I've been listening to the Moody Blues since the 60s. I went to the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore last Saturday night to hear them live, and those old guys can rock!
Justin Hayward (age 66) is a terrific guitarist and still has a great singing voice. John Lodge (age 67) is, as always, a great bassist and singer. And the audience loved drummer Graeme Edge, who at 71 joked that he remembers when "me hair was brown and me teeth was white".
They played for more than two hours, and did all their great hits, including Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, The Voice, I'm Just A Singer in A Rock-and-Roll Band, Question, etc.
The audience looked mostly like a geriatric Woodstock, but there were some younger folks there too. The Lyric, which seats more than 2500 people, was sold out, and the band and the audience were clearly feeding off each others' enthusiasm and passion for the music. These guys have made more money over the years than they will ever be able to spend, and they are clearly still plugging away because they love what they do. It was one of the best concerts I have ever attended!
Attached are some photos from a Moodies concert I attended last year in Portland, Maine...
Yes, a fan here. I've never saw them live though. I did hear an unplugged show on Sirius radio about a year ago.
I see you're in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Saturday night, I sat next to a couple from Lancaster who were there celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary.
You can go to the Moodies' website -- Moody Blues | -- and get on their mailing list. If you like their music but have never seen them live, one of their concerts would be a real treat: they put on quite a show!
They were here in Kalamazoo a few years ago. Amazing!
I used the word "amazing" several times myself Saturday. Their energy, their exuberance, their enthusiasm, their joy while performing is something to behold. Every concert, you'd think they were performing for the first time, not doing the same thing they've been doing for almost 50 years.
I was back in the day and still have most of their albums on vinyl. As with most of the aging rockers they can still play but the voices are no where near what they used to be. Many of them should stay retired.
The Eagles are one exception, they can still sing and have the harmony. Hell Freezes Over was one of their best live performances ever.
I was back in the day and still have most of their albums on vinyl. As with most of the aging rockers they can still play but the voices are no where near what they used to be. Many of them should stay retired.
The Eagles are one exception, they can still sing and have the harmony. Hell Freezes Over was one of their best live performances ever.
The Moody Blues' voices are still quite good.
Four years ago I saw John B. Sebastian from The Lovin' Spoonful, and Roger McGuinn from the Byrds live together in concert. Sebastian's voice was just shot, and it was painful listening to him trying to sing the theme from "Welcome Back Kotter". McGuinn, on the other hand, was in great form: His voice was strong and he could hit those high notes beautifully. Watching him play his Rickenbacker 12-string while singing "Turn Turn Turn" was simply wonderful!
Singer songwriters seem to hold their voices a bit longer and better than the rockers. I saw Jackson Browne last year in a acoustic performance just him and his guitar, sounded the same to me. He wrote many, many songs for others who made them chart busters. Bought a CD of a reunion of James Taylor and Carol King. Taylor can still sing but King's voice was all over the place.
Don't know if you get the station Palladia on TV but every once and a while they have some classic Sound Stage, VH1 performances.
Back at the dawn of pop fm stations, I worked the 6pm to 2am shift at a local fast food joint, slinging tacos. At midnight each night KOL would play Nights in White Satin. Truly a great group and a wonderful memory.
"Go Now" is still one of my all-time favorites.
f.t.
That tune is actually from the Moodies' very early, pre-Justin Hayward period. In fact, the only member of the band today who performed on that recording was Graeme Edge, the drummer.
There is a fascinating story about how Justin Hayward joined the Moody Blues. They were looking for a singer/guitarist, and Eric Burdon of the Animals gave them a mail bag full of letters from folks who wanted to join his group. Hayward's letter was in there, and the rest is history.
Back at the dawn of pop fm stations, I worked the 6pm to 2am shift at a local fast food joint, slinging tacos. At midnight each night KOL would play Nights in White Satin. Truly a great group and a wonderful memory.
That song was also THE prom slow-dancing song for many years back then.
I had been a MB listener from the beginning, but I really became a fan when I was dating a girl back in '72 who was just wild about them. She had all their albums, and played them all the time.
