• 1964-2018

  Denny LaineGuitar, vocals1964-1966

  Mike PinderKeyboards, vocals1964-1978

  Ray ThomasFlute, vocals1964-2018

  Clint WarwickBass1964-1966

  Graeme EdgeDrums1964-2021

  Justin HaywardGuitar, vocals1966-

  John LodgeBass1966-2025

  Patrick MorazKeyboards1978-1992
• The band started as the M&B Five, named after a brewery in Birmingham, England called Mitchell and Butler, which sponsored the band. When the group outgrew pub dates, they changed the name to The Moody Blues, "moody" because that was their image (dark clothing, never smiling), and "blues" because that was their style of music. Both the moody and blues monikers became irrelevant once they released their 1967 Days of Future Passed album, but they were stuck with the name.
• Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas began as members of El Riot and the Rebels. Denny Laine was in Denny Laine and the Diplomats, whose drummer was future ELO member Bev Bevan. Graeme Edge was in Gerry Levene and the Avengers with another future ELOer, Roy Wood.
• After his departure from the band, Denny Laine became a member of Paul McCartney's Wings.
• Thomas found Hayward by sifting through responses to an ad posted by Eric Burdon, who was looking for a new Animals lineup.
• They established their own label, Threshold, as a subsidiary of Decca in 1969. They proceeded to sign various acts that you've probably never heard of such as Trapeze, Tymon, Providence and Nicky James. As a result, Threshold contrived to not make much money.
• Patrick Moraz, their keyboard player from 1978-1992, was a member of Refugee and Yes before his work with the Moody Blues.
• They began as a R&B band, part of the British Invasion. Once they began using a Mellotron, they developed their signature sound.
• They appeared on the 1999 episode of The Simpsons, "Viva Ned Flanders," which is set in Las Vegas.
• The Moody Blues were the only band to regularly use a Mellotron (an early sort of synthesizer that used tape loops instead of electronic tone generators) in concerts. They could do this because Mike Pinder had worked for the company that had invented it, so he knew workings of the notoriously fickle instrument very well.
• With the exception of a few years in the mid-1970s, the Moody Blues remained active until 2018, when Graeme Edge decided to retire.
• The band started a chain of Threshold record shops in the UK. At one time there was a dozen throughout the country but by 1990 only the one in Cobham remained. Justin Hayward recalled to Q magazine in 1990: "We worked on the principle that the shops would be stocked with real turn-on kind of records, turn the general public on to great music, and we had booths where you could go and listen to the records. But people would come and listen to the records and then go down the street and buy them a quid cheaper at Woolworth's. That's where our whole plan broke down."
• In 2018, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... 29 years after they became eligible.
• Mike Pinder was the last living original member. He died at 82 on April 24, 2024.

Comments: 10

• M. Turboffy from Alma Co.RIP Ray & Graehme. Both class act musicians & people...
• Turbooffy from Alma Co.Completely dug their intelligent freethinking lyrics & melodies. Have nearly all their l.p. vinyl. Glad they finally got their dues in the R. & R. HOF...
• Timothyleary1968 from Springfield, MaThe Moody Blues will forever be the kings of psychedelic rock. One of my favorite bands.
• Dan from SeattleFarewell to Graeme Edge "the Poet"
  
  sight, sound, smell, or touch,
  There's something inside, that we need so much
• Forever Fan from ChicagoThank you for the soundtrack of my youth.
• Eric from Williamsburg, KyI'm really stoked (if I'm allowed to use that word) to be part of a nationwide site giving facts about the Greatest Past Time(In My Opinion) to get a person in a Rockin' Mood!!!
• Joanne from Virginia Beach, VaJustin Hayward has been recognized several times as one of the most influential guitar players in the world. John Lodge was named as one of the 10 most influential bass players by Bass Player Magazine.
• Joanne from Virginia Beach, VaJohn Lodge is a committed Christian and credits his faith with "avoiding the many pitfalls" that are prevalent in the culture of rock and roll. He and his wife have been married for over 30 years and have grown children.
• Adrian from Los Angeles, CaJustin Haywood also contributed the Jeff Wayne's musical "The War of the Worlds" which the track, "Forever Autumn" can be originally found. "Forever Autumn" appears on the Moody Blues' "The Very Best of the Moody Blues" LP.
• Charles from Charlotte, NcJustin Hayward and John Lodge collaborated on an excellent album project "Blue Jays" during a hiatus from the Moodies in 1974. As good or better than anything by the Moodies.

More Songfacts:

Coming HomeDiddy - Dirty Money

"Coming Home" by Diddy - Dirty Money was originally iwritten for for T.I., who was getting out of prison at the time.

Summer BreezeSeals & Crofts

On the surface, "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts is just a song about a guy coming home from work, but the duo claimed it had a deeper meaning about finding direction in one's personal life.

ChandelierSia

Sia planned to quit her solo career after her 2014 album 1000 Forms of Fear, but the "Chandelier" video proved so popular it drew her back in.

Hit Me With Your Best ShotPat Benatar

Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was written by a guy named Eddie after going through a weird therapy session where he punched pillows to get out his aggressions.

Do You Realize??The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" was named in March 2009 the official Rock Song of Oklahoma. Four years later, Oklahoma's governor Mary Fallin pulled the tune as the state's official rock song in a move her office said had more to do with priorities than musical taste.

Follow Your ArrowKacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves offered "Follow Your Arrow" to her friend Katy Perry, but Perry thought Musgraves should record the song herself, telling Kacey it seemed "like something that you would totally say."

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.