The first album by The Moody Blues (Go Now) was released in my birth year, 1965. Perhaps that's why I've always had a soft spot for their music. Unfortunately, I've never been able to see them live. Good friend Peter Arkesteijn has seen them perform, and I asked him about his memories.
"Your taste in music evolves. What I used to love, I now only partly enjoy. I used to think The Moody Blues were absolutely top-notch. My first concert was on 15 September 1973 at Ahoy. All the big hits, and there were many, were played. We sat there as 17-year-olds in denim jackets, complete with indispensable hairbrushes, very coolly enjoying Justin Hayward (vocals and guitar), John Lodge (vocals and bass), Mike Pinder (mellotron), Ray Thomas (vocals and flute), and Graeme Edge (drums). As I got older, I preferred something a bit rougher (Pink Floyd and Green Day), but the gems still get regularly spotted on Spotify. A beautiful band, The Moodies."
The Moody Blues
Moody Blues (formerly The Moody Blues) is a British band that had several big hits in the sixties with songs like Go Now!, Nights in White Satin (multiple times), Tuesday Afternoon and Ride My See-Saw, the number 1 hit Question and I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band) in the seventies, and two hits in the eighties: I Know You're Out There Somewhere and Your Wildest Dreams. The band is regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive rock genre.
In 1964, The Krew Cats with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder returned from a tour in Germany. After the success of especially The Beatles and Cliff Richard at that time, Thomas and Pinder found a huge number of bands in their hometown Birmingham. Naturally, everyone expected to match their success. Meanwhile, John Lodge was still studying and playing in amateur bands. To survive in that chaos, the only option was to start a local supergroup: The Moody Blues 5, later the M&B5, eventually ending up as The Moody Blues.
Strange Times (1999) was the last album Ray Thomas contributed to. After a few more years of performing with the band, he also left for health reasons. Nowadays, the last three remaining members Justin Hayward, Graeme Edge and John Lodge perform as a trio. As a trio, they released the Christmas album December in 2003. In 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2015, they gave sold-out concerts at the Heineken Music Hall.
Source: Wikipedia Photo: Mattbuck and public domain
http://www.moodybluestoday.com/
#top2000
