who took him to Hospices de Beaune. John was later honored as a "Commandeur de la Confrerie de Chevaliers du Tastevin" – in 1987. He goes to Burgundy each year to buy wine en premier – usually white wine -- and has a summer home in Saint-Tropez, France. During tours of America, Lodge has visited Napa and Sonoma and he calls the area one of the most beautiful on earth. “In America, there are beautiful wines from all over,” he adds. “The Central Coast is making fantastic wines – especially the whites.” Lodge met Joe Bob Hitchcock during a concert tour years ago and told him he wanted to be involved in “a really great, great wine, one to be decanted and to be really proud of.” Lodge was sampling the Krisemma recently and realized it was ready for release. He said he’s put it into blind tastings along with “some really good wines” and that it does well. “It seems to win,” he said. I don’t think it’s because I hold onto the glass a bit longer so people know it’s mine – although that does tend to work.”

Venue Change for the Moody Blues This Sunday, May 29th

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
Salt Lake City, Utah, May 26, 2011 - The Moody Blues concert on Sunday, May 29 has been relocated to the The Nu Skin Theatre, the intimate lower bowl configuration at EnergySolutions Arena located at 301 West South Temple in downtown Salt Lake City. The venue change was made necessary by damages to the Red Butte Garden amphitheatre caused by the December 2, 2010 oil spill that could not be repaired in time for this season’s first concert. The concert is still this Sunday, May 29th. Tickets are available for The Moody Blues. Call, click or visit Red Butte Garden for tickets, or purchase tickets in person at the box office at EnergySolutions Arena. If you already hold tickets to see this legendary band simply use your existing Red Butte Garden concert ticket at the Nu Skin Theatre at EnergySolutions Arena. Entry doors at EnergySolutions Arena open at 6:00 p.m. and the show begins at 7:00 p.m. The Moody Blues have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs. Their incredible roster of hits includes: “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” to name a few. The Moody Blues’ No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles, have generated sold-out tours on a consistent basis over the course of several decades, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands in existence. FAQs regarding the venue change are located online at http://www.redbuttegarden.org/theMoodyBlues Concerts return to Red Butte Garden amphitheatre for Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Toots and the Maytals on Sunday, June 12th.

Moody Blues: Another Day of Future Passed

MercuryNews.com The Moody Blues are on tour again. And for John Lodge, founding member, bassist, singer and songwriter with the legendary British band, the Bay Area was his most anticipated destination. On Tuesday, in Sausalito, the connoisseur unveiled his own wine prior to a concert in Marin. A blend of cabernet, merlot and shiraz, it's called Krisemma, after Lodge's son Kristian and daughter Emily. "I've enjoyed wine all my life. Not just the drinking of it, though that I quite like, as well," Lodge said, with a laugh. "The countryside where wine is made is always fascinating to me. I've been all over the world. I've seen wine being grown in India, Australia, New Zealand, all across the United States, across Africa. And, of course, all across France, Spain and Portugal. And it's always the same. If they're growing vines for wine, the countryside is immaculate. There's always a great vibe. And, if you ever get the opportunity to get to Napa Valley or Sonoma, that is probably the best vibe there is, in the U.S.A. "I was very fortunate, about 10 years ago, to meet a company called Behrens & Hitchcock, in Napa Valley (St. Helena). We discussed making a particular high-end wine, like the great blends from Bordeaux in France. They made this one, and it's a vintage 2002, and it's just come to fruition. It's aged beautifully. I'm very excited." Moody Blues fans will be excited to greet the band at Saratoga's Mountain Winery on Friday night. The band's timeless appeal was proven once again when their classic song "Nights in White Satin" soared up the U.K. charts recently, reaching No. 2. It had been showcased on TV's "Pop Idol" (the original version of "American Idol"). "One of the most gratifying things about it being No. 2 was that someone else from the television show performed it," Lodge explained, "and you'd have expected that one to go flying up the charts. But everybody downloaded our version, which was a really nice thing for us, because it's out of the blue." The Moody Blues first huge chart success was the bluesy 1965 tune, "Go Now." They didn't lock themselves into a formula, instead, veering off in a different direction, writing complex, classically influenced rock pieces, such as "Tuesday Afternoon," "Question" and the album "Days of Future Passed." Lodge penned such enduring songs as "Ride My See Saw" and "I'm Just A Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)." "In my childhood, at school, there would be a quiet period and they would have classical records. So I have this influence of classical music, which I never thought was going into my psyche, to be honest. I thought I was just falling asleep. "I'm from Birmingham, which has one of the great symphony orchestras in the world. It's also a motor town with heavy steel industries. So you've got the yin and yang, really. You've got heavy metal bands like Ozzy Osbourne out of Birmingham, and then you've got the orchestral-leaning bands, like Moody Blues and Electric Light Orchestra." Lodge enjoyed the trappings of rock stardom. "For 'Future,' we chartered a plane, which even had a dance floor with an organist playing," he said, chuckling. "I don't smoke and neither do a couple of the other guys. When you're chartering small planes and people are smoking, it really is awful. We got to the point of having smoking and no-smoking jets, which is just ludicrous, really. But I didn't want to be full of smoke. Of course, eventually, the whole world comes around to thinking that you shouldn't smoke on a plane. So now we only have one plane." Continue Reading...

Win Tickets to See Moody Blues!

River1037.com
The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
103.7 The River welcomes the Moody Blues to the Silver Legacy Saturday, May 28th!Trey Valentine from the midday show had an exclusive interview with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, and you can listen to the podcast of the entire interview right now. (below) Become a Riverhead for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show! We will give away a pair of tickets everday 'til the show, so register everyday!

The Moody Blues break out the classics at Pechanga

SWRNN.com By Kerri S. Mabee Hard to believe, but the iconic, wonderfully symphonic Moody Blues are still rocking hard, despite nearly 50 years in the music industry.And after their energetic performance before a sold-out crowd on Friday night at Pechanga Resort & Casino, it’s easy to see why so many still love the Moodies and revere them as one of the all-time great classic rock bands.

