British musician John Lodge, best known as the bass player, vocalist, and songwriter for the legendary rock band The Moody Blues, has died at the age of 82.
His family announced the news on Thursday, saying the veteran performer passed away “suddenly and unexpectedly” while surrounded by his loved ones.
“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 family said in a statement. “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.”
The family added that Lodge “peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved ones and the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly.”
Born in Birmingham, England, on July 20, 1943, Lodge joined The Moody Blues in 1966, two years after its formation. He replaced original bassist Clint Warwick and helped shape the band’s signature progressive rock sound alongside Justin Hayward, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, and Graeme Edge.
Together, they created some of rock’s most iconic albums, including Days of Future Passed (1967), one of the first-ever concept albums, and In Search of the Lost Chord (1968), which marked the band’s move toward psychedelic rock.
Lodge wrote or co-wrote many of the group’s biggest hits, such as Ride My See-Saw, Isn’t Life Strange, and I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) — both of which earned him ASCAP songwriting awards.
The Moody Blues became one of the most celebrated rock bands of their time, selling millions of records worldwide and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, the same year they stopped touring.
Outside the band, Lodge pursued a successful solo career, releasing several albums including Natural Avenue (1977) and 10,000 Light Years Ago (2015). He also collaborated with bandmate Justin Hayward on the 1975 project Blue Jays.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Lodge continued to record music from home, releasing In These Crazy Times, which featured contributions from his wife, Kirsten, his son, Kristian, and his daughter, Emily.
A devoted Evangelical Christian, Lodge often spoke about how his faith helped him stay grounded throughout his decades in the music industry. He was married to Kirsten since 1968, and the couple had two children.
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