I got to see them in Boston, in 1969. They were outstanding. I'm still a fan, and I've got all their albums on vinyl, cassettes, and MP3.
They were the first band to use a symphony orchestra in their albums, and it changed rock forever.
However, they've been done a serious injustice by the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. They have yet to be inducted. I've sent several letters, but the powers that be respond that the Hall doesn't know who to induct, since the band has had a lot of turnover.
The last time I wrote back, that I would never visit the Hall of Fame until the Moody Blues were inducted. Small protest, but I'm committed.
Singer songwriters seem to hold their voices a bit longer and better than the rockers. I saw Jackson Browne last year in a acoustic performance just him and his guitar, sounded the same to me. He wrote many, many songs for others who made them chart busters. Bought a CD of a reunion of James Taylor and Carol King. Taylor can still sing but King's voice was all over the place.
Don't know if you get the station Palladia on TV but every once and a while they have some classic Sound Stage, VH1 performances.
I would suspect most singer-songwriters lived a little more -- ahem! -- "restrained" lifestyle than most rockers.
I have seats only ten feet from the stage to see Judy Collins at the Ram's Head in Annapolis this coming February. I have loved her music for many years, but have never seen her live. I am truly looking forward to hearing her...
I drove home to Fort Lauderdale today from Fort Walton Beach in the Florida Panhandle (about 8-1/2 hours)
I listened to 4 Moody Blues CDs on my Ipod among other artists.
They have a sound like no other group.
I was fortunate to have seen them in concert three times, and
two of those times they appeared with a full orchestra.
Awesome.....absolutely awesome.
I got to see them in Boston, in 1969. They were outstanding. I'm still a fan, and I've got all their albums on vinyl, cassettes, and MP3.
They were the first band to use a symphony orchestra in their albums, and it changed rock forever.
However, they've been done a serious injustice by the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. They have yet to be inducted. I've sent several letters, but the powers that be respond that the Hall doesn't know who to induct, since the band has had a lot of turnover.
The last time I wrote back, that I would never visit the Hall of Fame until the Moody Blues were inducted. Small protest, but I'm committed.
I didn't realize they weren't in the Hall! What a crock!
As to whom to induct...it's not that difficult. Justin Hayward, John Lodge, and Graeme Edge have been the core of the band for more than 40 years. Ray Thomas was the fourth key member until he retired a decade ago. Mike Pinder, who left in the late '70s, was with them all through their heyday in the late '60s and early '70s. These are all obvious choices.
Denny Laine (guitar) and Clint Warwick (bass) were in the band at the very beginning, and left in '66, replaced by Hayward and Lodge. The only thing of note they played on was Go Now.
Perhaps the Hall's reticence to admit the Moodies stems from their dispute with Patrick Moraz, who replaced Pinder on keyboards and was with the band until the early '90s. He claimed he was a member of the band; their position was that he was more or less a sideman.
IMHO, I don't care if they put all these guys in the Hall...but the Moody Blues deserve to be there. You're quite right: They changed the sound of rock forever, and for that they should be recognized.
They were here in Detroit tonight at the Fox Theater. I didn't go but I've seen them a few times.
They've been one of my favorites since the 60's. I went to one of their Pine Knob shows (currently called DTE Energy Theater but i still call it Pine Knob) 3 or 4 years ago.
They still put on a good show. Justin still sounds good and is really quite an accomplished guitarist.
My nephew toured with them a few years ago, Charlie was the lead singer for the "Archangels" They toured through San Antonio so my uncle took my son to the show and had full access badges. My son really enjoyed the show and getting to meet all of both band mambers. He has pictures somewhere of the event. My boy says to me "Dad I did not realize how old you was until you mentioned listening to the Moody Blues when you was a Cub Scout in the 60's".
They were here in Detroit tonight at the Fox Theater. I didn't go but I've seen them a few times.
They've been one of my favorites since the 60's. I went to one of their Pine Knob shows (currently called DTE Energy Theater but i still call it Pine Knob) 3 or 4 years ago.
They still put on a good show. Justin still sounds good and is really quite an accomplished guitarist.
