THE MOODY BLUES

The Moody Blues is an English rock band that was founded in Birmingham, London. The founding members are:
A. Michael Pinder
B. Ray Thomas
They had performed in the rhythm and blues sound, the others had joined later
A. Graeme Edge
B. John Lodge
C. Justin Hayward
In order to make a new kind of music the combined rock with classical music.
The Moody Blues had been active until 2009. They have sold over 50 million albums world wide. And have been awarded with 14 platinum discs and 14 gold discs.
The earlier members of the band were:
A. RAY THOMAS
B. JOHN LODGE
C. MICHAEL PINDER
These people were members of another group called (EL RIOT AND THE REBELS). They had broke up when one of the members went to college and the other went in the army. The rest of thew members had then joined another group called(THE KREW CATS). They had some success. After that they had recruited some other musicians:
A. GUITARISTS/VOCALISTS-DENNY LAINE
B. BAND MANAGER,TURNED DRUMMER-GRAEME EDGE
C. BASSIST-CLINT WARWICK
They appeared for the first times as THE MOODY BLUES in Birmingham,1964.
]Their first hit single that had reached number 1 was (GO NOW) this was in the UNITED KINGDOM. It reached number 10 in THE UNITED STATES.
Their album (DAYS OF FUTURE PAST) had become one of the most successful albums in 1967. This album had two hit singles:
A. KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN
B. TEUSDAY AFTERNOON
The album ( IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD) they had based this album of the first moon landing.
The two albums:
A. EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR in1971
B. AND THE SEVENTH SOJOURN in 1972
Had reached number 1 in THE UNITED STATES, and with this it turned the band to an orchestral sound.
In 1972the re-released the song (KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN). It had went on to become number 2 on the billboard hot 100. It also9 became a certified million dollar seller. When the song was first released it did not do so well. This song also reached to number 9 in THE UNITED KINGDOM.
The MOODY BLUES had tried to create their own record label. This was called ( THRESHOLD RECORDS ). Their record jackets and the cover art was not acceptable with the company executives. Eventually THE MOODY BLUES went to a more conservative style. However, they laid the ground work for other recording artists to set up their own labels. Such as:
A. LED ZEPPLIN’S (SWAN SONG)
B. ROLLING STONES
In 1974 THE MOODY BLUES took a long vacation after touring ASIA.
At first they had announced a break-up. But before he break-up JUSTIN HAYWARD had a wrote a song called (ISLAND) before the band had gone their separate ways. They had included this song on the album called(THIS IS THE MOODY BLUES)
The group re-united in 1977. Their record company had released an old recording of THE MOODY BLUES which was performed at the (ROYAL ALBERT HALL) that was against the other band members wishes.
The crude sound of THE MOODY BLUES in concert was not as refined as if they had done it in the studio.
As Pinder getting married and raising a family, he moved to California. The band had disbanded. Their was a lot of tension and lack of members with the rest of the band.
In spring of 1978 (OCTAVE) was ready for releasing.
Although, Pinder was not touring with the group, he still had wanted to have some say in what the band was doing and what was going to happen with the group. He never returned to THE MOODY BLUES.
The album(LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER) was released in 1981 having two hits:
A. THE VOICE
B. GEMINI DREAM
Both of these songs were written by HAYWARD AND LODGE.
In 1986 THE MOODY BLUES played live at (BIRMINGHAM HEART BEAT CHARITY) this was for the children’s charity in the hospital in BIRMINGHAM. They played a few of their songs and later they were back up band with ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA for GEORGE HARRISON.
In 1991 PATRICK MORAZ told of his dissatisfaction with the group. His complaints ranged from the music being to simple for his likings to his song writings on their albums. THE MOODY BLUES had no choice but to let him go. Since he was doing more time doing planning for his native countries 700th anniversary than doing more for the group. Two new people were added:
A. BOSHELL
B. PAUL BLISS
These two people were keyboardists that THE MOODY BLUES needed to finish their new album.
THE MOODY BLUS new album(THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM) in 1991 was a success with a couple of new singles:
A. SAY IT WITH LOVE
B. BLESS THE WINGS THAT BRING YOU BACK
Ray Thomas had a flute piece that gave the band a celtic sound. The energy of the high rock was starting a change in their music style. This was leading toward more love ballads. They had two more albums come out with this:
A. KEYS
B. SAY WHAT YOU MEAN
THE MOODY BLUES did a fund raiser for AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION. This concert was arranged by LARRY BAIRD who has participated in other live concerts bands such as:
A. KANSAS
B. MICHAEL BOLTON
C. AL JARREAU
D. THREE DOG NIGHT
E. ALAN PARSONS
THE MOODY BLUES had law suits against them by PINDER in 1981 and by Moraz in 1992 and since then they had became more careful in the studio and on the stage. Paul Bliss had become the first keyboardist in 2001.These two people (BLISS and THOMAS) had became a duet for many tours after EDGE became injured. The second drummer GORDON MARSHALL was brought in as a permanent drum player.
From the years 1991-1998 THE MOODY BLUES took a long vacation from touring and from the studio. They came back in 1999. With an album called(STRANGE TIMES)
THE MOODY BLUES re-released a film on IMAX called (JOURNEY INTO THE AMAZING CAVES) with a couple of new songs.
The two new songs were from the album called (THE PRESENT)
A. WATER
B. HOOLE IN THE WORLD
The millennium came and saw THE MOODY BLUES reducing their tours. The end of 2002 came with one of the founding members retiring and that had put the band down to three members. Early in ther following year came flutist NORDA MULLEN and has worked with the band through THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR and had remained with the band to the end of 2003.THE MOODY BLUES had released a CHRISTMAS ALBUM containing some of THE MOODY BLUES original songs and one from JOHN LENNON CALLED(HAPPY X-MAS WAR IS OVER).
In March of 2006 THE MOODY BLUES re-released these albums;
A. DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED
B. SEVENTH SOJOURN
On CD’S. On September of 2008 HAYWARD had said these following remastered versions will be released on UNIVERSAL RECORDS:
A. OCTAVE
B. LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER
C. THE PRESENT