AXS.com One of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Moody Blues has recently announced the initial line-up for their third fan cruise experience—The Moody Blues Cruise III, departing from Miami, FL on Feb. 26, 2016. The four-day / five-night voyage aboard the NCL Pearl will visit tropical ports that include Key West, Florida and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. While on board, fans will have exclusive access to private concerts, Q&A sessions as well as many special events and activities. All while interacting with musical guests that have influenced the music of the 70s/80s and beyond. In addition to concerts by cruise hosts, The Moody Blues, featured performances include The Zombies, The Orchestra, Ambrosia, Randy Hansen and Mellow Yellow, John Waite, The Ides of March, Randy Hansen with the Music of Jimi Hendrix, Christopher Cross, Renaissance, Rare Earth and Matthew and Gunnar Nelson performing Ricky Nelson Remembered. This is not just a “concert cruise.” It’s a total fan experience celebrating the legacy of one of the world’s most beloved bands, The Moody Blues. AXS recently spoke to Moody Blues bassist John Lodge about The Moody Blues Cruise, his amazing new solo album, “10,000 Light Years Ago” and more in this exclusive interview. AXS: Your new solo album, 10,000 Light Years Ago, is your first in nearly forty years. How has the response been to the new music? John Lodge: The response has been fantastic! People really seem to enjoy it and from places I never would have expected. It’s been interesting to see the spectrum around the world of where the album has been. I’ve been really pleased. AXS: The album has such a 70’s symphonic/prog feel. Was that the vibe you were going for when you wrote it? JL: Yes. Musically, I wanted to go back to the roots that I really love but bring them up to date. In the early days with the Moodies, I was always exploring things and trying to find avenues I’ve never been up before. That’s why I wanted to use the first song, "In My Mind", as an anthem to set the rest of the album up. It actually came from three notes that I play on stage every night when I’m doing my sound check. I play a bottom “E”, an octave “E” and then all the way up to the top. I thought, “That’s what I do every night before a concert. Perhaps that’s what I should start the album with!” I built it up from there. It’s an album about who I am today. AXS: Do you have plans to tour the new album? JL: I’m actually working on that right now. I’m working with some great musicians and expect to announce something by the end of October. I’d really like to go on the road next summer. I’ll probably start with some dates in the U.K. and then hopefully in the States. It’s something I'm really looking forward to. Justin and I made an album in the 70’s calledBlue Jays that was a very important album for me. We never had the chance to play it live and I always felt a bit cheated, because there are some really lovely songs on that album. I’m not going to let that happen this time. AXS: Lets talk a little about the new Moody Blues Cruise. What do you enjoy most about these cruises? JL: It’s a festival atmosphere. Even though The Moody Blues are the catalyst, everyone on that cruise is there for one reason only - music. There’s something very special about that. The fans are so loyal and very appreciative to all the other artists that come along with us. It makes for a really nice atmosphere. AXS: What else can fans expect from the cruise? JL: There will be two Moody Blues concerts. Half of the audience one night and half the next. We also have a question and answer session where we’ll try to find an appropriate answer that’s either enlightening or fun. I also have my own wine calledKrisemma that I like to bring along for a wine tasting on the cruise. We’ll enjoy the wine and I’ll bring my guitars and will probably sing a few songs from my new album. AXS: What’s next for The Moody Blues? JL: After the cruise in February we’ll be doing a tour of the Southeast portion of the United States. Through out Florida and up the East Coast a bit in places like Atlanta and Memphis. That’s what we’ve got planned so far. AXS: When the band was recording the album Days of Future Passed, did you know how special it was going to be? JL: We knew when we were recording it was going to be different. We just weren’t sure if it was going to be successful. But we were committed to that album. Not just the music but also the philosophy of who we were. At that time, bands were always wearing the same suits on stage and all had an image, but we wanted to do something different altogether and just be ourselves. I remember when we finished the album we invited the record company to come listen and they didn’t understand it or know what to do with it. It was only two gentlemen - Walt Maguire, the VP of London Records in New York and Hugh Mendl, the head of the Classical Department in England, who really understood what we were doing. They became our Godfathers and looked after us. It turned out to be something very special.

Check out this video from John's River Thames Cruise that took place in June to launch his solo album 10,000 Light Years Ago and his new Krisemma Elgin Chardonnay 2014 (www.krisemmawine.com)! Album available now. http://apple.co/1FvFRo4