I watched Justin Hayward play during the show, and yes, he is a fine guitarist indeed. Like a lot of folks with great talent, he makes what he does look easy...
One of my favorite bands of my youth. I had them on albums but also on 8 track tape's for the car.I went to a lot of concerts when I was young but never got to see them but did see them do a great show on PBS on T.V.
I have always like the music of the Moody Blues. Never got to see them.
Sadly, someone said they were awesome. I hate, loath and detest the misuse of that word. If they were good, say they were good. If they were excellent or exceptional say so. Go one step further and describe why they were so good. Exercise your mind and your vocabulary. Let the words be yours and flow from your soul just as the music does from theirs. Show your individuality. But to say they were awesome is meaningless. It's like saying genocide isn't very nice.
Justin Haywood was also superb in the original recording of War of the Worlds with the late Richard Burton.
On the subject of voices deteriorating over the years this is often the case, but sometimes they simply mature. I recently watched a couple of 70 year old jewish guys on You Tube, one short and dressed simply, the other somewhat taller with an outrageous blue shirt and a high forehead topped with a mop of hair. You could almost hear a pin drop in the sound of silence. I am of course talking about Simon and Garfunkel. Some of the notes Garfunkel reaches are truly amazing.
Incidentally, I use the pseudo Beemer on a French forum for ex-pat British bikers living here in France. My brother and I both had BMW R1100RT bikes. For those who don't know, BMWs are often referred to as Beemers. He died a while ago. I sold my bike earlier this year and his two weeks ago, but the name lingers on. So from a Beemer to a Beemerguy, Salut and bonne journee.
__________________
Kill it, cook it, eat it.
Last edited by anglaispierre; 12-04-2012 at 08:53 AM.
Reason: missed something out
I've been listening to the Moody Blues since the 60s. I went to the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore last Saturday night to hear them live, and those old guys can rock!
Justin Hayward (age 66) is a terrific guitarist and still has a great singing voice. John Lodge (age 67) is, as always, a great bassist and singer. And the audience loved drummer Graeme Edge, who at 71 joked that he remembers when "me hair was brown and me teeth was white".
They played for more than two hours, and did all their great hits, including Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, The Voice, I'm Just A Singer in A Rock-and-Roll Band, Question, etc.
The audience looked mostly like a geriatric Woodstock, but there were some younger folks there too. The Lyric, which seats more than 2500 people, was sold out, and the band and the audience were clearly feeding off each others' enthusiasm and passion for the music. These guys have made more money over the years than they will ever be able to spend, and they are clearly still plugging away because they love what they do. It was one of the best concerts I have ever attended!
Attached are some photos from a Moodies concert I attended last year in Portland, Maine...
Thanks I needed that....Memories great memories over 40 years....Like me more wrinkles, but damn they bring back some great times..
For those who've said they like the Moodies' music, but haven't gotten to see them live, I would recommend you go to their website and check out their concert schedule. They are continuously touring, and they just might be coming to a venue near you. Alternatively, there are a couple of their concert DVDs available that are quite good.
"Go Now" is still one of my all-time favorites.
f.t.
The hunt begins. I think I have that on a 45 vinyl (not a caliber) around here somewhere.I Don't remember what's on the other side. If I find it I'll be back.
Incidentally, I use the pseudo Beemer on a French forum for ex-pat British bikers living here in France. My brother and I both had BMW R1100RT bikes. For those who don't know, BMWs are often referred to as Beemers. He died a while ago. I sold my bike earlier this year and his two weeks ago, but the name lingers on. So from a Beemer to a Beemerguy, Salut and bonne journee.
The Moody Blues? .. what more can I say exept I love them*
Seen them several times at Seattle's Paramount Theatre'
& a coupla times at the "Gorge" with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra' .. Wow!
Will have to look for some photos next time out to my storage.
"Seventh Sojourn" & "In Search of the Lost Chord" two of my
all time favorite albums, still run a needle through em often.
Hard to pick a favorite song' wouldnt even try, but "Lost in a Lost World" would be at the top!
~ Joe
... P.S. .. Nice pictures Beemer!*
Last edited by QuickDrawMcGraw; 12-04-2012 at 02:40 PM.
