It is difficult to type this since my eyes are filled with tears. John Lodge passed away today unexpectedly. He was an English songwriter and musician and if you don't know that he was the bass player with The Moody Blues, then I hope you will search out their music! We are huge Moody Blues fans. I have made the joke that if I had seen the Moody Blues in concert before Christopher was born, he would have been "Justin John", and I would have called him JJ. (That is really not a joke, that would have happened!)
Richard and I saw them in concert several times when they were in Atlanta. (And each time, Christopher was with us!) Richard saw Justin Hayward and John Lodge in England in 1975 when they performed as "The Blue Jays".) In 1981 when I first met Richard, he invited me to his home, and he proudly showed me the new Moody Blues album that he had just purchased. Now, let us pause here and remember great album covers, shall we? This album was "Long Distance Voyager". Isn't it lovely? Wonderful songs too!
Richard got a poster when he went to the Blue Jays concert.... let's see if I can show it to you here....
When Christopher was five years old, we drove over to Birmingham, Alabama to see the Moody Blues perform. (And John Lodge was also from Birmingham except he was from the one in England!) This concert was most memorable for me as John Lodge waved to ME! Here is my story: We were on the second row in the balcony. There were two women in front of us, and they were waving and screaming at the band as soon as they got on stage. Now, they were waving not just their hands but their arms in a very wild fashion. Knowing what English folks are like, I reasoned that if I waved my hand in a very small way that I might be noticed. Sure enough, John Lodge looked right at me and mimicked the exact wave back at me! We had made friends with the couple sitting beside us and I said, "Look, he waved at us!". They said, "No, he waved to YOU". There, that is a wonderful memory and reading just a few things on Facebook, that story is not unusual for John Lodge.
John Lodge always ended concerts with these words, "Keep the faith"! He was a great bass player and singer, and his love of life and positive energy were always in evidence. Even though he is no longer with us, his music lives on forever. John had a stroke in 2023 but had recovered and was touring. I had just seen where he had scheduled new shows in California for December of this year. After his stroke he had written a song "Love Will Conquer All". I have it for you here.
Peace, love and music!
It is sad when someone we admired for most of our lives dies - someone who "was around", even though we didn't know them personally. They were somehow part of our lives, and when they go, a tiny piece of ourselves is lost along with them.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have never known their music, I can tell how important The Moody Blues were for you and your family.
John Lodge was a year older than my Mum, and wikipedia says he died suddenly and unexpectedly but was surrounded by his loved ones. A comforting thought for those who are grieving for him.
When you told the story of how John Lodge waved at you, I thought "this sounds familiar" - and indeed, it was in 2012 or so that you mentioned this lovely little scene before. It says a lot about the man, doesn't it!
DeleteMy little story of him isn't much in the scheme of things but it was so sweet of him I thought it was worth repeating. I was surprised at much his death affected me. You would have thought I had known him.
DeleteHi dear Kay, beautiful photo of the flowers 💐
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing about The Moody Blues.
Wishing you a wonder filled weekend.
Thanks, Linda. Big Moody Blues fan here!
DeleteAnother great is gone and the world is poorer for it.
ReplyDeleteSo true, my friend.
DeleteI am sorry that you are mourning the death of an icon. I have something for you to look at. I thought of you immediately when I read it. http://rattilla.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-music-of-god.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link. You know I agree.
DeleteSorry about the loss of a musician you really liked, and he even waved at you.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of the Moddy Blues, honestly didn't follow them. I bet I do know other songs.
Justin Hayward wrote a great many of them, but John Lodge wrote "Isn't Life Strange", "Ride My See Saw" and "I'm Just A Singer in a Rock and Roll Band"., among others. Also, they did a great Christmas album called "December". You should check it out.
DeleteI like the Moody Blues and enjoyed your memories of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, see comment above, where I recommended "December".
DeleteSo sad. A previous boyfriend had a copy of Elvis Presley's Moody Blue album, which was an actual blue vinyl record. After we split, I spent years looking for my own copy of that blue record. Wonderful memories for you to lean on. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteOh, I am glad you got your own copy of "Moody Blue" by Elvis!
DeleteI am sad to read this. You wrote wonderfully heartfelt tribute to him. Rest in Peace John!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Couldn't say too much, a bit choked up.