See more pics here Featuring three of group’s earliest members – Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge and John Lodge – the band proved they still had it with strong, pitch-perfect vocals, a fierce rumbling bass and a beat that never quit. A standing ovation greeted the artists from the outset and then sprang up after nearly every tune from many in the front rows of the Showroom Theater.
The Moody Blues - Pechanga, CAFeaturing three of the group's earliest members - Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge and John Lodge - the band proved they still had it with strong, pitch-perfect vocals, a fierce rumbling bass and a beat that never quit. (Photo by Melissa Jewel) The Moody Blues - Pechanga, CA
Featuring three of the group's earliest members - Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge and John Lodge - the band proved they still had it with strong, pitch-perfect vocals, a fierce rumbling bass and a beat that never quit. (Photo by Melissa Jewel)
From there, there was building crescendo of excitement as each song brought some new favorite tune. Just a few songs into the concert, the audience was working itself into a fist-pumping, shoulder-swaying state with “Steppin in a Slide Zone” belted out by Lodge. Shortly after, performing the beloved “Tuesday Afternoon” against a backdrop of vintage photographs, there was clapping and swaying. Then, the audience erupted into dance with “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” that continued intermittently throughout the theater and the rest of the show. It had to have been something of a rush for the group to look out on so many faces, singing, dancing, given over to the music. That was most apparent when 70-year-old Edge descended from his drummer’s perch to tap the energy and jubilantly rock the house with “Higher and Higher.” In the two-hour plus set, fans were treated to all of the group’s biggest hits from a broad range of albums, performed with familiarity so that the crowd could sing along. And sing they did. Especially with such fan favorites as “Your Wildest Dreams” and the much-anticipated, much-loved “Nights in White Satin.” Many fans stayed on their feet, cheering for more at the concert’s end. The Moodies obliged – twice. The Moody Blues are set to perform a second sold-out concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Pechanga Resort & Casino.

Interview with John Lodge

John Lodge of the Moody Blues John Lodge of the Moody Blues
Variety Rock 105.1 FM Ahead of their concert stop in Boise at the Idaho Botanical Gardens on May 31st, John Lodge of The Moody Blues talks with Variety Rock 105-1. Lodge's songwriting for the Moody Blues has created such songs as "Ride My See-Saw", "Eyes of a Child", "Send Me No Wine", "Candle of Life", "Minstrel's Song" and more!
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The Moody Blues find the lost chord at AVA Amphitheater

Examiner.com

Moody Blues Justin Hayward and John Lodge Moody Blues Justin Hayward and John Lodge
Long before anyone had even heard of Timberlake or Bieber, a different Justin was dominating popular music – and still is for that matter. But Moody Blues guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward’s introspective lyrics and well-crafted melodies have made him much more than “just a singer in a rock and roll band.” Since the release of their definitive album Days Of Future Passed, Hayward and his bandmates, bassist/vocalist John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge, have sold an extraordinary 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands in existence. And while it might be tempting to dismiss them as a band whose days of future have passed, the fans at last week’s sold out show at AVA Amphitheater loudly begged to differ. The progressive rock pioneers were in town as part of their “Voyage 2011 Precious Cargo Tour,” thrilling baby-boomers, generation X’ers and Y’ers – heck, the whole alphabet was there. The Moodies were golden – well, make that platinum – throughout the perfect evening at Tucson’s perfect outdoor venue, as they played an electrifying array of their big, bigger and biggest hits. Given Hayward’s astonishingly ageless vocals, it was fitting that the rock legends opened with “The Voice.” And it was fitting that the more than appreciative crowd rose for an ovation that lasted, well, until “Ride My See Saw” ended the reluctant fans’ evening on Mr. Lodge’s wild ride. Along the way the band laid down a once-in-a-lifetime version of “Tuesday Afternoon” – on a Wednesday evening no less – and with incomparable energy, melodiously asked the crowd a “Question.” Not surprisingly, one of the night’s many highlights was a fantastically bluesier, non-orchestrated rendition of “the song that wouldn’t leave,” “Nights In White Satin.” The legendary hit, originally released from the momentous Days Of Future Passed album, just landed at No. 2 on the UK Rock Chart, and at No. 27 on the BBC Radio 1 chart, making it the fourth time that “Nights” has charted in its 40-plus year history. The song’s perpetual popularity reignited after a recent smash cover performance by Matt Cardle, winner of Simon Cowell’s hit UK show “The X Factor” (check out Cardle’s performance of the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUTGJN9qCnc). Even with the band’s timeless appeal, the never-ending popularity of popularity of the tune is beyond impressive. In a recent interview with Examiner, Edge chatted about the song’s remarkable run. Somewhat astoundingly, it doesn’t astound Edge. “Nothing about that song will surprise me anymore because it just keeps going and going and going. It just says a new thing to every generation.” “I think Just (Hayward) came up with a good answer once when somebody asked him about it, how come it was spreading down through the generations. And he said ‘Well, the thing is, some of the people listening to it’ – obviously, the majority are our fans – but some of the younger people that are listenin’ ‘are the same age we were when we wrote it.’ So it’s kind of speakin’ to them in a little way.”

Cosmic rockers still out of this world

Vegas.com They look a little older. Their hair is a little grayer, but after more than four decades of performing, The Moody Blues still know how to rock. “I just had a birthday. I’m 70 years old. How the heck did that happen?” said drummer Graeme Edge at The Moody Blues concert on May 13 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel. Edge said this before the group performed his song, “Higher and Higher.” With Mike Pinder no longer in the band, Edge takes center stage during this number to recite the song’s spoken-word lyrics, but he didn’t just stand there. Tambourine in hand, Edge danced about the stage, inspiring the audience with his enduring vitality and slightly goofy sense of humor. The current Moody Blues consists of the three core members, Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Edge and a quartet of supporting musicians. The group sounded fantastic as they performed most of their hit songs including “Tuesday Afternoon,” “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” “Nights In White Satin” and “I’m Just A Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” For Baby Boomers in the audience, watching the show was most likely a nostalgic experience. People in the audience didn’t hesitate to get out of their seats, and dance and sing along to the familiar songs. The times may have changed, but The Moody Blues’ lasting lyrics continue to resonate with fans. The more than two-hour concert ended on a high note with two encore performances. Check out some pictures from the show. All pictures were provided courtesty of Scott Harrison/ Retna.

Photos: The Moody Blues Make A Precious Cargo Tour Stop at The Joint

By Don Chareunsy

Justin Hayward and John Lodge - The Moody Blues Justin Hayward and John Lodge - The Moody Blues
LasVegasSun The Moody Blues, the English rock band who’ve been making music together for nearly half a century, made a stop on their Voyage 2011 Precious Cargo tour last night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Formed in 1964, The Moody Blues, who have sold more than 70 million albums and amassed 14 gold and platinum albums, perform today as a trio -- John Lodge, Justin Hayward and Graeme Edge. They’ve charted two No. 1 albums, 1972’s Seventh Sojourn and 1981’s Long Distance Voyager, and their biggest hits include “Nights in White Satin,” “Go Now” and “Your Wildest Dreams.” View Photo Essay