mcall.com Justin Hayward has been the principal songwriter, guitarist and vocalist in prototypical prog rocker band The Moody Blues for nearly 50 years. He's the voice of such classic songs as “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” and “Your Wildest Dreams,” and the protagonist in the group's 1973 hit “I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” if you will. So if anyone knows when — or whether — the group will ever release another proper studio album, it's Hayward. But he says he simply doesn’t know. So after not having a new Moodies album in a dozen years, Hayward nearly two years ago put out a solo disc, “Spirits of the Western Sky,” his first in 17 years. And now with a break from The Moodies' incessant touring, Hayward is on a solo jaunt, playing not only songs from that disc and some of the other half-dozen solo albums he's released over the years, but also stripped-down versions of Moodies hits and deep cuts he says have never been played live. He stops at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on Monday and Musikfest Cafe at Arts- Quest Center in Bethlehem on Wednesday. In a recent telephone call from his home in England, Hayward discussed the new tour, the history of The Moody Blues, and the future of both. Here’s a transcript of the call: JUSTIN HAYWARD: “Hello John, how are you?” LEHIGH VALLEY MUSIC: Just fine, thanks. Thanks for taking time to speak with me today. “Not at all. My pleasure. Thank you for calling, yeah.” So tell me about the Watching and Waiting tour. What’s it going to be like? What are you going to do? What songs are you going to perform? Or what types of songs are you going to perform. Just give me a capsule of what it is. “Well, I’m going to be doing quite a lot of things that I wrote for the Moody Blues and that have never been done on stage before.” Wow. “And I think that are more suited to this kind of acoustic format that is closer to the actual recordings than the big production with two drummers that the Moodies could do, that I could do with the Moodies. So there’s some interesting things I’m revisiting and looking at the reasons and the stories behind some of these songs – from the late ‘60s particularly. “And of course I do some things from the ‘Spirits of the Western Sky’ album that I had out recently. So that’s just fine. And then really I’m looking at the songs … I’m doing the songs in my own original demo form; how I’d present them originally. And, you know, I was always very lucky with the group, that they were able to put those acoustic-guitar-and-voice and my own feelings into it kind of up front on the recordings, which was very good. And then I get to do ‘Forever Autumn,’ as well, which was a big hit for me, but I rarely get to do it onstage, so I’m very pleased to have that. “And they can also see two of the greatest musicians that I’ve worked with: Mike Dawes, a truly incredible young English guitar player, and Julie Reagans, who’s one of the best musicians I’ve ever seen—certainly the best I’ve ever worked with.” And when you actually play your set, is it only you, or do you have any backing musicians? “No, I have Mike Dawes on guitar. So me on guitars and Mike Dawes on guitar – acoustic and electric – and Julie Reagans on keyboards and assorted percussion and vocals. And she plays a lot of different things. But yeah, we present the songs – the three of us present them and it’s a lovely atmosphere. We all get to contribute, which is nice. “So we all have a love of this music and these songs, so that comes across.” How did you decide to do a solo tour now, and then what brought you to do them in this format? “Well I’ve always been lucky enough to have support from a label – whether it be Decca, Universal , Polygram and now Eagle Rock for new products and an outlet for thing that I wasn’t able to do with the Moodies. And really then I did one tour, it was like a promotional tour for the ’Spirits’ album, and then the promoters just seemed to love it. And so they asked me back, and I think then a DVD followed and it’s just sort of snowballed from there, really. I think it’s because it’s another look at the Moodies – particularly another look at the earlier things that we did in a different format. “And like I say, probably truer to the original recordings than we could do with the big production that is the Moodies. I’m lucky to have that, you know? One makes the other possible, really.” My reaction to that is that fans, obviously, love the production of those songs. So it’s not as if those were the wrong things to do . “No, no, not at all. Yeah, so I think I’m always lucky that the producers always either used my demo or put the acoustic that originally was there or the vocal up front. And so I think we tried so many things with The Moodies, and if you have a big, loud format, some things just don’t work at all. And it’s sad to see those fall by the wayside. So I’m having this look at the other side of those songs.” You mentioned ‘Spirits in the Western Sky.’ What were you looking to do when you put that album out? What was your creative inspiration for that? “Well, I was spending a lot of time in the studio – mostly working for Universal and doing mixing for different projects and for Eagle Rock in particular for the Isle of Wight, and then remastering The Moodies’ stuff. And I was also doing little bits and pieces over the years and then I was spending so much time in the studio, my engineer -- my partner that I’ve worked with for quite a few, 20-odd years now – I think we both decided, ‘Listen, we’ve got a lot of demos that we’ve done, it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be a Moody Blues album, and so let’s record them properly. “And Eagle came in and really supported that. And so I so many songs, and it’s not fair to let these things – it’s not right to just keep them in a drawer somewhere.” Yeah. You mentioned thee history of The Moodies. What do you think is next for the group, and how long do you expect to continue to do that? “Well, John, that’s a question, isn’t it?” “I mean, you could have asked me the same question in August 1966 and I’d have said, ‘About a month.’” “I’m still no wiser now. I know that we have things coming up early next year. We have a cruise, another Moody Blues cruise, and I know there’s a lot of love out there for us and the band and, you know, we’re very, very lucky to have that. How long it will go on, I don’t know. You know, the three of us now, it’s the happiest kind of incarnation of The Moody Blues I’ve ever been in.” Wow. “Yeah, I think so, because you’re left with the three guys who really wanted to tour, out of the five of us. There were five of us from ’66 onward. And so I wish I could give you an answer. I don’t know really what’s next apart from the touring plans that we have and hoping it’ll stay together and somebody wants to buy a ticket to see it.” . Well, I have a couple of reactions: First of all, I saw you guys – you guys actually played Bethlehem last summer, I guess it was – played our Musikfest festival. “That’s right, yeah – we’ve done it … well, we’ve played Bethlehem a few times over the years, yeah. Very nice.” Yes, and obviously the crowds loved the presentation. And if it’s a decision of whether people will come to see it, I think they will. “Oh yeah, yeah.” The other thing I have to ask is whether recording new stuff by The Moodies out there anywhere? Is it a possibility? “I don’t know, I just don’t know. And I’ve got a feeling that if … the trouble is, I think it would be just kind of solo recordings that you’d call Moody Blues, and I’m not sure that that’s fair to do anymore. We’ve done quite a bit of that, and that’s not really …I don’t think that’s in the spirit of the band. “But I think if there’s something new it’ll be in kind of an audio-visual format, and I think DVDs seem to be what there’s a demand for the group, and I can see that being the next step. If anything new comes out, it’ll be in that kind of format. “But I mean, listen, John, I’m in the center of it. You know, I’m the guy standing in the middle of The Moody Blues. And if I don’t know, then there’s nobody that can really help ya.” Yeah, that’s a good point. This is always an awkward question to ask but I have to ask it of groups that have such a legacy as you do: Do you ever reflect on what you’ve accomplished in all these years? I mean, how influential you’ve been and the music you’ve put out? I mean, do you ever look at it in those terms at all? “Uh, I find it hard to because we’re a group that’s often kind of gone under the radar. And we’ve traveled such a different road. I think that through the ‘60s and ‘70s, we were lucky to have a record company that didn’t insist on having an A&R guy standing over us, so it didn’t demand a lot of hit singles from us. So we were able to travel a kind of different road. “But then we didn’t really employ a publicist, either, so we didn’t become celebrities or personalities. It was such a long, slow thing. I mean ‘Nights came out in November of ’67, got to No. 1 in 1972. So everything kind of happened slowly. “But I do look back on the thing that I love most of all, that I can reflect and I’m proud of most, is the period in the ‘80s with ‘ Wildest Dreams’ and ‘I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.’ Because that was a wonderful time. I was straight and I was able to enjoy it and I wasn’t in some kind of race like we thought we were in the ‘60s, trying to get it all done before … ‘Cause people said, ‘Hey listen, it’ll be over tomorrow.’ That kind of thing. And so I really enjoyed that part of it, and I loved the ‘80s particularly for that. And to have a couple of those big videos. And I think the songs that we did then –or the audience that we developed then are probably the audience that stayed with us and that came down. “But I don’t look back, because I don’t see us listed in many peoples’ favorite bands or anything like that . But I do look back at some of the albums, particularly ‘Days of Future Past,’ and even though we can’t really take credit for the whole concept of that, I think it was changing – it changed things in the music business. Because we were taking stereo seriously, and it just happened to be at the birth of FM radio, and out stuff was perfect for it. Our stuff was much better recorded than anybody else in the ‘60s. “And I think everybody did listen – all the musicians listened to that album and thought, ‘Wow, we have to change the way we record. FM radio is coming in. And I think that that’s probably the thing I’m most proud of. Is that first album.” I have to admit I think you’re not giving yourself enough credit. I think that you guys have been incredibly influential, and that album to my thought points that out. After that, it sort of opened up the possibilities of what you could do with music, with that type of music – merging classical elements into music. So I think you guys have an incredibly wide influence. “Uh, I hope so. I hope so, yeah. I think for some people, yeah, I agree with you. But I think it’ll be … we’ll be remembered for that album, probably. Probably, yeah.” So if it’s difficult to talk about new Moodies music, is there any possibility of you doing solo music after “Spirits of the Western Sky”? “Sure. I mean, I just did a video just recently of a string quartet version of ‘Story in Your Eyes,’ which is up YouTube now, and the reaction to that has been phenomenal. And I think I might investigate that more, because I’m with a couple of Italian guys who are … great kind of classical musicians that like that sort or crossover and a great young string quartet. And that’s an interesting avenue. “But I know that now that I have a label that’s supporting me and just saying, ‘We’ll take what you give us – just go out and do it,’ that’s a wonderful kind of safety net to have, really. I won’t be doing stuff in the dark or risking whatever to do it.” You mentioned the fact that The Moodies have played several times in our area. I know that you’ve played the State Theatre in Easton, Pennsylvania, several times. “Yes.” And you always get good response there. Do you have any memories of those concerts or of Pennsylvania in general? “You know, it’s always been a strong hold for Moodies, which is why the promoters are always happy to see us and they’re always phoning up and saying, ‘Are you coming out?’ you know, kind of thing. ‘Do you want to do something?’ But I think it always has been, right from the beginning, right from when, in the ‘60s, we came through there on a tour with Humble Pie, and we came with Cream on their farewell tour, and Canned Heat –we were opening for other people. “But I think it’s always been such a strong music area. It seems you can do a gig that’s 70 miles down the road, and you’ll still pull a crowd from last night’s concert. That’s why we’re asked to come back. “And the Bethlehem thing, first of all, is impressive in its location and that whole industrial thing around it is interesting, too.” Anything else? “John, how kind of you. I think you’ve covered it. All I’m trying to do is sell a few tickets and some DVDs. But it’s a show that’s full of love, an if you want to hear the story of what’s behind some of this stuff, then this is the place to come. These are like my own original demos for these songs, so that’s the point I’m trying to get across. “And also, I want to spread the word about Mike Dawes. He’s one of the finest players I’ve ever seen. One of the new generation of British guitar players that is really making a name. I shall be lucky to hold onto him in the next year or so, that’s for sure.” JUSTIN HAYWARD, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Musikfest Cafe, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Tickets, $52, $67, www.steelstacks.org, 610-332-3378. ALSO, 8 p.m. Monday, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia. Tickets: $75 (other areas sold out), www.worldcafelive.com, 215-222-1400.

