John Lodge, the bassist, singer and songwriter for the Moody Blues, has died at the age of 82. He was a key figure in the band’s transformation from a cabaret act into pioneers of psychedelic and progressive rock.
Lodge joined the Moody Blues in 1966 alongside guitarist Justin Hayward. The band had enjoyed early success with the single 'Go Now' but had become outdated. After a harsh critique from a audience member following a show in Stockton, the group decided to reinvent themselves, abandoning their blue suits and revue-style performances.
The result was the 1967 album 'Days of Future Passed', which blended pop songs with lush arrangements and helped define the emerging prog rock genre. Lodge contributed notable songs such as 'Ride My See-Saw' and 'I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)', the latter a response to fans who attributed excessive wisdom to the band.
Lodge originally took up bass because of his love for the left-hand piano work of rock and roll pioneers like Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. He purchased his first bass, a Sunburst Precision Bass, from a shop in Birmingham and kept it throughout his career.
The Moody Blues continued to perform until 2018, concluding with a residency in Las Vegas. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and remained consistent sellers in the US for decades.