Moody Blues look back at Vegas heyday

By Mike Weatherford LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues, venerable pioneers of British symphonic rock. Hardly the guys you'd turn to for funny Vegas stories. Unless you remember the Moodies started playing the old Caesars Palace showroom as a recurring act in 1992, and that doesn't count earlier concert stops. The Circus Maximus was "an old-fashioned show-business experience," recalls singer Justin Hayward, from "the way the dressing rooms were laid out" to the $100 "they used to give us Moody Blues to play on the tables on the way in from the desk to the elevator." ("I would put it all on red to lose or win and walk away," he adds.) At the Sporting House health club they would see "the look-alike of Siegfried and Roy, and also loads of Elvises." "One day my tour manager and I went in there, and there was a basketball game between the Elvises. There was about eight of them." These stories about the good ol' '90s don't even cover half of the group's 45-year history. Hayward, 64, says, "So many people ask the question, 'Did you ever think, in 1966 ...?' "Well of course you don't. I was 19 when I came to the band. I gave it about two months. I didn't feel that the music we were playing suited any of us anyway. "The Mellotron was the real turning point for us," he adds of the forerunner to the synthesizer, which mimicked strings and choral sounds. It pointed the Moodies from American blues covers to the conceptual, proto-prog rock they're still known for. Hayward, guitarist John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge keep the band alive. Off the road, their energies are more directed to archiving the past -- including a July compilation as part of Universal Music's "Icon" series -- than in recording new material. The past few new releases have "kind of gone under the net, and we're tired of that. We want some real commitment to promotion," Hayward says. "It's a question for a band like us of what people want from you. And at the moment, we could work every night on the road. We're offered more work now than we ever were when we were young." Today's show at the Hard Rock Hotel is tied to an instrument drive by Ear Candy Charity, collecting musical instruments for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. Tickets are $39.50-$150 for the 9 p.m. show at 4455 Paradise Road. Call 693-5583.

Moody Blues not ready to go now

MyDesert.com If he still lived in Birmingham, England, and hadn't been one of the original members of the Moody Blues, drummer Graeme Edge would be living out his days on the dole (think Social Security).

Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues
“Yeah, I was thinkin' about that just the other day,” Edge said from a hotel room in Denver. “I'd still have a little band and play the local pubs on the weekends. It's in my blood.” The self-proclaimed “lotus- eater” who loves living in the sun in Sarasota, Fla., isn't ready for a rocking chair. “Hell, no! It's not like I'm really working,” he said. “This is my hobby; you can't retire from your hobby, can you?” Last year, the Moody Blues toured the East Coast, Edge said. “Now it's the West's turn.” The band returns to the desert Saturday for an 8 p.m. concert at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. Edge is the only original member of the group whose first hit — 1964's “Go Now” — was a nice bit of British Invasion rock. Unfortunately, it's not on the set list these days. “It's a shame, really,” said Edge. “That was a nice little rocker, but the lead singer (Denny Laine) isn't with us and it would be the same.” After “Go Now,” the Moody Blues found it difficult to match their initial success. By 1967, the band — now featuring Edge, singer-guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge — was offered a chance to record a demo for Decca Records' Deramic Stereo. The project was supposed to showcase the company's new technology, but it ended up saving the band. “We were supposed to record a rock version of (Anton) Dvorák's ‘New World Symphony,'” Edge recalled. Luckily, Peter Knight, conductor/arranger for the London Festival Orchestra, liked the original ideas the band, producer Tony Knight and engineer Derek Varnals had in mind for the disc. “We'd record a song in the morning and give it to Peter, he'd write the bridge and charts for the orchestra and they'd record their part that night,” said Edge. “And it just went on just that way.” Continue Reading...

Well Into Their Fourth Decade, The Moody Blues Show No Signs of Slowing Down

VCStar.com

Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues
Moody Blues Play Sunday in L.A. and Tuesday in Santa Barbara It's one of those enduring musical mysteries still muddling minds of the mellow: Why aren't the Moody Blues in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Their run of seven albums from 1967 through 1972 — combining symphonic and baroque instrumentation, soaring vocals and lyrics seeking the meaning of it all — form a pretty package as good as any in the history of rock music. Along the way these veteran cosmic rockers have sold 70 million albums and are among the longest operating bands (the Stones are six months older). But although the Moodys are not in Cleveland, they will be in L.A. on Sunday at the Nokia Theatre and in Santa Barbara on Tuesday at The Granada. And it's not the gardener's cousin's uncle sweating to the oldies. The Moodys still feature three-fifths of the classic lineup including ferocious 70-year-old drummer Graeme Edge, bass player John Lodge and guitar player Justin Hayward (proof that blonds do have more fun). Flute player Ray Thomas retired in 2002, and keyboard player Mike Pinder went solo way back in 1974 (his replacement, Patrick Moraz, left the band in 1991). Yet the touring band still sounds as good as the originals, so if the Moody Blues are not already your favorite band, after this show, they will be. An early incarnation of the band had a hit with "Go Now" in 1964, but the band reconfigured with the familiar members and took off in 1966 on the strength of a couple of hits Hayward wrote when he was a teenager, "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon." It'll be worth the drive just to hear "Question," among so many others. Mr. Edge talked about the latest in a recent phoner that got off to a technologically challenged start. Hey, Graeme, it's Bill Locey with the Ventura County Star. How are you? OK, I'm going to try to get you on a land line. (Silence.) Hey, Graeme, it's Bill with The Star. OK, I'm gonna try it again. What's happening is you're coming up on the speaker phone, so I'm gonna press a button and see if I can get you on the real phone. (More silence, then an expletive.) Hey, Graeme. That's what was going wrong — you don't have to press the line; you just pick the phone up. Hey, seven years of college, man. (Laughs.) Well said, yeah. How's the Moody Blues biz? What's new with you wonderful guys? It's going great — we're loving it. So, 45 years or so — think you might stick with it a bit longer? Well, I haven't made up my mind yet. I'm a slow learner, as you just gathered about the phone. This will be a preview for your L.A. and Santa Barbara shows. Last time I saw you guys up in S.B., you played at the Bowl outdoors with the symphony. Pretty cool. Oh, yeah, that was fun, but it ran its time. The only problem playing with the symphony is that you must stay very strictly with the arrangement because they're all reading and that stops a bit of the fun. You can have a lot more fun with the music when you're really good and just let it rip. Of all those British Invasion bands from back in the day, only you guys and the Stones are still at it, and those guys hardly ever play. Yeah, they don't work and they won't announce their retirement, which would make us the oldest working rock 'n' roll band, but they're six months older than us — the bastards! And (Charlie) Watts puts me as the second oldest drummer as he's a year older than me. Why aren't you guys in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Oh, ask them. That makes no sense at all to me — that run of seven albums you guys put out from "Days of Future Passed" in 1967 to "Seventh Sojourn" in 1972 is as good or better than anything else by any other band. Well, thank you for that, but look at some of the bands that aren't in. Chicago and Boston aren't in, and some of those that are in makes one think there's something more than musical endeavor involved. Back in those silly '60s, what do you think the hippies got right and what did they get wrong? In retrospect, what they got right was being against the war and what they got wrong was being against the military. And the other thing is, did free love produce AIDS or would it have been here anyway? But the whole freedom of society and the freedom of expression and the Electronic Revolution — the plus side is much greater than the downside. If you look at the change of the Beatles from "Revolver" to "Sgt. Pepper's," and countless other examples, the importance of drugs to music in the '60s is obvious. How important was LSD to your music? We did very little compared to most people. I took eight trips way back in '66 and I thought like everyone else that it was wonderful the first time. I thought it was mind-expanding and all that, but by the eighth one, I thought, "It's the same bloody thing again." Continue Reading...