Had the best seats in the house when they played Tunica, MS back in the spring. If you think they are good by themselves you ought to hear them with an orchestra backing them. Got to see them at Riverport in St. Louis back in 1999 with an 80 piece orchestra, it blew me away.
Here's pics of "Go Now". Funny how things are always in the last place you look. This was in the second place!!!!!!!!!!! , oh wait , it was still the last place I looked. Enough of that, I'm so confused. Still had some adapters.
I saw them in Dallas in June of 1998. I have not had a chance to see them since. I have all of their albums and listen to them a a regular basis. Would love to see them again.
[QUOTE=wetdog;136838272]Here's pics of "Go Now". Funny how things are always in the last place you look. This was in the second place!!!!!!!!!!! , oh wait , it was still the last place I looked. Enough of that, I'm so confused. Still had some adapters.
.
.
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"Go Now" Denny Laine with Wings on their 1976 tour.
Fan? Maybe you could call me that, I have seen them 19 times now starting in the late 60's...LP"s, 8 tracks, cassets, CD's and MP3 I have them, all. The best concert I ever saw was the Moody's at Wolftrap Nation Theater some years ago with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Always such gentleman, never any of the questionable stunts some other bands indulged in wrecking hotels, etc.
Over they years they have done countless benifit concerts all over the world. They were the 1st Rock&Roll band to ever be allowed in the old USSR back in the day, don't know if it's still true but at one time every NASA manned flite after about 1969 mission had some crew member with their music traveling with them in space.
Saw them last spring they are still going strong, I have a couple of CD's made up to be played at my wake when ever I start my "Traveling Eternity Road" trip..hopefully some point way down the road..
PS: I agree with Dennis on the HOF deal..I won't darken their door till the MB's are in.
Saw them in the early '80s in Ames Iowa. Great show, but what I remember most was that "two guys' came out while the house lights were still on and the crowd was wondering in. Guitar and Flute duets for about 1/2 hour. I don't think most people realized they were in the band until the lights went down and they stayed on stage. Fantastic duets. Made a big impression on me at the time.
Big fan here.
But I have to laugh every time I hear "Nights in White Satin", the first time I heard the song I was half asleep, half buzzed, after a ruff night out. My brain heard "KNIGHTS in White Satin" and a picture of knights on horseback wearing white satin somehow appeared in my brain. I couldn't figure out the meaning of the song! The next time I heard it it all made sense.
Steve W
I saw them in Dallas in June of 1998. I have not had a chance to see them since. I have all of their albums and listen to them a a regular basis. Would love to see them again.
They'll be playing in Grand Prairie on March 13, 2013...you can probably buy tickets now. Check out their concert schedule at Moody Blues |
Fan? Maybe you could call me that, I have seen them 19 times now starting in the late 60's...LP"s, 8 tracks, cassets, CD's and MP3 I have them, all. The best concert I ever saw was the Moody's at Wolftrap Nation Theater some years ago with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Always such gentleman, never any of the questionable stunts some other bands indulged in wrecking hotels, etc.
Over they years they have done countless benifit concerts all over the world. They were the 1st Rock&Roll band to ever be allowed in the old USSR back in the day, don't know if it's still true but at one time every NASA manned flite after about 1969 mission had some crew member with their music traveling with them in space.
Saw them last spring they are still going strong, I have a couple of CD's made up to be played at my wake when ever I start my "Traveling Eternity Road" trip..hopefully some point way down the road..
PS: I agree with Dennis on the HOF deal..I won't darken their door till the MB's are in.
Thanks for your post! You make a good point about the Moody Blues. When other rockers were smashing guitars and overdosing and getting locked up and acting like nitwits, the Moodies were just making music and entertaining their fans.
It was so cool to see how they interacted with each other on stage the other night. They were clearly and obviously enjoying performing for us all, just as we were enjoying watching them. You cannot fake the passion and enthusiasm and love for their work they showed...it was real and it was wonderful.
Are there any other Moody Blues fans here?
around here somewhere.I Don't remember what's on the other side. If I find it I'll be back.
It's all a bit foggy 
Linear Mode