"I love the feeling after a show, if it has all gone well. My solo show has a closer together vibe afterwards because we are fewer people – but I love that time. I always did. I think it’s a huge release of the tension that builds through the day as the show draws near." Read more answers from Justin... 1. You've just finished a full band tour in the USA, with another in Europe/UK, then a solo tour in each of these locations....how did you manage to not get booked up in the last 3 months of 2015? Who says I’m not booked up? 2. It was nice to see you sit down with Ed Bernstein again, any chance that the 2 of you will do a cd review together for Spirits (or Spirits II), similar to what you did for The View From The Hill? Ah, I had forgotten that. Ed has been a friend for many years and it’s always lovely to see him. Maybe when I’m back in Vegas we can spend some more time and make something together. Thanks for the idea. 3. Have your 'home' guitars been handling the changing conditions well on the road thus far? Any mishaps? It’s a kind of shock for them actually – leading a different life – but they are holding up fine. I had to get tougher cases for them, as the regular cases were not standing up to the wear and tear of the road. 4. Is there a particular guitar in your acoustic arsenal that you most look forward to playing more than the rest? I got a small 6 string Taylor last year that was made in the 1980’s and it’s such a sweet, harmonic guitar. Yes, I do look forward to playing that. 5. Will Mike Dawes have his own set to open the UK shows, as was being done in the US? You bet. 6. Do you think your solo shows in the UK could attract a slightly different audience than those who would normally attend Moody Blues shows? That’s been my experience in the USA. 7. Which audiences 'heckle' and/or spontaneously speak to the band while they are onstage the most, Americans or Europeans? The Americans of course. But in all these years I have never heard an offensive heckle at a concert. Only nice good vibes. 8. What was the nicest or funniest thing anyone ever shouted up to you or the band during a performance? “Can you play Wild Thing?” 9. Would you compare how you feel at the end of a Moody Blues show with how you feel at the end of one of your solo shows? I love the feeling after a show, if it has all gone well. My solo show has a closer together vibe afterwards because we are fewer people – but I love that time. I always did. I think it’s a huge release of the tension that builds through the day as the show draws near. 10. Who was the audience, the very first time you performed music for someone other than yourself? I think it would have been with a group called ‘The Kestrels’ that was formed at school when I was 10 - at a school or church social evening. 11. How did the Moody gig at Glastonbury Festival come about? Is everyone excited about playing there? Michael Eavis’s agent got in touch with Live Nation (our UK agent ) and they asked us. Yes. I’m looking forward to it. 12. Will you and the band have time or opportunity to watch other artists at Glastonbury? I will, if I have the opportunity, yes. 13. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? Can’t sleep. 14. In songwriting do you aim for the never-ending pursuit of perfection or is it better to strive for completion? I just try to do something that I like to play and that moves me emotionally. 15. What is it difficult to resist overspending on; besides guitars? Nice clothes. 16. When did you first know you were a professional musician? I knew I wanted to make a life in music from about 10 years old – but I realised I was a professional musician when I could stay in bed in the mornings at 17! 17. Were you popular with girls while growing up? Yup – and, well… they were popular with me. 18. Have you heard "Gypsy" attempted (read: murdered) by an Alabama surf-music band ! (Ellen &) The Shandells on the LaSalle label in 1970 (who were briefly signed to London Records); done with a Hammond organ (it's on youtube)? I just listened to it. I hadn’t heard it before. Nice voice. 19. Do you find that recording nowadays is not done in the studio where you can be creative but in a control room with an engineer or producer looking over your shoulder? Recording isn’t like that. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the control room or studio it’s still creative. And no one looks over my shoulder or tells me what to do. I share with Alberto and we are a great team. I believe that you can do most creative things at home. I am, and always was, prepared and I respect precious studio time. I detest time wasting in the studio or using it as a place to blindly search for ideas. And if there are other musicians there it’s not fair to keep them waiting, to be indecisive or expect them to write it for you. I never liked that kind of thing. I think someone should lead a session and if I’m working with other musicians I love their contributions if they are genuinely in the spirit of the song and I want them to feel confidence in me and to feel in safe hands – but the song is all and we must all bring that to the fore. I love a groove – subtle or hard – and that will often give a wonderful safety net to a song. But you will get tired of even wonderful groove to a mediocre song very soon. 20. Regarding the unseasonably cold weather such as that during the last USA Moody Blues tour (even having to move Red Rocks show to Denver Coliseum) am assuming it adversely affects one's guitars but how about one's singing voice? Yes, it absolutely affects the guitars – they don’t like it and quickly go sharp. (Curiously the Flute goes flat – the opposite of the guitars). But singing in the cold is not comfortable either. Warm is nice for my voice – but the guitars go flat. 21. What's the biggest wrong impression people have you of you, do you think? Ah…now I’ll let you into a little secret. No… sorry.. I’ve changed my mind. 22. Any particular voice warm-ups you do before a show? Have a cup of tea! 23. Is it your view that someday doing "Dawning Is The Day" live onstage would work well? We'd so love to hear that one live; the chorus alone would be spell-binding. Thanks for that kind thought. Maybe in a solo show. 24. What was just about the best day of your life; both musically and personally? Getting my first guitar when I was 10. I was so thrilled when I came back from two weeks summer holiday with my parents and the guitar had been delivered to our neighbours in Swindon. It came from Headquarter and General Supplies and we paid in installments. It was £2.10 shillings. I loved it. It was everything I hoped it would be. 25. Are you still puzzled that the beautiful simplicity of "Nights In White Satin" is so powerful? In Europe there are quite a few versions of it and I’m often in stores and the Georgio Moroder (Prada) or the Deodato version will be playing. That’s odd, and it always takes me a minute to realize what it is. I’m not puzzled but yes, its simplicity is often demonstrated better in other versions. 26. How does an artist keep control of success rather than success keeping control of the artist? We have all had plenty of failures too. That’ll keep you grounded. 27. Have you been able to find the time for crafting more songs for another solo album, we fervently hope? Or do you have several songs all done waiting to be heard? I have a few demo’s that will get recorded properly soon I’m sure. 28. A few years back you said you felt social media was 'voyeuristic'; has your view of it changed? Nope. 29. So many fans love the band's album "The Present"; what's your view of it these days when you think back on it? It was a long, undisciplined and difficult album to make – one track alone took 7 weeks – dreadful. I can’t yet disconnect the unpleasant memories of the sessions from the music. Thank goodness I met Tony Visconti soon after and we returned to some proper recording. 30. What's the worst thing and the best thing about touring? When the travelling is long and uncomfortable and the dressing rooms are dirty - and when the travelling is easy and efficient and the dressing rooms are clean 31. Was there a connection, however small, between The Moody Blues and Ricky Nelson years ago? We met him when we were making Octave during the first sessions for that album at the Record Plant in LA. 32. Could you tell us a bit of the story behind "The Actor" which is sorely missed during your live shows? Late at night, the road outside in Bayswater quiet for a while, all alone in the world (for a bit), being in love but struggling with relationships. 33. What is one of your secret on-the-road habits? What’s the point of telling; then it wouldn’t be a secret? 34. How was it co-hosting your recent PBS show/event in Minneapolis? (your new exclusive-to-PBS dvds are incredibly good!) It was a lovely time. The people at the Minneapolis station are wonderful, enthusiastic, thorough and true professionals. It was an honour for me to work with such a great team. 35.Your amazing "Spirits of the Western Sky" solo cd has such a great diverse mix of music on it; how do you choose which tracks to include, how many, and in what order to place them? Alberto and I chose the tracks we loved most – it’s as simple as that. We tried several different running orders and the final one was by far the best. Thank you. 36. Are you still running? Jogging. 37. Are you/were you a fan of the tv show "Dr. Who"? Back in 1985 you and John Lodge participated on a charity single to bring the show back called "Doctor In Distress"; sometimes you see in the press the erroneous statement that you & John wrote that song. Actually, I never was a big fan of the show. The recording just seemed like a fun thing to do. I kinda wish we hadn’t as the record was lousy. 38. Have you finally acquired a turntable and do you listen to vinyl albums? I listened to all our recordings that were originally on vinyl with Alberto when we were remastering. They weren’t better on vinyl, the were just different. The tape was the best. 39. So many people say their favorite song from your solo album "Spirits of the Western Sky" is the song "The Western Sky "; did you feel the power of that song upon its completion? While I was writing it and when I play it, yes. It has great meaning for me. 40. Do you feel songwriters are more akin to fiction writers or non-fiction writers; neither or both? - all three of you painting wonderful characters, travels and adventures. Fiction mostly. Some songs are biographical – not all. And some are stories that I find out later have truth in them.