The Moody Blues prepare for Pechanga performance, discuss staying power

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
When The Moody Blues hits the stage at Pechanga Resort & Casino next weekend, one thing is for sure – fans will be treated to an evening of iconic, revered sounds from the seventies. “I think fans will be surprised to see that we’re still going strong. It’s quite a remarkable thing in itself,” drummer and songwriter Graeme Edge said, laughing. One of the earliest members of the famed rock band, Edge said that the audience at the two Pechanga shows can expect all of the big songs, and a few lesser known ones for fans of the band’s deep tracks. “The concert will be a good representation of most of the albums,” Edge said. Songs like “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon,” which have earned The Moodies a broad and loyal fan base, will have the crowd rocking and remembering better days with two shows at the Pechanga Showroom Theater. “We love playing live. We’re just a bunch of old hams getting up there,” Edge said, noting the band’s nearly 50-year presence on the American rock music landscape. The Moody Blues boasts sales of 70 million albums worldwide, 14 platinum and gold discs and enough accolades and sold-out concert venues to explain the band’s legendary run since it was first formed in 1964. Despite the many years that have gone by, Edge said the group remains relevant and in touch with fans by simply being…simple. “We’ve managed to avoid all the political pitfalls. We know what people want to hear from us. We let the music do the talking,” Edge said, adding that performing is “especially gratifying when we see the large smattering of younger fans” in the audience. Edge further attributes the group’s longevity to staying true to what they do best. “If there was magic to it, I wish we knew it. I think we’ve just stayed on our own path,” Edge said. The Moodies’ current schedule sees the band on an ambitious tour of spring concert dates that zigzag across the United States through the middle of June. The Moody Blues will perform at 8 p.m. on May 20-21. Tickets range from $60 to $90. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit www.pechanga.com.

An interview with Graeme Edge: The Moody Blues’ poetry man

Examiner.com In the wildly unpredictable world of popular music, it somehow makes perfect sense that a band known for music that expresses universal themes of love, compassion and peace would be called – The Moody Blues.

Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues
Uniting the prodigious musical gifts of guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist/vocalist John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge, the group has sold an extraordinary 70 million albums worldwide and has been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands in existence. Since they first hit the rock scene with the release of their colossal 1967 album Days Of Future Passed, The Moodies have produced music that bridges the gap between classical and pop-rock genres, including a top-selling string of concept albums, In Search Of The Lost Chord, On The Threshold Of A Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, A Question Of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn. The band that Rolling Stone christened “the Sistine Chapel of popular music” continues to influence contemporary song with a staggering roster of hits, including “Nights In White Satin,”“Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” to name a few. That astounding influence has shaped music for six decades. The Moodies’ legendary hit “Nights In White Satin,” originally released from their momentous Days Of Future Passed album, just landed at No. 2 on the UK Rock Chart, and at No. 27 on the BBC Radio 1 chart, making it the fourth time that “Nights” has charted in its 40-plus year history. The song’s perpetual popularity reignited after a recent smash cover performance by Matt Cardle, winner of Simon Cowell’s hit UK show “The X Factor” (check out Cardle’s performance of the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUTGJN9qCnc). The Moodies are once again center stage with a highly anticipated 33-city U.S. tour, including stops on May 11 at Tucson’s AVA Amphitheater and May 12 at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix. As the band prepared for the tour, Edge took the time to chat with me The Moody Blues’ remarkable run. Fans might think that after millions of album and thousands of tour dates, the group would be beyond getting nervous before a gig. Not so, said Edge. “Oh, no. It’s almost a fight or flight response (chuckling). But you can’t do anything about it.” The band has learned however, to expect the unexpected. “Just about two weeks ago I checked the stage. Everything was fine. The drums were all in shape. Everything was all in shape. Everything was ready. Everything was in place. The curtains open. The band was about to start and I’m sitting in the tenth row of the audience (laughing).” “I’m gettin’ up and I’m trying to get people out of the way so I could get past and all the knees are in the way and that’s slowin’ me down and I’ve got to get up on stage to get the show goin’, you know?” “I’ve had the usual ones, where I’ve been up there and there’s no drumsticks or instead of drumsticks there’s bananas or you can’t find the dressing room, the stage, the gig or all of those regular ones. But that was a brand new one – sittin’ there in the crowd saying, ‘Oh my god, I should be up there!’” Pre-show jitters aside, it’s easy for The Moodies’ drummer to maintain his top-performing edge. “Ah, it’s power to the people. That’s why I got into music in the first place, was to play live to people. I just love it. I always watch the audience when I’m playing anyway ‘cause I steal energy from ‘em.” “I’m lookin’ ‘round, seein’ who’s diggin’ this particular song. Every night I just love lookin’ down at that audience. And you hit the first couple of notes and you see all the heads turn and look at each other – all the people it means something to, you know?” “And you see ‘em all turn and look into each other’s eyes. It still knocks me right out. I still love that. And playin’ live is just – I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t get to do that. We’re all gettin’ on now and I’m horrified – well, not horrified – but the day that we can’t do it anymore is not gonna be a great day, not at all.” Given the band’s immense appeal, it’s hard to imagine that day ever getting here. In fact, The Moodies continue to gain new followers as fans satisfy their hunger for inspiring, compassionate music in response to the proliferation of “angry” songs. Edge agrees. “Yes, I agree entirely with what you said. But I read an interesting article somebody forwarded to me just a week, ten days ago. And in it there were some scientists were tryin’ to take music and find out how it works.” “And um, what they discovered – they did a computer analysis of a piece of music that was good music. And they measured it with the tiny human discrepancies. And they got a computer to play the same stuff but remove all of those tiny, tiny fractional incorrect timings and play the same music to people.” “And the one that was spot on, tick-tock correct left them unmoved. The one with the human errors in left them unmoved. They took another piece of music, left the human errors in, but made the length of all of the notes the same and again, it left people unmoved.” “So there’s some kind of human contact goin’ on in music, which because so much of the music now is computer generated, spot on, tick-tock timing. I find it interesting that scientists are trying to quantify this all, but what they’re doing is saying ‘Yeah, it is the soul,’ but why, they can’t tell you. I think the only emotion that is easy to get goin’ is frustration or anger.” Even with the band’s timeless appeal, the never-ending popularity of “Nights In White Satin” is beyond impressive. Somewhat surprisingly, it doesn’t surprise Edge. Continue Reading...

Photo Essay: The Moody Blues at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

HeyReverb.com The Moody Blues opened the Red Rocks season Saturday night with a solid, graceful and no-frills show that sampled their nearly five decade run in psychedelic and symphonic rock. The balmy, 75 degree air provided a fitting atmosphere for the silky two-hour set which included “The Voice,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” “Driftwood” and of course, “Nights in White Satin.” View the Photo Essay!

