Moody Blues Legend John Lodge Dies Suddenly Aged 82
John Lodge, the longtime bassist, co-lead vocalist and songwriter for British rock icons The Moody Blues, has died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 82.
The Birmingham-born musician’s family announced his passing in a statement on Friday, October 10th, describing their heartbreak at the loss of a “massive-hearted man.”
“It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that John Lodge, our darling husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and brother, has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us,” the statement read. “As anyone who knew this massive-hearted man knows, it was his enduring love of his wife, Kirsten, and his family that was the most important thing to him, followed by his passion for music, and his faith.”
Born in Erdington, Birmingham, in 1943, Lodge joined The Moody Blues in 1966 and quickly became an essential part of the band’s evolution from rhythm-and-blues roots to their groundbreaking symphonic rock sound. Alongside fellow frontman Justin Hayward, Lodge helped craft some of the group’s most beloved works, including Days of Future Passed and A Question of Balance.
Over his nearly six-decade career, Lodge penned and performed enduring classics such as “Ride My See-Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” His rich baritone vocals, melodic bass lines, and songwriting were central to The Moody Blues’ success, which saw the band sell more than 70 million records worldwide and earn induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