Friday morning took an early flight from Amsterdam to London straight to the Royal Festival Hall to be a guest of Burt Bacharach's on his show, Glorious! What a wonderful man. Legend. I sang 'What The World Needs Now', full orchestra, and then 'That's What Friends Are For' with Joss Stone and Alfie Boe. Heaven. To be shown on BBC TV.

Saturday, up very early to go to Glastonbury. A guest of BBC TV live with Lauren and Mark. Did 'Nights' with my McPherson. Took a tour of the Festival (my family camping there). Afternoon met Michael Eavis who told me Question meant the world to him. Invited him to come on stage later. After the amazing and moving reception for 'Nights', he was there next to me, magic, emotional roller coaster. Exhausted sleep on the bus.

Live Ken Bruce show on Wednesday to come.

I clearly remember playing Glastonbury in 1967 (although ‘clearly remembering 1967′ is not something I can often say) but that was well before the famous Glastonbury Festivals started. I’m reliably told that we did play at one of the early events although I don’t remember it, but then maybe those psychedelic substances I occasionally enjoyed convinced me I was elsewhere? Whoops.

We certainly played at the Isle of Wight, and we were at the Bath festival and a few others. They were always enlightening, and sometimes a bit mad.

However, the Glastonbury gig that I do remember was a real turning point for my dear Moody Blues. It was the first time ‘the beautiful people’ had graced us with their enthusiastic and magical presence – yes, there were such a crowd – and we were presenting our new music. Before that we had been doing mostly cover versions and wearing our smart (but a bit naff) blue suits – but the night before the Glastonbury gig we boldly decided to discard our suits, and our old set . Well, after all, now we had “Nights In White Satin’ and ‘Twilight Time’ to play. This was the real stuff. To my surprise and joy they loved it.

At mystical Glastonbury we were entering a new age, and I was playing close to my childhood home in Wiltshire for once. It was really important for me.

It’s important now, and it’s a great pleasure. Thank you Michael for your gracious invitation to be here with the beautiful people once again.

Love,
Justin Hayward

John Lodge has been nominated for "Anthem Of the Year" for "In My Mind" by the Progressive Music Awards 2015. Vote for John Lodge here! http://awards.prog.teamrock.com/vote/anthem

Surprise! Justin Hayward has made a brand new video for song ‘Story In Your Eyes’. Be the first to watch it by clicking www.JustinHaywardUnlock.com now. Then share to either Facebook or Twitter to unlock this truly exceptional video. Be sure to check out Justin's Tour Schedule for his UK and US solo tours! VIP Packagesare on sale for the US dates.

Click HERE to enter to win! If you can't wait for the Moody Blues Cruise in 2016 why not join John Lodge on his cruise on the River Thames to celebrate the launch of his new white chardonnay wine, and of course his solo album 10,000 Light Years Ago.... To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to this unique event, simply add enter your name and email address in the boxes below and we'll randomly select one lucky winner on Monday 22nd June!!! When? Sunday 28th of June - 4pm to 6pm on the wonderful M.V. Erasmus. John's third wine, Krisemma 2014, is a Chardonnay from the Elgin Region of South Africa, and has been produced for him by a fantastic wine maker, Richard Kershaw. Richard has made award-winning Chardonnays and John is so excited to have this new wine as part of his collection. The cruise will take in some of the spectacular and iconic sights of London, be attended by a few special guests, and come with a few surprises! John's Cruise will be departing from Westminster Pier and not only will you get to try two of John's wines, but you will get the perfect seat to view the spectacular sights of London, with the cruise starting at Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, first travelling west, and then going East out to Greenwich past all the wonderful sights including Tower of London. Westminster Pier is close to Westminster tube station, a short walk across from Waterloo station, and close to Big Ben! The cruise will also finish back at Westminster Pier which will hopefully make transport easy for you. We also thought you might like to see a couple of pictures of the boat, it's one of the luxury boats that tour the River Thames. We hope you will join us for this special event! Tickets are very limited as the boat can accommodate only 130 people, and will be a very special event starting with a Prosecco reception, and an opportunity to try both his new wine and the Bordeaux 2011 (which recently won a Bronze Medal at the International Wine Challenge). Tickets are £60 for the event, or £100 to include a signed bottle of the 2014 Chardonnay. You can also order additional bottles of the 2014 and the Krisemma 2011 for collection at the event. To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to this unique event, simply add enter your name and email address in the boxes below and we'll randomly select one lucky winner on Monday 22nd June!!! You can buy tickets via the following link: http://www.krisemmawine.com/#!shop--cart/c1lnj Please select 'UK shipping'. Please note that by entering this competition you are giving your consent to be added to John's mailing list and the mailing list of his record label so that we can update you on future news and events. Thank you. Click HERE To Enter To Win!

