Great, down-to-earth interview with John Lodge. The initial story about the Fillmore East and the mellotron is to die for. Hilarious! Like bandmate Justin Hayward, Lodge seems to have his head screwed on straight about his fame and history. What a collection of talent existed (and still exists) in the Moody Blues. Great voices, amazing harmonies, skilled musicians all. By blending rock, folk, and classical genres the Moodies created a niche all their own. I'd still like to see a reunion tour and album by the classic lineup of Hayward, Lodge. Thomas, Pinder and Edge. Health and creative differences (or old hatchets) may not allow it, but one can always wish. Justin has often said that the interplay between him and Pinder's mellotron arrangements played a large part in why the Moodies were so unique and successful.
+Bob W Yeah class, but he's destroyed my firmly held opinions and memories. Apparently he's never taken acid nor drugs of any description and that was and is his absolute choice and I uphold that. BUT, I lay back in 1969 , listening to Candle Of Life and I freely admit that I had consumed a little pill. Following on from that decision I heard... "Take a look and be, it's there for you to see, burn slowly the candle of life". That was a 196os perspective, but some things still hold true. The rest of the band were reflecting what I was experiencing..."Watching and Waiting, Timothy Leary's Dead" etc and that was genuine, but he hadn't been there and I feel cheated. He's not exactly Judas, but he should have wised up and learned.
+verty87 Maybe he was so far ahead of you and others that he didn't need drugs. I can't believe you are criticizing him for NOT TAKING DRUGS. Think about how people with higher IQs see the world. Einstein didn't anything to do math and physics in his head. His brain was way beyond the average person. Same for Tesla and other geniuses. John Lodge saw and probably still sees a beautiful world and is able to communicate that in a BRILLIANT way sans drugs. If you think about, you are the one who needed to/or still needs to learn. He was already THERE. You needed drugs. He flew at the speed of light, you meandered around on a bus of drugs. I doubt you will ever see what he sees. Your loss.
+Bob W Bob I replied to verty87 re his feeling cheated because JL DID NOT TAKE DRUGS. Just wondering what your opinion is. It sounds rather silly to even conceive of him as a Judas A Judas to what???????????? Drug use????? I did very, very little drugs--no acid--or coke--basically just weed. Am I missing something because the MBS are MAGIC in my mind without "consuming a little pill". --Several beers perhaps------- Be Well!
I don't know if JL ever took drugs! What I do know is there music is magic as Bob D. states and sound great live now as they did when I first saw them live in late seventies. Justin Hayward is a fantastic sound writer using fairly simple chords and progressions to create beautiful melodies. You can't sustain that kind of longevity and success without doing things the right way. Judas got the silver. The moodies got the gold. All the best to you BD!
wow great stories ... funny you can see the bond and love there with ray and the whole ban thing rock and roll ndeed! !! lots of running sliding and jumping onstage.
@jjdedalus I can imagine that he said it with a" nod and beck and wreathed smiile" for which the "Vet' ran Cosmic Rocker" was so famous. Nuance. Dry Brit humor. Hard to get across .."unless you were there." Tom Loughlin Jr, Utica NY
My apologies up front .... I'll always throw my personal memories & opinions out for Whatever they're worth .... [Like advice, you get what you pay for .... Note: OFTEN what you receive for "free" is worth immeasurably more than a paid session or two on a shrink's "couch"] 1. John Lodge was always the most accessible Moodie... Always on the front line of public interaction. ... Post-concert appearances, smiling & chummy 2. Graeme Edge was a FAV party animal kinda guy ... Not necessarily too free with his "friendship" but still fun to share his offstage time with. ... (typical Drummer !) 3. Justin Hayward was nearly impossible to approach.... [justifiable paranoia?]... unless he sensed a potential $$$ addition to the bank account ..... [Probably my unfair judgment since I was a Nobody fan simply spending my $$$ on concerts & albums] 4. Ray Thomas was almost a ghost-figure rarely seen off stage .... Considering his musical/lyrical contributions to the MOODY body of Works, I never even aspired to disturb his privacy
The mellotron was an analog machine notorious for its unreliability. It didn't consist of chips and circuits as modern synthesizers do today. The music was generated by a bunch of tape reels connected to the keys. When something went wrong you got the 'spaghetti' Lodge speaks of in the interview. In spite of that, I still prefer Pinder's mellotron to Patrick Moraz's synthesizers during the second iteration of the Moodies during the 1980s. Moraz has stated that he tried to duplicate Pinder's mellotron sound as much as possible.
