Moody Blues’ John Lodge interview and profile

Moody Blues bassist John Lodge still flourishing and revisiting Days of Future Passed 58 years on. I caught up with the modest bass ace and songwriter for an interview.

From the moment he rejoined his old bandmates and helped redefine the Moody Blues sound in the late 60s John Lodge was an ever more prominent creative force, and he’s still enhancing their legacy today.

Long-time bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the iconic rock band, John Lodge has been voted one of the 10 most influential bass players on the planet, and in his five decades in the music business, he’s just re-interpreted the band’s Days of Future Passed.

2025 is the 58th Anniversary of this iconic album, and John is continuing in his celebration of the Moody Blues music and the album that changed his life.

He will bring his Days of Future Passed – Bringing it Home show to the UK for the very first time with live dates this month including St George’s on Monday April 14, where he will perform the groundbreaking 1967 album in its entirety.

It encompasses a first set of Moodys’ classics and the second the whole album in full symphonic splendour, including a fully immersive experience as John and his band take the audience on a journey back in time.

He will be joined on the UK dates by Yes singer Jon Davison who will perform the classic Nights In White Satin, and the show also features the late Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge on video, reciting his poetry for Morning Glory and Late Lament.

The sets include Legend of a Mind by late Moodys singer/flautist Ray Thomas, Dawn is a Feeling and The Sunset by late keyboardist Mike Pinder and Talking Out of Turn, from the 1980 album Long Distance Voyager.

“What’s wonderful about it is when I decided to do this, the one person I wanted was drummer Graeme Edge,” said John.” I asked him if he’d be filmed reading his poetry for me. And he did it. Graeme unfortunately never lived to see himself on stage, but his family will.

“I enjoy, obviously, playing Moody Blues hits. I enjoy playing Days of Future Passed. I also enjoy playing my own solo songs, but for this tour I’m trying to just keep the Moody Blues’ music alive.”

The Moody Blues, formed in the early 1960s, hold a special place in the annals of music history. Renowned for their distinctive fusion of rock and symphonic elements, poetic lyrics and ethereal melodies, the band has left an indelible mark on the world of progressive and psychedelic rock. They made the seismic leap from R&B copyists to progressive tech trailblazers.

They remain an essential part of rock music history, celebrated for their pioneering contributions to the progressive rock genre. With their timeless hits and albums that continue to touch the hearts and minds of listeners, their legacy endures.

Lodge has written many of their big hits like Ride My See-Saw, Legend of a Mind, I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band) and Isn’t Life Strange?, performing and recording with the Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling more than 70 million albums, while also having a successful solo career.

Bom and raised on a Birmingham council estate, Lodge was fascinated by cars and from an early age wanted to be a car designer: but at 16 he bought his Fender Precision Sunburst bass, on which he would later perform on all the Moody Blues hits.

“My neighbour bought a guitar in Germany when he was conscripted to do national service. He asked my mum whether I wanted to buy this guitar. I really couldn’t afford anything, as we were a real working-class family, but mum bought it for me,” he says. “I was 13 and I went to bed with the guitar basically for the next year. trying to learn how to play. I met Ray Thomas when he used to sing in a skiffle group called The Saints and Sinners.

“They rehearsed at the Methodist Hall in Erdington, Birmingham. I said to him, ‘I’m John Lodge, let’s form a band.’ And we did. We called ourselves The Rebels. There was a jazz club at The Tyburn House pub. My dad asked the owner, ‘Could you give my son and his band a chance? They’ll play the interval for nothing.’

“We played 15-20 mins and the guy offered us to return. When we went back the next week there was a hundred people there. The owner gave us another night and another night, and we started rock ’n’ roll in Birmingham.”

Lodge would spend his teenage evenings avidly listening to the early rock’n’roll pioneers on Radio Luxembourg and feeding the jukebox at Eddie’s Café. His hero was Buddy Holly who, as a singer and guitarist, composer and early adapter of orchestration, led the way.

“I was privileged to see Buddy Holly when I was about 13 in Birmingham Town Hall. I learned how to write songs by listening to Holly and he’s been an incredible influence. Even though he was only around for a couple of years. I would have loved to have played with him.

“Growing up, I also listened to Bill Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. They were all part of the reason I played bass, and over the years, I’ve performed with Jerry Lee, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.”

The young musician spent two years learning to play the instrument and then, with Thomas, formed Mark Stuart and the Crestas in 1964 and then the John Bull Breed.

His powerful and melodic bass, such a part of his song writing, is the result of listening to the riffs of early rock “n’ roll recordings. Lodge’s love of bass-playing grew as he became interested in exploring the rhythm, energy and emotion of music.

“When we made the first album, it was the first stereo album that Decca had released. The five of us went into the studio, and what we created together in that week changed our lives forever. Whilst the Moodys no longer tour, and I miss performing with the guys, it’s lovely to relive those beautiful moments in the songs of Justin, Graeme, Mike and Ray.”

Down the years, alongside the 15 studio albums with the Moodys, John has released four solo albums and his latest offering is a reworking of the 1967 classic album, Days Of Future Passed.

John will always be a Moody Blue and never wants to stop: “Music is my life and I can’t wait to get on the road with my band. The venues are smaller and more intimate, but I love live concerts.

“Music has always been my driving force. Being on stage and feeling the energy from the audience – it’s magical. I hope people leave with a sense of joy and the spirit of the Moodys alive in their hearts.”

Following a stroke at the end of 2023, the 81-year-old has returned stronger than ever, fuelled by his love of music and performing. His new EP, Love Conquers All, is a collection of moving songs that reflect the positive way in which John sees the world, featuring two previously unreleased tunes, the serene instrumental Sunset Over Cocohatchee Bay and the prog-rock-influenced Whispering Angels.

Rounding out the EP are newly remixed versions of his songs In These Crazy Times and The Sun Will Shine, which were first released in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Yes frontman Jon Davison, who is married to Lodge’s daughter Emily, is featured on all five songs and co-wrote Whispering Angels.

Also appearing on the EP are Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes, Rick Wakeman, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, and current and former members of Lodge’s solo group, The 10,000 Light Years Band. Lodge’s wife of 56 years, Kirsten, sings backing vocals on three tracks. His son, Kristian, also appears.

When asked about his musical influences, John is circumspect: “We were so engulfed in The Moody Blues, I don’t think we looked out anywhere. I was always trying to blend melody with energy, even on slow songs. I tried to get the beat, the feeling behind the song.”

Appearing in the Simpsons has always been an accolade for most performers and John is no exception. “We recorded it in Canada. We were bigger on the Simpsons than we were in real life. What was especially wonderful was that they gave us all the original drawings, which hang proudly in my home.”

John was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2019 was given a star in his hometown ‘Walk of Fame’ and a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Prog Awards.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, established in 1983 and located in Cleveland, Ohio, is dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential musicians, bands and producers. In 2018, John and the Moody Blues were inducted by Ann Wilson, lead singer of the rock band Heart.

“When I was invited to join my grandson was in the audience and I thought, ‘This is cool, my grandson will one day walk through the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and he’ll see his grandad there next to Buddy Holly. Me – a working-class council house dweller from Birmingham, standing next to Buddy Holly! I couldn’t have even dreamed that.”