John Lodge checks in during rehearsals for his River Cruise which takes place on June 28th. If you can’t wait for the Moody Blues Cruise in 2016 why not join John on his cruise on the River Thames to celebrate the launch of his new white chardonnay wine, and of course his solo album 10,000 Light Years Ago. When? Sunday 28th of June, the day after Glastonbury, 4pm to 6pm on the wonderful M.V. Erasmus. John’s third wine, Krisemma 2014, is a Chardonnay from the Elgin Region of South Africa, and has been produced for him by a fantastic wine maker, Richard Kershaw. Richard has made award-winning Chardonnays and John is so excited to have this new wine as part of his collection. The cruise will take in some of the spectacular and iconic sights of London, be attended by a few special guests, and come with a few surprises! Tickets are very limited as the boat can accommodate only 130 people, and will be a very special event starting with a Prosecco reception, and an opportunity to try both his new wine and the Bordeaux 2011 (which recently won a Bronze Medal at the International Wine Challenge). Tickets are £60 for the event, or £100 to include a signed bottle of his new wine for collection at the event. You can also order pre-order bottles of the Krisemma 2011 for collection. Go tohttp://www.krisemmawine.com/#!shop–cart/c1lnj to order tickets. Please select ‘UK shipping’.

SteelStacks.org On Aug. 26, Moody Blues’ vocalist, lead guitarist and composer Justin Hayward will stop by the Musikfest Café as part of his North American solo tour. For more than 50 years, Hayward has been writing and playing music, penning songs like “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question” and “The Voice” that helped to make the Moody Blues one of the most popular bands in the world. As a solo artist, Hayward had a Top 10 hit with 1978’s “Forever Autumn,” while his 2014 live concert DVD “Spirits…Live” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Video chart. ArtsQuest recently caught up with the legendary artist to talk with him about The Moody Blues, his solo work and what fans can expect during his Musikfest Café concert. AQ: Last year The Moody Blues performed at Musikfest in Bethlehem. What were your thoughts when you saw the venue, with those towering blast furnaces from the former steel plant right behind the stage? JH: Oh, love it, love it. Yes, it’s quite an experience, and I do remember it distinctly. Who could forget it? I think we knew it was going to be a good gig when we saw that. It was a great crowd and we all had a great time. AQ: That old steel mill is now called SteelStacks. It’s undergone a major renaissance thanks primarily to music and art. Justin, you’ve been involved in music since you were very young and you’ve been performing for more than 50 years. What are your thoughts on the role that music and art play in transforming communities? JH: I think it can make the world a better place, that’s for sure. It can transport people to wonderful times in their lives and you know, fortunately, the music of your youth will stay with you forever. So then the music that you loved then, you love always. That’s my experience anyway, and I can only speak from my experience. AQ: This summer, you’re back at the Musikfest Café in Bethlehem. How is your approach to solo performances different than when you’re playing with the Moody Blues? JH: Well, it’s the perfect balance to The Moodies. The Moodies is a big production. It’s quite loud, two drummers, and there’s nothing wrong with that – that’s great. But with the solo performances I can bring my acoustic guitars from home. These are the guitars that I wrote the songs from and I think that’s important to me. I can hear every nuance of the sound of the building. It’s the perfect balance to The Moody Blues. I love that acoustic format, how I made the demos and how I originally wrote the songs, and it’s like I’m coming into my living room in a way. AQ: You’re joined on stage by finger-style guitarist Mike Dawes. What’s it like performing with him each evening? JH: He’s one of a new generation of players that comes at the guitar from a different angle. He’s not hampered by the three cords – most of those English and American guitarists in the ’60s were hampered by growing up just with rock and roll. He comes at it from a different point of view and he‘s a remarkable player. You wouldn’t have seen anything like it and I was so thrilled when he agreed to join us for the tour. I love working with him and he’s become a good friend. AQ: So how does stripping down to an acoustic format allow you to reinterpret the music of The Moody Blues? JH: It means that I can present the music as solo music and Moody Blues things as I wrote them, as I presented them to the group in the first place. So, you can mirror the songs as they originally started out. AQ: And you’ve obviously written some legendary songs throughout your career like “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.” What are your favorites to still perform live after all these years? JH: I really love “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” and “Wildest Dreams” because that was a remarkable time in our lives and for me personally it was a great time. To have chart-single success again when you’re in your early 40s is a wonderful thing. To become recognized in the street, I never thought that would come round again. But there isn’t a song that I don’t like and I’m discovering things that we never did with The Moody Blues like “Watching and Waiting,” “You Can Never Go Home,” “It’s Up To You” – those kind of things. I’m discovering my own songs all over again, and I’m very thankful for that. AQ: In addition to your solo performances you’re also on the road with The Moody Blues this year. If I’m correct, you’re performing on two different continents, here in the United States as well as in Europe. How do you find time to balance everything in life? What are your pastimes when you’re not touring and recording? JH: Well, I still spend a lot of time in the studio working for Universal doing The Moody Blues catalogue and taking care of that. And really, I suppose, the time that you’re on tour is the time that you can, in a way, relax. It’s a sort of gypsy life and you know all you can do is the tour, whereas when you’re home you’re trying to fix stuff, fix tours and work out all the logistics. But now (on the road) all of that’s been done so we can enjoy it and enjoy the shows every night, so it’s a real pleasure. I don’t have much else in my life up from that, but I love to play and you know The Moodies, we’re taking a lot of time off later on in the year. But that wasn’t for me so I intend to keep doing my solo tour when The Moodies aren’t working. AQ: Great, that was going to lead into my last question that I have. What’s next for you? Is there another solo project or a Moody Blues album on the horizon that fans can look forward to? JH: I’m not sure about a Moody Blues album; maybe something audio-visual from The Moodies – I think that would probably be the way we go. I think I’ll always be doing new songs myself, and I think I have a great label that really wants anything that I can deliver. So I think I’ll be doing new stuff – videos and DVDs as well as music. I think that will continue as long as I’m able to.