The Moody Blues Rock Red Rocks

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MORRISON - Opening weekend brought a little mood, a little blues and a lot of rock n roll to Red Rocks Amphitheater. The Moody Blues took the historic Red Rocks stage on Saturday to kick off the venue's 2011 summer concert series. "It's one of those gigs that you always look forward to," band drummer Graeme Edge said. "It's one of the premiere gigs on the planet, mainly because it's so beautiful. It's always good to come back." The Moody Blues burst onto music scene as part of the British Invasion of the 1960s. Its peers include The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but the band aimed to mean something different to rock n roll fans. "We started with our own music doing exactly who we were, not what everybody else wanted us to be," bassist and vocalist John Lodge said. "The Moodys came along with a whole different picture of what rock 'n' roll was about. A ballad like 'Nights in White Satin' takes you where you want to be and you cant get better rock 'n' roll than that." The members of The Moody Blues are no strangers to Red Rocks, first playing there in the 1980s. One of their most memorable performances featured the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The live recording of that show reached No. 93 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1993. " set us on the road, playing with orchestras all over the world," Lodge said." We just finished something last year with the Moscow Symphony. Who knew wed ever be doing those types of things? It's just a magical place." While Edge claims the band is "feeling pretty ancient lately," The Moody Blues fan base continues to expand. Their hit, "Nights in White Satin" reached No. 2 on the UK Rock Chart in December 2010 after Matt Cardle performed his rendition of the classic on "The X Factor" - the British version of "American Idol." "We've got a lot of young people who are following us now," lead singer Justin Hayward said. "They like the records that we made when we were really young, too. We're very fortunate to have an audience that goes right across all age groups. It's really great." The Moody Blues have been together since 1965 and are showing no signs of stopping soon. "You never know . You never know. Eight or nine years ago, we kind of thought, 'Well, nothing much is going to come along.' And then bang, bang, bang, three or four very interesting new things came along. We just have no clue what's going to come along," Edge said. It is safe to assume this is not the last time the band will grace the Red Rocks stage. "I think we've always been a touring band and we always will be," Hayward said.

John Lodge on KOOL 103

John Lodge of The Moody Blues John Lodge of The Moody Blues

Tune in as John Lodge chats with Kool Radio Medford, OR

When: Monday, May 9th 8:10am

Where: Kool 103 - Southern Oregon's Greatest Hist

Moody Blues May 31st Boise, ID Show Is Cancelled

Due to the unexpected illness of one of the key band members, the Moody Blues must regrettably cancel tomorrow nights (Tuesday May 31st) show at the Botanical Gardens in Boise. Please hold on to your tickets for a few days until it can be determined whether or not the concert will be rescheduled. Once more details are available they will be posted here.

John Lodge of The Moody Blues Launches Vintage Wine

HOW TO ORDER (While Supplies Last!):
  • Call Wellingtons at 415-331-WINE (9463)
  • Limited autographed bottles and lithographs remain! First come, first serve!
Rock legend debuts his much heralded wine Krisemma to the public at Wellington’s in Sausalito the afternoon of The Moody Blues concert May 24th in San Rafael
John Lodge John Lodge
Sausalito, CA – May 2, 2011 John Lodge, bassist/vocalist of the timeless British rock band The Moody Blues, will personally “uncork” his vintage Krisemma during a wine tasting event the afternoon of Tuesday, May 24th from 2-5 pm at Wellington’s Wine Bar in Sausalito. This will be the first time this 2002 limited production vintage red wine has been available for tasting and sale to the general public after having been cellared for the past 9 years. “I have waited for this opportunity to unveil Krisemma at the right time in its life so near to its birthplace in the beautiful Napa Valley, and am pleased that Wellington’s is as excited about it as I am”, says Lodge. “I look forward to lifting a glass with Bay Area fans and wine lovers at Wellington’s on the 24th”. At Wellington’s, Lodge will present a personally autographed print of the Krisemma label to each person who purchases wine during the event. The label image was designed by Britain’s most prolific graphic artist known for creating some of the top album covers over the past 30 years. Anyone wishing to purchase Krisemma, who will not be able to attend the event, may place a phone order with Wellington’s beginning May 20th, insuring against the possibility that the limited edition Krisemma may sell through. Advance phone orders will also include an autographed print while supplies last. Following the event at Wellington’s, Lodge will take the stage at Marin Center in San Rafael at 8 pm with his band mates, The Moody Blues, to perform many of their hit songs including “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” “Your Wildest Dreams”, and more. Any remaining tickets for the show are on sale at Ticketmaster.com and Marin Center box office. About Krisemma Produced in the Napa Valley as a pet project of Joe Bob Hitchcock and Behrens & Hitchcock Winery, Krisemma is a red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It is a big, powerful Bordeaux style blend, the trademark of great wines from Behrens & Hitchcock such as Ode to Picasso, Cuvee Lola, and a long history of outstanding vineyard designated Napa Valley wines. Krisemma is available for $95 per bottle, plus CA tax and shipping if applicable. Only 123 cases were originally produced, and only a very few cases have been consumed or donated to select charities. In January 2011, two cases (24 bottles) of Krisemma were sold at auction, during the Sandy Lane/John Lodge Golf Tournament Gala in Barbados, garnering $30,000 for the benefit of the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust. About Wellingtons Wellington’s Wine Bar is located at 300 Turney Street, Sausalito, CA 94965, phone 415-331-9463, on the web at www.wellingtonswinebar.com . Known as “A London Local”, Wellington’s is one of the Bay Area’s premier drinking establishments renown for its “friendly banter over a good drink or two … the cure of most ills”.