DeleteI will need to check out the Moody Blues LP tracks. I know the songs that were hits well enough but not the other album tracks. I did watch an enjoyable hour long programme here recently on Sky Arts about the history of the band. They do a series about long running music groups which I've been watching.
ReplyDeleteYou know I would love that TV series! If you think about it at Christmas, search out "December" by the Moody Blues. It's brilliant.
DeleteJohn Lodge was a wonderful musician and a Godly man. I am sorry to know he passed away but I love his story and how he and his wife stayed sober even in the early days of success. The music was the best. I love music and my husband and I often listen to music before bedtime on the weekends and we mix it up. Thank you for your very kind post. Sending hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteHugs right back to you! Yes, if you look at any of the tributes John Lodge, along with praise for him as a musician/singer/songwriter/performer, many mention his kindness. Extraordinary kindness.
DeleteMay he rest in peace and may his music live on.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteI do remember the Moody Blues and I am sure I had one of their albums as well once, they were big back then but I moved on with what I liked to listen to so they have been largely forgotten about. It's always sad when you hear some one you liked died.
ReplyDeleteJustin Hayward is the only surviving member now. That is a sad thing for me to type.
DeleteMusicians add so much to our lives, and we feel diminished with each passing. So many gone now, but their music lives on.
ReplyDeleteMusic is forever!
DeleteOh my he was great! Lucky you to get a wave from him! I never saw the concert but have enjoyed their music! May he rest in peace, his music though will live on!
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful that I saw them in concert, more than any other band. They were wonderful.
DeleteJack and I saw them in concert in Chicago years ago when we were young and in love! Well, we're old and still in love but I digress! It seems like so many good ones have left us. Glad I was able to see them in their youth too.
ReplyDeleteYes! Their voices were so good! Even as they aged, their voices were not as strong but they still sounded great to me.
DeleteI have one album, from about 1970. Not sure it would work today.
ReplyDeleteIt would work but only if you have a record player. Note the comments above about "December". It was a Christmas album, I think from 2003. It is very, very good.
DeleteOh gosh... I remember the Moody Blues. It's so sad to hear about the passing of so many of the performers we knew so long ago.
ReplyDeleteEspecially the ones we love the most. x
DeleteHow sad! I can imagine how devastated you must feel. Your favorite musician gone. Think how his family must feel, too. But he is with the angels now.
ReplyDeleteFeel so much for his loved ones. Surprised how sad it made us feel. Richard has been fan for longer than me.
DeleteMy late husband Joe and I saw the Moody Blues in concert 4 times!! It was the very first concert that we took my 2 sons to see at Caesars in Atlantic City....I loved the Moody Blues....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for visiting...I am playing catch up on return visits...I hope you are having a great week!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
You know how great they were in concert! Grateful we also saw them with our son. He loves them too. Thanks for your visit. Take care and God bless.
DeleteSo many greats are going lately. It is sad.
ReplyDeleteI didn't write about Robert Redford or Jane Goodall, those two deaths were also hard to take. I want my heroes to live forever!
DeleteDarling Kay,
ReplyDeleteAlas, we can offer little by way of memories of the Moody Blues. For us, they must have been buried under the Rolling Stones. But, this is a great tribute to the band and clearly you have so many wonderful memories of concerts and their music. We think that your son had a happy escape....Christopher seems so much nicer to us than JJ!!!
Perhaps it is our ages but there are so many incredible people who have given so much to music and many other aspects of good in the world who have recently died. A reminder to live each day to the full.
So lovely to wake up and see your comment here! It is funny to me, I had friends in high school who were big Rolling Stones fans and they were always amused at my taste in bands. It seemed in those days, you were either Beatles or Rolling Stones! Lauglingly, I will tell Christopher of your admiration of his name, he will be most pleased. May you both live each day to the full and I hope that might include more blog posts from you. So very good to know you have a book out! Can't wait to read Meike's review from Germany on her blog!
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute, Kay! I was fortunate to see the Moody Blues live in the late 1980s in nearby Greenwood Village. It was one of the most memorable musical events in my life. I will never forget that experience. Stones or Moody Blues? Moody Blues every time! I'm delighted to hear that you and Richard were big fans of the group! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you! I really couldn't write this properly but I tried my best. Yes, Richard and I are big fans and our Millennial son is also! They were truly great in concert. Take care, sweet friend and keep the faith!
Delete