DailyEcho.co.uk MOODY Blues singer and guitarist Justin Hayward is undertaking his first ever solo tour of the UK in July in support of his recent solo album and DVD Spirits of the Western Sky. Talking to the Daily Echo during a break in preparations for a show in Philadelphia, he said: “I think the time is right and I’ve got so many new songs.” Justin is famous for being the lead vocalist of The Moody Blues as well as the writer of such amazing songs like Nights in White Satin, Question, Your Wildest Dreams, and his personal favourite, I Know You’re Out There Somewhere. He was also the singer on Forever Autumn from Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. For him to tour featuring mainly his solo album must mean that he thinks that it is special. “Yes, I think it is, and it works in this format. "There is just the three of us on stage – myself, guitarist Mike Dawes and Julie Ragin from The Moodies’ touring band and the songs are almost exactly as I wrote them on my acoustic guitar.” He laughs. “In this format, you can’t hide as you hear every nuance. “I find that the test of a song is if it works with just an acoustic guitar and voice. If it doesn’t work, then I don’t do it.” As well as the recent album, Justin will also be performing tracks from his other solo work and The Moody Blues. “Yes, I’ll be doing a lot of different numbers. Things evolve and some songs I used to do have gone but a lot change. I’ll be able to do Forever Autumn as we don’t play our solo material when in the Moodies.” And we will be given an insight into the songs themselves. “That’s right. I’ll be telling the story behind the songs and the story of how I came to record Forever Autumn, as I generally don’t record songs that I haven’t written.” Even though this is Justin’s first solo tour of the UK (which comes just after the UK tour by The Moody Blues), it isn’t his first solo jaunt. “No, this is actually my fifth solo tour. It’s just that the previous four have all been in the States,” he says. As well as his solo and band performances, Justin has a very full workload. “I’ve been overseeing the remastering of The Moody Blues catalogue and thinking a lot of the time how we managed to do what we did and still writing new songs.” “I’m just getting busier and busier, plus we have the fiftieth anniversary of me and John (Lodge) joining The Moodies and the Days of Future Passed album coming up in the next couple of years.” Summing up, Justin says: “This tour is a joy for me. I’m able to present these songs as they were written on the guitars that I played on the original sessions.” Justin Hayward is appearing at The Anvil, Basingstoke, on Tuesday July 7

bournemouthecho.co.uk/ I wondered what their opening song would be, most likely something rousing and not one of the melodic ballads I prefer. The legion of fans filling the BIC waited with infectious anticipation, The Moody Blues came out on stage and launched into Gemini Dream. This set the scene for the 5th show of the Moody Blues UK tour an evening of rousing rhythm and inspiration lyrics, lots of favourites and loads of energy. The three original members of the band from 1966 were joined by Norda Mullen, Julie Ragins, Gordon Marshall and Alan Hewitt who although new to the original 1960s line-up have a long standing affiliation with the band. Graeme Edge took centre stage for a few jokes and vocalised Higher and Higher with some ‘dad dancing’, finishing with a stand up performance on the drums. Amazing for his age (74 this year) which he had just proudly made his audience aware of. It was a pleasure to watch John Lodge embracing his guitar so enthusiastically, having formed a symbiotic relationship with the baby boomer audience participating with foot tapping and handclapping. From early in the performance, with a massive prompt from the rendition of ‘There’s Someone Out There Somewhere’ the audience were on their feet and keen to join in. The Moody Blues could have stood down for Nights in White Satin and let the audience take over. Always the last song of the night at a 70s disco, the audience were on their feet, dancing, singing and waving with little encouragement from the band followed by Justin Hayward giving an energetic 12 string performance of ‘Question’. The concert-ender was Ride my See-Saw from In Search of The Lost Chord album when sixties psychedelic pop was respectable. By this time audience participation had reached frenzy level, was I at one big party?! This was an evening of non stop quality music which easily stands the test of time. Great night.

John Lodge checks in from the Moody Blues 2015 UK Tour to invite you on his River Cruise on June 28th. If you can’t wait for the Moody Blues Cruise in 2016 why not join John on his cruise on the River Thames to celebrate the launch of his new white chardonnay wine, and of course his solo album 10,000 Light Years Ago. When? Sunday 28th of June, the day after Glastonbury, 4pm to 6pm on the wonderful M.V. Erasmus. John’s third wine, Krisemma 2014, is a Chardonnay from the Elgin Region of South Africa, and has been produced for him by a fantastic wine maker, Richard Kershaw. Richard has made award-winning Chardonnays and John is so excited to have this new wine as part of his collection. The cruise will take in some of the spectacular and iconic sights of London, be attended by a few special guests, and come with a few surprises! Tickets are very limited as the boat can accommodate only 130 people, and will be a very special event starting with a Prosecco reception, and an opportunity to try both his new wine and the Bordeaux 2011 (which recently won a Bronze Medal at the International Wine Challenge). Tickets are £60 for the event, or £100 to include a signed bottle of his new wine for collection at the event. You can also order pre-order bottles of the Krisemma 2011 for collection. Go tohttp://www.krisemmawine.com/#!shop–cart/c1lnj to order tickets. Please select ‘UK shipping’.

sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk Veteran rocker Justin Hayward is pretty happy with life. He may be the frontman of The Moody Blues, but he is anything but grumpy. His talent for and love of music has given him a wonderful life – and his love of music shines through as he talks about being back on the road with the famous ‘Moodies’ as he calls them. “Music is always about enjoyment,” he says. “Every day of the Moodies had pressure on it. “It’s a serious business, but ultimately, I think music is trival. “However, it’s huge in my life and brings enjoyment to others.” The Moody Blues are on the road with Timeless Flight – The Polydor Years tour, which arrives at Sheffield City Hall next week. Justin says: “I hope there’s something for everyone in the set list. “We do songs from most of the albums. “The first half is stuff from the 1980s, the Polydor years, from Long Distance Voyager through to Sur La Mer. “The second half is the stuff you can’t go off stage without playing. “There’s something there in the set from every incarnation of the Moodies. “We have been exploring our catalogue of songs recently and we’ll be playing some songs on stage that we only experienced for a day or so in the studio the first time around.” With a string of hit singles – including UK number one Go Now and US smash hit Nights in White Satin – to choose from, there is something there in the set for every fan. And Justin is proud the band have kept their fanbase for so many years. “People love the music of their youth thankfully and that stays with them,” he says. “The songs young kids are falling in love to, that will stay with them. “We do get a lot of young people in the audience to see us. “There’s a lot of people who identify with the stuff we made when we were young.” And he admits he is proud songs such as Nights in White Satin, which he wrote, have stood the test of time. “I am just grateful some of the music we have made has lasted,” he says. “I am very proud and pleased with that. “However, the other side of that is that after Nights, people were asking: ‘Can you write another?’ “Sometimes, I thought I had, but sometimes you write music that people are into, and some they’re not.” And Justin has urged people to come out and see the show in Sheffield next week. “Dedicated Moodies fans will be out in force, and we love it,” he says. “I can say this is the best incarnation of this great band I have been in. “It’s certainly the happiest and truly faithful to the Moody Blues spirit. “How long will it continue for us? “I have no idea - none of us would have thought in our Wildest Dreams we would still be up there – but it’s a fabulous ride and as long as we’re still playing from the heart and the fans are with us I’m in.” The Moody Blues play Sheffield City Hall next Thursday, June 18. For tickets, priced from £41.50, visit www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk.