Moody Blues to bring '60s sound, new material to Brady show

TulsaWorld.com
The Moody Blues Live! The Moody Blues Live!
It's been a long time coming for the Moody Blues. But they're back and they're ready to play. "We've definitely played Oklahoma before, even back in the '60s. But it's been awhile," said singer, songwriter and guitarist Justin Hayward in a recent telephone interview. "Any man who's heard of Gene Pitney would be honored to perform in Tulsa," he said, then laughed, referencing Pitney's UK hit "Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa," released in 1964. At their show Tuesday in Tulsa, expect a lot of the trademark Mellotron sound. "It's important that we keep true to the original recordings," Hayward said. Half of the show will be newer material, half will be early stuff, he said. "They'll get all of it, our whole career," he said. Hayward said the show has no opening act and the band will play close to 2 1/2 hours with a 15-minute break. "Lots of audio-visual stuff," including archival band footage. "It's a 'whole' experience," he said. And the band's been a "whole experience" for him, too. He knows little else - it's his life, he admitted. "I was 19 when I came to the band," he said of joining the Moody Blues in 1966. "I gave it about two months." And here they are, 45 years later. "The lifespan of '60s bands was 2-3 years, tops." But the band's turning point was an American fairy tale, as far as their success is concerned. And it happed twice. Both times, the Moodies were at the right place at the right time, and their music was exposed to two generations. The first was the British Invasion of the 1960s. The band's orchestral sound was perfect for the state-of-the art stereo mixes taking over a new medium - FM radio. "A few things have coincided in our lifetimes to mean that we can still play anywhere today. We were also fortunate to visit the U.S. in 1968; that's when we really broke through," Hayward said about the British Invasion influx of bands - The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, Herman's Hermits, The Yardbirds and more. The "first seven," as they're called, are the band's first seven albums, which defined their trademark sound of symphonic-infused rock. "Believe it or not, all that symphonic-sounding stuff on our first albums was just us making noise," he admitted. "We never played with a symphony then." The second big break came nearly two decades later when the "MTV generation" was born, and the band released its video for "Your Wildest Dreams," from their album "The Other Side of Life," in 1986. The band has stayed relevant because "We are a band that relies on original songs. We've also never been a part of the 'celebrity culture,' so we've stayed focused on our music," he said. "Honestly, other than those things, I have no idea why people still like us." For the favorite time of his life with the band, he'd still have to go back to the very beginning, he said. "Our first album - we had nothing. Decca wanted a demonstration stereo album," to sell stereo equipment - and albums, he said. The symphonic sound of the band was a perfect fit. "Material like 'Nights in White Satin' and 'Tuesday Afternoon' were the beginning of a long, slow success story," Hayward said. "But it's certainly been worth it."

The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward On Selling 70 Million Albums, Staying Together For 40 Years

DallasObserver For four decades, The Moody Blues have served as the forefathers of the classical music and rock 'n' roll fusion. Beginning in 1967 with the release of the album Days of Future Past and the single "Nights in White Satin," The Moody Blue
The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
s essentially ushered in a completely new musical genre. And, in the '60s and early '70s, the band achieved remarkable success -- including over 70 million albums sold -- while attempting to fuse the delicacies of symphonic music with the 4/4 thump of rock 'n' roll. Stranger, though, was The Moody Blues' surprising success in the '80s as a pop band, when singles such as "Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" topped the American charts. In anticipation of The Moody Blues' performance tonight at the Verizon Theater in Grand Prairie, singer and guitarist Justin Hayward was kind enough to speak to DC9 about the band's legacy and how its music continues to appeal to new fans. The Moody Blues have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. Is it possible to even begin to think of such success in today's musical landscape? Not now with the Internet and online sales. But back in the '60s, '70s and '80s, when it was really albums being bought off the shelves, it was an astonishing feeling to know that so many people enjoyed your music. They still do, but now in a different way. There have been various incarnations of the band. Do you still do songs from all the various lineups? I think we do things from most of the albums from most of the incarnations, down through the years. At the first part of the show, we do some of the newer stuff, and the second part is really the greatest hits -- those songs we couldn't get off stage without playing. We enjoy doing all the songs. Do you ever do Denny Laine's "Go Now'? We did that a couple of months after Denny left the band, but none of us could sing it like he did. Denny took that with him, really. Even when he was with Wings, he was doing that song. I think he was the voice of that song, and it belonged to him. He sang it better than anybody else. Is it true that you were recommended to join The Moody Blues by Eric Burden of the Animals? Yes! I knew someone in Eric's office. Eric was looking for some songs, for song material, and I had a couple of records and demos that he ended up hearing. The call came completely out of the blue. Two days later, I was in The Moody Blues. I already had an amplifier, so I was ahead of the game. Seeing that it was such an experimental album, were you surprised by the success of Days of Future Past? I think we were. It was a slow burner. It was made as a stereo demonstration record and Decca came to us with that idea, since stereo was just then coming into people's homes. But we thought the record would have a limited, kind of arty appeal. Over the years, the record gained momentum. Now, "Nights in White Satin" was a hit straight out of the box, especially in France and the UK. And then "Tuesday Afternoon" was a hit in America. On the strength of those songs, we were brought to American by Bill Graham. The FM signal was just beginning to take shape and become huge, and we came there with our stereo material at the right time. Do you think of "Nights in White Satin" as an iconic rock song? The song means a lot to a lot of people. It's a wonderful thing to be able to share it every night. To see people's faces when we do that song -- it's a remarkable thing. I would never want to give up that feeling. We've had people get married in front of us, at gigs, while we are playing that song. They had a preacher at the front of the stage. A lot of people use it at their funerals, as well. I was 19 when I wrote it, so it's almost like it happened to another person. It's a privilege and a pleasure to play that song each night. Do you still start each show off with "Ride My See Saw"? We used to alternate between "Question" and "Ride My See Saw," but we just kind of got stuck starting off with the latter. Does the phrase classical rock annoy you? No, not at all. People can call it whatever they want. We always followed our own road. We never thought that we were part of any trend or movement. It didn't make any difference to us. I suppose it helps to have some sort of label on it, but we never put one on what we did. The band took a break in the mid '70s. Did the various members have to get away from one another? We had started a new album and then aborted it. We had to get our own lives in order. We were all so young when we first started the band, and we had seven years of great success. But all of us had developed lives outside of the group. We needed to take a break. There wasn't a conscious decision. We just didn't make any plans to be together, to record together. When I think back on it, it's probably the reason we are still a band today. We could have stayed together back then maybe a year or two, and we would have broken up. As it was, a couple of guys were thinking about leaving the band at that time. When we got back together a couple of years later to make the Octave album, Mike Pinder decided that, after all, it wasn't what he wanted to do. It was refreshing that a person would be so honest. It left the four of us ready to continue on. Some sources claimed that the band was tired of fans stalking them, that some fans were supposedly even seeking cures for illnesses. That's not true. We've always had a great relationship with our fans. We never rode or recognized our celebrity. It was just really our own personal lives needing to develop outside of the group. We had gone from boys to men, and it was time to grow up and put some roots down. There seems to be a lot of young people in the audiences these days. What do you think about that? It does surprise me. The big change for us was in the mid-'80s, when we had a couple of really big hit singles with "Wildest Dreams" and "You're Out There Somewhere." A whole new generation of people came to us. They knew nothing about the band before that. In the years after that, we became a favorite on PBS. We've done a number of live shows for them. I think people have discovered us through that as well. Even for fans that are our own age, it's OK to come back and see us again. Do you think the fans that discovered The Moody Blues in the '80s were shocked by the material from the '60s and '70s? I think they were. And it took a while for them to relate to that material, to realize that it was the same band. We find that a lot of the younger people in the audience identify with the stuff that was written when we were young.