Great, down-to-earth interview with John Lodge. The initial story about the Fillmore East and the mellotron is to die for. Hilarious! Like bandmate Justin Hayward, Lodge seems to have his head screwed on straight about his fame and history. What a collection of talent existed (and still exists) in the Moody Blues. Great voices, amazing harmonies, skilled musicians all. By blending rock, folk, and classical genres the Moodies created a niche all their own. I'd still like to see a reunion tour and album by the classic lineup of Hayward, Lodge. Thomas, Pinder and Edge. Health and creative differences (or old hatchets) may not allow it, but one can always wish. Justin has often said that the interplay between him and Pinder's mellotron arrangements played a large part in why the Moodies were so unique and successful.
Having met and spoken with John . I can say he is a very nice and warm person .
I'm 62 and have seen you 42 times. You are my favorite Moody! Love ya!
Hes such a down to earth guy. I just love the MOODY BLUES!! Concert I went to was the best ever in my life .noone like them
Who would have guessed old man Ray Thomas was such an energetic ray of energy in his youth.
Sounded about as likely as Graeme Edge being Super Man.
It shocked John Lodge that the people were willing to wait through cartoons to hear this magical band sing their magical songs. I get it
Seems a really good down to earth guy. Not what I expected given their ethereal & magical sound
lodgysounds like a great guy what great stories
Such a class act! Love the stories! One the best bands in rock n roll! None other like the Moody Blues!
+Bob W Yeah class, but he's destroyed my firmly held opinions and memories. Apparently he's never taken acid nor drugs of any description and that was and is his absolute choice and I uphold that. BUT, I lay back in 1969 , listening to Candle Of Life and I freely admit that I had consumed a little pill. Following on from that decision I heard... "Take a look and be, it's there for you to see, burn slowly the candle of life". That was a 196os perspective, but some things still hold true. The rest of the band were reflecting what I was experiencing..."Watching and Waiting, Timothy Leary's Dead" etc and that was genuine, but he hadn't been there and I feel cheated. He's not exactly Judas, but he should have wised up and learned.
+verty87 Maybe he was so far ahead of you and others that he didn't need drugs. I can't believe you are criticizing him for NOT TAKING DRUGS. Think about how people with higher IQs see the world. Einstein didn't anything to do math and physics in his head. His brain was way beyond the average person. Same for Tesla and other geniuses. John Lodge saw and probably still sees a beautiful world and is able to communicate that in a BRILLIANT way sans drugs. If you think about, you are the one who needed to/or still needs to learn. He was already THERE. You needed drugs. He flew at the speed of light, you meandered around on a bus of drugs. I doubt you will ever see what he sees. Your loss.
+Bob W Bob I replied to verty87 re his feeling cheated because JL DID NOT TAKE DRUGS. Just wondering what your opinion is. It sounds rather silly to even conceive of him as a Judas A Judas to what???????????? Drug use????? I did very, very little drugs--no acid--or coke--basically just weed. Am I missing something because the MBS are MAGIC in my mind without "consuming a little pill". --Several beers perhaps------- Be Well!
@@verty87 JOHN NEVER DROPPED LSD ????😂😂😂😂😂
@@verty87 AND YOU BELIEVED IT ? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
i could listen for hours
LMAO about the tulips...hilarious!!
John Lodge is still absolutely gorgeous...
you gotta love "the Lodge"
such fun glad John enjoyed it anyway! poor Ray. That's rock n roll!