Listen up Moodies fans because this is the email you all have been waiting for…the 2016 Moodies Cruise III, Lovely to See You, is going on sale and we want YOU there! Reservations open Tuesday Afternoon, June 9, beginning at 12 pm Eastern, at www.MoodiesCruise.com. Simply click the BOOK NOW link at the top right section of the navigation bar on the home page to access the online booking portal. In addition, a toll free Reservation and Guest Services line will be available from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern, Monday thru Friday. For calls within the 50 United States, please call (855) 622-3111. For passengers calling outside the 50 United States, please call (954) 417-6264. Please keep in mind that due to anticipated high demand, we encourage you to book online, if possible. It will expedite the booking process and will limit your wait time. Take a look at the incredible line-up for 2016! And we’re not done yet! We are working on the final additions to our stellar lineup so stay tuned! Welcome the newest ship to the Moodies Cruise Family...the NCL Pearl! Known for her incredible dining and lounge options, she has been designed specifically for the concert cruise market. The Pearl features 5 of the hottest venues on the high seas, including more lounges and dining options than ever before. Discover all she has to offer HERE. It all begins on Thursday, February 25, 2016, with a special “bonus night” Pre-Cruise party in Miami, Florida. All Moodies Cruise fans booked aboard The Moody Blues Cruise III will receive complimentary admission to a special Pre-Cruise Party and Concert showcasing some of our musical guests. Time and location will be announced in a few weeks so make your plans to attend! The ship then sets sail on Friday, February 26, 2016 for our 4-night voyage visiting tropical ports including Key West, Florida and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas - a private island oasis just for Moodies guests. Enjoy great music, friends and the trip of a lifetime before returning to Port Miami Tuesday, March 1, 2016. STANDARD CABIN Cabin prices start at $899 USD per person (double occupancy) with quad cabins available (4 people sharing cabin) for only $600 USD per person. Keep in mind, the sooner you book, the better the cabin and theater seating assignment. By the way, pricing includes stateroom, meals, all concerts, events, activities and much more! SUITES WITH VIP EXPERIENCE The VIP Experience is included with the purchase of the Mini-Suites, Penthouse Suites and Haven Suites. Mini-Suites Mini-Suites are available for $2,199 USD per person double occupancy. These cabins include premium concert access and other amenities listed below.

• Best seating assignments to all Main Showroom Performances…Guaranteed first eight (8) rows.
• VIP Cocktail Party
• VIP Commemorative Gift and Goody Bag
• Special Moodies Cruise VIP Credentials
• And More to Come

• Best seating assignments to all Main Showroom Performances…Guaranteed first five (5) rows
• VIP Cocktail Party
• VIP Commemorative Gift and Goody Bag
• Special Moodies Cruise VIP Credentials
• And More to Come

• July 30, 2015 - 50% of the remaining balance is due for all cabins
• October 29, 2015 - Remaining balance is due for all cabins

walesonline.co.uk

Moody Blues at St David's Hall in Cardiff (Pic credit: Gareth Griffiths)

plymouthherald.co.uk WE TRY to get to Plymouth every tour," says Moody Blues singer/songwriter/ bassist John Lodge, talking about this week's show at Plymouth Pavilions. "It's a part of the world I really like, I have fond childhood memories of holidays there." The band are one of the more regular visitors here, never failing to attract faithful fans many of whom have followed them for more than 40 years. Since their early days of prog-rock in the Sixties, they've shifted some 70 million records and won countless gongs, including the Ivor Novello Statue, for Outstanding Contribution to British music. Few bands who originated in the Sixties look quite so well preserved as the Moody Blues, John, Justin Hayward, and Graeme Edge have matured gracefully and still retain that rock star charisma that was always part and parcel of their massive success. It's partly because they're still doing what they love. "I just love travelling, I'm a Gypsy anyway," says John. "During the day, before the gig, I wander off and explore." More than that, of course, it's all about the music, they love performing and never tire even of their ubiquitous pop classic Nights In White Satin. However, getting the Moody's together for a tour is one thing, but getting them together in a studio is quite another. John had written a load of material he wanted to record but when dates didn't match up with the others in the band, he decided to make it a John Lodge album. He recorded 10,000 Light Years Ago with guest appearances from former Moodys members, Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder. "I started to write the songs a few years ago, largely between tours and encapsulated who I am today via my musical influences that include rock'n'roll, prog rock, classic rock and (French jazz violinist) Stephane Grappelli." If you'd told young John that his life would pan out in this way. he would never have believed it. He had planned to become an engineer, but music took hold and even then he loved touring. "We did our first tour while still at school and part of the fun of it was getting booked to play in different places we'd never heard of. "I remember it taking ages to get to Plymouth! We did a lot of cider drinking and stayed in a tent. "It's so very different now, and so well organised. "I now turn up, slip on stage, my guitar tech gives me my bass and I think, 'How did this happen?' "For me it's about singing, playing bass and performing the best I can to get that crowd reaction…" Saturday, June 6, Plymouth Pavilions CLARE ROBINSON

If you can't wait for the Moody Blues Cruise in 2016 why not join John on his cruise on the River Thames to celebrate the launch of his new white chardonnay wine, and of course his solo album 10,000 Light Years Ago. When? Sunday 28th of June, the day after Glastonbury, 4pm to 6pm on the wonderful M.V. Erasmus. John's third wine, Krisemma 2014, is a Chardonnay from the Elgin Region of South Africa, and has been produced for him by a fantastic wine maker, Richard Kershaw. Richard has made award-winning Chardonnays and John is so excited to have this new wine as part of his collection. The cruise will take in some of the spectacular and iconic sights of London, be attended by a few special guests, and come with a few surprises! Tickets are very limited as the boat can accommodate only 130 people, and will be a very special event starting with a Prosecco reception, and an opportunity to try both his new wine and the Bordeaux 2011 (which recently won a Bronze Medal at the International Wine Challenge). Tickets are £60 for the event, or £100 to include a signed bottle of his new wine for collection at the event. You can also order pre-order bottles of the Krisemma 2011 for collection. Go to http://www.krisemmawine.com/#!shop--cart/c1lnj to order tickets. Please select 'UK shipping'.

nottinghampost.com They are one of the most enduring and creative bands that Britain has produced, from their humble R’n’B beginnings in the mid-sixties to the experimental, progressive band they became just two years later, as pioneers of stadium rock with the album Days Of Future Past. And they’ve shifted 70 million albums along the way. The Moody Blues are heading back to the UK from the US on their Timeless Flight 2015 Tour and frontman Justin Hayward says that anyone turning out to see them at the Royal Concert Hall can expect some of the hits along with a few surprises. “There are certain things that have to be in the set,” he says, taking a break from soundchecking for a show in Philadelphia. “And it’s not what you play, it’s more a case of what you leave out,” he adds, referring to the vast back catalogue of hits that includes Nights in White Satin, Go Now, I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band), Question and I Know You’re Out There Somewhere. “We are also playing some songs that haven’t been played in a while - or indeed ever, such as You And Me, Nervous and Say It With Love.” The core line-up of Hayward on vocals and guitar, John Lodge on vocals and bass, and drummer Graeme Edge, is bolstered by long-standing members Alan Hewitt, Julie Ragins, Norda Mullen and Gordy Marshall. But Hayward and Lodge weren’t original members, joining two years after the band first formed in Birmingham in 1964. Do Hayward and Lodge plan to mark their personal 50th anniversary with the band? “We will be doing something to commemorate it, but it’s something we have yet to talk about,” says Hayward, who can be pinned down on his favourite songs. “There’s the whole of the album Days of Future Passed and songs like Question, Ride My See Saw – which is my favourite guitar riff, and Wildest Dreams, along with I Know You’re Out There Somewhere. They’re all great songs.” The Moody Blues have no desire to stop but for the foreseeable there’ll be no fresh material. “I can’t see a new album on the horizon,” says Hayward, 68. “At the moment we’re a happy band and indulging ourselves by enjoying the Moody Blues catalogue.” And the pace doesn’t slacken after the UK dates. “In July, I’m doing my first solo tour of Britain and then back to the US for more solo and Moody Blues dates. In the winter we’ll be doing the Moody Blues Cruise which is always great fun.” The Moody Blues will be appearing at the Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday, June 17. Tickets are £41.50 from the box office, call 0115 989 5555 or go to trch.co.uk.

telegraph.co.uk Fame and Fortune: Moody Blues' guitarist was born at a time of austerity but by college he had made Nights in White Satin and was able to indulge in rock-star extravagence

Ed Bernstein sat down with Justin Hayward when The Moody Blues were performing in Las Vegas at The Pearl Theater in early May. Watch the interview below.