The Moody Blues continue to experience success beyond their wildest dreams

NewsOK.com British rockers The Moody Blues will play three Oklahoma shows in the coming days. Four decades after The Moody Blues began blending rock and orchestral sounds, their lush and lyrical sonic style has maintained a level of popularity beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
For instance, the British rockers’ signature ballad, “Nights in White Satin,” is seemingly “never reaching the end” of its dramatic appeal. The legendary hit, from the group’s landmark 1967 album “Days of Future Passed,” recently landed at No. 2 on the U.K. Rock Chart and No. 27 on the BBC Radio 1 chart, marking the fourth time “Nights in White Satin” has charted in its more than 40-year-history. “It’s really nice because it was made and sung originally from the heart, and if people can recognize that in it, that’s a wonderful thing to share, really,” said Moody Blues guitarist/singer/songwriter Justin Hayward in a recent phone interview from his home in Monaco. The band — Hayward, bassist/singer John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge — launched their 2011 U.S. tour earlier this week in New Orleans. They are playing three shows in Oklahoma: Saturday at Thackerville’s WinStar World Casino, Tuesday at Tulsa’s Brady Theater and Wednesday at Concho’s Lucky Star Casino. Hayward, 64, said The Moodies, as the rockers are sometimes affectionately known, typically attract multigenerational audiences. “We’re very lucky to have a real cross-section of people, and (there are) a lot of very young kids, as well, that we get mail from who are just discovering the music,” he said. “I always tend to think that ‘oh, well, people have forgotten all about that.’ But still it turns up, and it seems new generations discover this music. We’re very fortunate that radio has always been open to us and we’ve had that kind of material,” he said. “But I think the Moodies is based on songs and the strength of those songs instead of a sound or an image — I mean, we didn’t even have an image right at the beginning, and we didn’t do any press or anything like that in the early years — we just relied on our music. It’s very rewarding and very gratifying.” Hayward has penned many of The Moody Blues’ hits, including “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” and, yes, “Nights in White Satin.” “I’ve always been very selfish in my writing and what I record. And that makes me wrong more times than I’m right, really, about what other people will empathize with,” he said. “I’m just doing things that I want to do and hope that other people can share (in it). Because I think that’s the kind of duty that I have really: I’ve got to please myself first. So I’ve always trusted my own judgment there.” He noted that his strategy has yielded many failures to go along with the successes. “We did an album (in 1969) called ‘To Our Children’s Children’s Children,’ which was the first album on our own label, and we recorded a song on that called ‘Watching and Waiting.’ And when we recorded it, we all had a shiver up the spine and we said, ‘This is gonna be like a No. 1 song,’ and we put it out and it sold about 10 copies — and my mum bought half of those,” he said with a laugh. “So you never know, but you just gotta truck on trusting your own judgment and do what you think is right, and then it will be fulfilling.” Still, the triumphs clearly outweigh the missteps: The Moodies have sold more than 70 million albums and earned 14 platinum and gold certifications. The resurgence of “Nights in White Satin” can be traced to the British reality TV series “The X Factor.” Matt Cardle, who went on to win the seventh season of the singing contest, belted the passionate ballad on the show. Hayward was on tour in Dublin when Cardle’s performance aired around Christmas. “Suddenly my phone lit up, and I thought, ‘I’ve never had so many bloody texts,’ and I opened it all and they said, ‘Oh you must see this, it was brilliant,’” he said. “He did a great version. He did it faithfully, he did it really, really well.” Fans can expect The Moodies to faithfully perform their symphonic rock smashes, too. “We’re very lucky. We could work almost every night of the year. We’re probably offered more work now than we were in the ’60s and ’70s. It’s remarkable,” he said. “But it’s a good time for bands who can play live, and that was always our thing ... and now here we are, it’s still happening for us.”

Moody Blues Have Little to "Lament" In Nearly 50-Year Career

HoustonPress.com
The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
Since their 1964 origin, England's the Moody Blues have combined lush, orchestral pop with more rock-edged material to score hits like "Go Now," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Ride My See-Saw," "Question," "The Story in Your Eyes" and, of course, "Nights in White Satin." And save a three-year hiatus in the '70s, the band has toured and recorded consistently, both on its own and with orchestras worldwide. The Moodys' core trio of original member Graeme Edge (drums), and classic lineuppers Justin Hayward (vocals/guitar) and John Lodge (bass/vocals) will be augmented by five other musicians for their current tour. In Houston, the band is also offering a pre-show intimate "Storytellers Experience" and backstage tour with the purchase of a VIP ticket package. Rocks Off spoke with Edge - who wrote the famous "Late Lament" spoken-word poem recited during "Nights in White Satin" ("Breathe deep, the gathering gloom/ Watch lights fade from every room") - about the song's longevity, the band's first drive through Texas, and why he's known at family dinners as "Grandpa Drums." Rocks Off: So in high school, I memorized "Late Lament" and would break it out occasionally to show girls that I was deep and could hopefully get laid. It never worked. GE: Well, they probably got the wrong idea that you were sensitive. Maybe you should have just sang the song! RO: You wrote the poem, so why did keyboardist Mike Pinder recite it on record? GE: At the time, he had consumed a lot more cigarettes and whiskey then I had, so he had the better voice for that! RO: You just turned 70 a few weeks ago. Did you have any idea when the band started that you'd still be on the road well past pensioner age? GE: Hell, I didn't think I'd be on the road after 30 (laughs). At that time, nobody over that age... or even 25... even listened to rock and roll. But we hadn't thought that our fans would grow old with us.
"Days of Future Passed" Album "Days of Future Passed" Album
RO: I understand that your version of "Nights in White Satin" just hit the charts in England for the fourth time since its release, because a contestant on "the X Factor" sang it. At what point did you really know that this song was going to be huge? GE: Actually, before we recorded it when it was in rehearsal. At that time, the BBC required so much live music be played on the airwaves because of the musician's union. We did an acoustic version for them with the backing vocals but without the strings. And when we were listening to it back in the booth, we all kind of looked at each other and said, "Now we've got something there!" We felt that even more when we did the real version. Oddly enough, it didn't do that well as a single when it came out. Later, radio stations in the U.S. started playing it, and it just took off from there. RO: Do you have any particular memories of being in Houston over the years? GE: The biggest memory I have was the first time we were doing shows in Texas, we decided to drive rather than fly. But three inches in a map of Texas is a lot more distance than three inches on a map of England (laughs). We had no idea how far apart things were! And we'd seen a lot of cowboy movies set in Texas - though later we found out it was actually the Arizona desert. So we were surprised that Houston and parts of East Texas were so green. Then we'd go into places to eat and everyone would have jeans and a cowboy hat on, and we'd have our hair down to our waist, probably wearing scarlet and psychedelic colors. It was a bit like the Klingons meeting the Vulcans! But we were so far apart, nobody got mad. RO: You are the sole member left from the band's original lineup, though Justin and John came onboard shortly thereafter. If any one of you left, would the band continue? GE: There's no pact amongst us, but I don't see how the band could continue without Justin. He is that voice. I'm probably the only one who could carry on, but I don't think that will happen. We've all sort of talked about it. But we'll probably keep going until we can't do it anymore...or nobody comes to see us! But nobody wants to quit. RO: In recent years, we've seen Yes tour without the very distinctive voice of Jon Anderson. GE: Yes, but their band is more about instrumental performances. We're more about vocal performance and lyrics. We also don't have that much soloing, musical passages where you say the same line four times then go off for 40 bars. RO: In the '80s, a lot of younger people's first exposure to the Moody Blues was with the videos for "Your Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" on MTV.
Moody79
GE: We were gratified to have those hits, because we had hoped to reach a new audience. And those videos are like mini-movies with good stories. You can sort of see it in the audience with the original fans in the 65-70-year-old range...or even the 85 to 90-year-old range (laughs), and then those who know us from those videos. RO: The Moody Blues are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in company with Deep Purple, Yes, Jethro Tull, and Rush. Yet, they've inducted one-hit soul wonders, esoteric critic's darlings, reggae artists, blues players, and pop performers. What does the Hall have against popular prog-rock? GE: I think about it. I mean, Boston isn't in! RO: Neither are Chicago, the Doobie Brothers, or Journey. GE: The Doobie Brothers! They should absolutely be in, especially. That rock, that country rock. Don't mess with it, baby (laughs). But it has to be political. Still, every time the nominations come around and we're not mentioned, our fans light up the Internet about it. There's outrage! So at least it brings some attention that way. Maybe it's not a bad thing to not be in it. RO: So what are the band's plans after this tour? GE: We've got six weeks off, and at that point I'll get around to my favorite restaurants and reintroduce myself to my grandkids. I live just outside of Tampa Bay in Florida. Then we go to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, then it's Christmas, then next year a U.S. casino tour. RO: Do your grandkids know what you do for a living? GE: Of the four of them, two of them are old enough to know. When my 13 year-old first saw a concert, she thought it was all a bit silly that I was up there on stage. But they all call me "Grandpa Drums!" The Moody Blues play 8 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