I don't know if JL ever took drugs! What I do know is there music is magic as Bob D. states and sound great live now as they did when I first saw them live in late seventies. Justin Hayward is a fantastic sound writer using fairly simple chords and progressions to create beautiful melodies. You can't sustain that kind of longevity and success without doing things the right way. Judas got the silver. The moodies got the gold. All the best to you BD!
THEIR, NOT THERE!!! Re-Take English 101
Very funny, thanks John, a 55 year fan!
Great stories! Great hair!:)
I think I'd like Ray!
Thanks, great Clip.
My two best live concerts were both The Moody Blues!
wow great stories ... funny you can see the bond and love there with ray and the whole ban thing rock and roll ndeed! !! lots of running sliding and jumping onstage.
Hahaha, great stories. Thanks for putting this up.
Hokey Pokey perhaps? Rest In Peace Ray Thomas.
love John
Fab story funny!
+gork830 Totally agree! Great interview! Would love to see classic reunion!
if you were at this concert as you previously stated you would know that the filmore east was in new york city, USA
to superdrummer the filmore east WAS in new York city-- which IS America! The new yorkers waited patiently.
gentleheartful Many of us American Moody Blues fans have been very patient. When someone is a true fan, they will appreciate the final product.
Moodies + BILLY GRAHAM? What the heck? Never heard that before, I still like them even so.
I think he is referring to Bill Graham the promoter, not Billy Graham the famous evangelist.
@jjdedalus I can imagine that he said it with a" nod and beck and wreathed smiile" for which the "Vet' ran Cosmic Rocker" was so famous. Nuance. Dry Brit humor. Hard to get across .."unless you were there."
Tom Loughlin Jr, Utica NY
Awesome comment!!!!!
YAY!
My apologies up front .... I'll always throw my personal memories & opinions out for Whatever they're worth ....
[Like advice, you get what you pay for .... Note: OFTEN what you receive for "free" is worth immeasurably more than a paid session or two on a shrink's "couch"]
1. John Lodge was always the most accessible Moodie... Always on the front line
of public interaction. ...
Post-concert appearances, smiling & chummy
2. Graeme Edge was a FAV party animal kinda guy ... Not necessarily too free with his "friendship" but still fun to share his offstage time with. ... (typical Drummer !)
3. Justin Hayward was nearly impossible to approach.... [justifiable paranoia?]... unless he sensed a potential $$$ addition to the bank account .....
[Probably my unfair judgment since I was a Nobody fan simply spending my $$$ on concerts & albums]
4. Ray Thomas was almost a ghost-figure rarely seen off stage
....
Considering his musical/lyrical contributions to the MOODY body of Works, I never even aspired to disturb his privacy
I too got that impression of "Justin Cash" from the court trial but what gave you that understanding?
was this shot in bermuda? i heard JL had a home there.....if that was correct....
Ask him if they(the Moody Blues) ever plan a new CD
@jjdedalus
It's a British irony thing (it means the opposite: 'I'm so sorry I hurt you')...I expect the fan got it!
2:11 Who is Billy Graham he talks about? Not the preacher, I'm sure.
Well...John IS a Christian.
did it really take'em 90 minutes to get the mellotron reloaded?
The mellotron was an analog machine notorious for its unreliability. It didn't consist of chips and circuits as modern synthesizers do today. The music was generated by a bunch of tape reels connected to the keys. When something went wrong you got the 'spaghetti' Lodge speaks of in the interview. In spite of that, I still prefer Pinder's mellotron to Patrick Moraz's synthesizers during the second iteration of the Moodies during the 1980s. Moraz has stated that he tried to duplicate Pinder's mellotron sound as much as possible.
LOL. How does a copy band follow up falling into tulips ?!
I bet poor Mike Pinder was going bonkers
It's spelt 'stories'.
+Talking Vegetable Re- Take Etiquette 101
lol!
Ha, ha!
Wolf gang i do not like the new You Tube comments
we wanted Billy Graham to not support the Viet war in 1970's. note to John: Billy did he substituted Christianity for Capitalism.
Victor, different Bill Graham.