PBS is proud to announce the return of Justin Hayward’s “Spirits... Live” Concert, airing from May 30 through June 7th. This 90 minute concert event premiered nationwide earlier this year to rave reviews! Justin has been a huge supporter of PBS and is happy to be featured on the network as part of their Pledge Events. PBS supporters will receive Exclusive Sets of Justin Hayward DVD’s featuring never-before-seen songs performed live along with rare interviews and vintage footage. To see if Justin’s show "Spirits… Live" is scheduled to be broadcast in your area, check your local PBS listings. If you don’t see it, give them a call and tell them you’d like to have Justin’s show as part of their programming! Pass this on. Let’s make this the biggest Justin Hayward event yet!

John Lodge’s NEW album '10,000 Light Years Ago' is available NOW! For exclusive signed editions, head over to John’s website HERE! The album can also be ordered via the links below. Direct from Cherry Red/MVD: Standard CD: http://hyperurl.co/JohnLodgeCD Deluxe CD/DVD: http://hyperurl.co/JohnLodgeDeluxeCDDVD Vinyl: http://hyperurl.co/JohnLodgeVinyl Amazon: Standard CD: http://geni.us/JohnLodgeAmznCD Deluxe CD/DVD: http://geni.us/JohnLodgeAmznDeluxe Vinyl: http://geni.us/JohnLodgeAmznVinyl Digital: iTunes: http://geni.us/JohnLodgeiTunes Amazon MP3: http://geni.us/JohnLodgeAmznMP3

Fantastic breaking news! John's Krisemma 2011 Red Bordeaux has just been awarded a Bronze medal at the 2015 International Wine Challenge awards! Their tasting note was bright red fruits with good structure and ripe Tannins. Good long finish. If you're in the USA and been thinking of buying a bottle this is your last chance as the pre-order period for purchases will be closing in the next couple of days! All bottles have been signed personally by John. Contact Charleen Bridgett at The Wine Merchant via info@thewinemerchant.net or on 239-592-0000, who can process the order. Sales in the UK are via www.krisemmawine.com with deliveries in two weeks.

Marilu Henner speaks with John Lodge, vocalist, songwriter and bass player for the legendary rock band The Moody Blues. John discusses his new solo album “10,000 Light Years Ago,” as well as his unique warm-up routine while touring with the band. Listen to the podcast HERE. John is in the 2nd half hour of the show.

Due to weather THE MOODY BLUES performance originally scheduled at Red Rocks Amphitheatre tomorrow, Sunday, May 10, 2015 has moved to Denver Coliseum. All Red Rocks Amphitheatre tickets will be honored. Doors 6:00pm || Show 7:30pm NEW VENUE Denver Coliseum 4600 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216 Sunday, May 10, 2015 – 7:30pm While The Moody Blues were very much looking forward to a return to Red Rocks, the forecast prompts the Sunday night show to be moved indoors for fans to avoid harsh weather conditions. It's the same arrival time (that was set for Red Rocks) for VIP Photo Op purchasers for the show at the Denver Coliseum. TICKETS AT WWW.AXS.com

OCRegister.com Deftly balancing nostalgia and a contemporary concert experience, the Moody Blues’ inspired performance at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday night was both a trip down Memory Lane and a chance to hear a fantastic group of seven players share their unique blend of psychedelic, folk and art rock in a perfect setting. With no opening band, the Moody Blues (featuring singer-guitarist Justin Hayward, singer-bassist John Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge) were able to deliver a two-part 18-song set that featured all but one of the group's big hits (the exception being "Go Now") as well as some deep album cuts of interest to hardcore fans. Opening with a spirited version of their early ’80s hit “Gemini Dream,” the selection was the first of many to feature Hayward’s melodic and precise style of lead guitar. “The Voice” followed, with Hayward's still-potent vocals and the group's shining harmonies engulfing the open air theater. Having joined that rare group of rock acts still thriving after 50 years together, the Moody Blues’ ability to shift gears from its ELO-ish ’80s material back to psychedelic rock carved out in the ’60s and art rock from the ’70s material was relatively easy because of the talents of the talented musicians on stage. Norda Mullen was particularly effective in helping bring the ambitious and wide-ranging material to life, using her virtuoso talents on flute along with her acoustic guitar play and strong soprano to enhance the songs. On the rarely heard “You and Me” (off the band's 1972 disc “Seventh Sojourn”), Mullen’s skillful work on acoustic guitar mirrored Hayward’s intensity on his electric instrument as the folk rock song built in intensity to a dramatic finish. The near-capacity crowd was tuned into the band’s concert from the beginning, but seemed to really get into the spirit of the special night when the band performed “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” near the end of the first half of the show, many remaining on their feet for the psychedelic rocker “The Story in Your Eyes.” The Moody Blues lost no momentum when they returned from an intermission to perform another hour of original music. The uplifting “Your Wildest Dreams,” introspective British-styled folk piece “Isn't Life Strange,” ardent “Tuesday Afternoon” and straight-up rocker “I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)” were among the highlights of the fast-moving second act. “Nights in White Satin” remains a powerful piece of symphonic rock, with Hayward’s mighty voice and sterling work on his 12-string guitar a key part of the song’s magic. After the song, the band received a long and enthusiastic standing ovation, with the band obviously moved by the audience continuing to clap for a minute or so. As strong as the Moody Blues were at performing the symphonic rock that yielded their most iconic song, the band wasn't afraid to rock. “Steppin' in a Slide Zone” (played early in the set) and the night-ending “Ride My See-Saw” could have pleased the masses at Coachella with their fiery mix of British blues-rock, powerful rhythms and the one-two punch provided by Lodge and Hayward on bass and guitar. Even a rousing version of their 1969 song “Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time)” had a contemporary edge with its propulsive beat positioned around its progressive rock foundation. A night of classic and timeless rock to be sure.

Parade.com By: Nancy Berk Legendary Moody Blues musician John Lodge is busy this spring. Currently in the middle of The Moody Blues’ Timeless Flight Tour in the U.S., Lodge has also just released his first solo album in over 30 years. So I was thrilled when he was able to take a break and join me for my podcast Whine At 9 to discuss the “Moodies” tour and the inspiration for his album 10,000 Light Years Ago. Read and LISTEN to the FULL STORY HERE.