The Moody Blues at ACL Live 4/28

Do512 the coming and going of members, The Moody Blues have remained a popular and venerated rock band since the mid sixties, selling over 70 million records and receiving 14 gold and platinum discs. Their music has been wildly successful with singles like “Nights in White Satin” and “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock n’ Roll Band)”

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues
1964 was the founding year for The Moody Blues. A decade of growth, skyrocketing fame, and incredible international tours left The Moody Blues in need of an extended break. The group took a three year hiatus to do solo work, but in 1977 came back in full force and have been churning out more hits and international tours for the past 30 years. Current members Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Graeme Edge may have gray hair, but that doesn’t hold them back from performing insanely entertaining live shows. They’re definitely some of the hardest rocking 60-somethings ever. Their discography reads an impressive sixteen studio albums long and an extensive list of compilation albums. Their dedication to producing consistently authentic and stylistic rock music time and time again is outstanding in a world where many pop-rock artists seem to drift in style wherever the musical fads take them. This Thursday, 4/28, The Moody Blues is playing ACL Live, and we have FIVE pairs of free tickets to give away. Click “I like it” on the event listing for your chance to win. These dudes consistently sell our their shows, so you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to see ‘em rock the house!

Moody Blues Supports Instrument Drive for CISD

Houston, TX – April 20, 2011 - Timeless rock stars The Moody Blues are paying it forward throughout their Voyage 2011 Precious Cargo tour by teaming up with Ear Candy Charity to host a week-long Instrument Drive® to support Conroe Independent School District. Throughout the week of April 22 – 29, community members can donate a new or slightly used instrument at two area fire stations and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (locations and times detailed below). These instruments will benefit music students at Washington Junior High School in Conroe. There also will be a special collection the night of the show at the venue.
The Moody Blues is a supporter of Instrument Drive for CISD The Moody Blues is a supporter of Instrument Drive for CISD
Fans of The Moody Blues who have yet to purchase their tickets for the concert can take advantage of a Buy One Get One Free ticket offer by donating an instrument. Limit one free ticket with the purchase of another ticket of equal value to The Moody Blues concert April 29 at The Pavilion. This offer is only available at The Pavilion Box Office April 22-29 and does not apply to previously purchased tickets. The Moody Blues know that the benefits of music education in the lives of children are undeniable, yet in these troubling economic times, budgets for music education are being slashed. To address these shortfalls, Ear Candy Charity created Instrument Drives® to collect slightly used instruments for children who otherwise cannot afford them. Individuals donate instruments at donation sites, and the instruments are placed in the hands of low income students in the community. The “Journey of the Instrument” is completed when the original donor is notified of the school or program where the instrument they donated has been placed. A tax receipt will be provided for instrument donors. In addition to encouraging instrument donations, The Moody Blues is offering two exclusive VIP packages which include an intimate Storytellers experience, a Moody Blues merchandise package, and a pair of premium tickets to the show. The packages are available via online auction to support Ear Candy Charity’s mission of providing youth access to music education. Supporters are encouraged to visit MoodyBluesToday.com or EarCandyCharity.org to learn how and where to donate an instrument, bid on a VIP package, purchase tickets to the show, or make a financial contribution. For more information on The Moody Blues, including VIP ticket packages, merchandise, news and more visitwww.MoodyBluesToday.com. The Moody Blues -- guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist/vocalist John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge -- have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs. The band’s incredible roster of hits includes: “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” to name a few. The Moody Blues’ No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles have generated sold-out tours on a consistent basis over the course of several decades, making the group one of the top-grossing album and touring bands in existence. The Moodies’ legendary hit “Nights In White Satin,” originally released in 1967 from their landmark “Days Of Future Passed” album, recently landed at #2 on the UK Rock Chart, and at #27 on the BBC Radio 1 chart, making it the fourth time that “Nights” has charted in its 40-plus year history. The song’s resurgence ignited from a recent smash cover performance by Matt Cardle, current winner of Simon Cowell’s hit UK show “The X Factor” (check out Cardle’s performance of the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUTGJN9qCnc). Donation Sites and Times 1.) The Woodlands Central Fire Station, 9951 Grogan’s Mill Road, The Woodlands, TX 77380 2.) The Woodlands Fire Station #5, 10100 Branch Crossing Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77382 3.) The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Box Office, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380 (Mon.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and until 8:30 p.m. the night of the concert) Note: The Buy One Get One Free ticket offer for the donation of an instrument is only available at The Pavilion Box Office April 22-29. About Ear Candy Charity Ear Candy Charity is based in Phoenix, AZ, and is devoted to Providing Youth Access to Music Education. We fulfill our mission through Instrument Drives®, Backstage Class® field trips and Community Partnerships. In 2010, we impacted well over 10,000 youth in Arizona while actively expanding our sustainable, community driven model. To learn more please visit: www.EarCandyCharity.ORG

Win Tickets for Tulsa, OK

Want to win tickets to see the Moody Blues at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
It's easy, just change your Facebook profile image to the graphic below and post a comment on the contest thread on the Brady Theater's Facebook Page. While you're there, don't forget to "like" the Moody Blues Facebook Page too!Good luck!
Moody Blues at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Moody Blues at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

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