| John Lodge | |
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John Lodge on 14 July 2007 with The Moody Blues |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Charles Lodge |
| Born | 20 July 1945 |
| Origin | Erdington, Birmingham, England |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Associated acts | The Moody Blues |
| Website | John Lodge official website |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fender Jazz Bass | |
John Charles Lodge (born 20 July 1945, in Erdington, Birmingham, England) is an English musician, best known as bassist and singer of the longstanding rock group The Moody Blues.
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Lodge attended school at Birches Green Junior School, Central Grammar School and later went to college at the Birmingham College of Advanced Technology for engineering. His early influences were musicians like Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis, and by age 15 met up with future band-mate Ray Thomas.[1]
Lodge after being initially involved in the Birmingham music scene then temporarily dropped out to continue his studies doing his City and Guilds, however in 1966 after Moody Blues original Bassist Clint Warwick had left the band, Lodge succeeded the temporary deputy Rod Clarke as permanent Moodies Bassist/vocalist rejoining Ray Thomas & co around the same time as the band recruited a young Swindon born Guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward to replace Denny Laine. Lodge's disinctive falsetto ranged high harmony voice plus Lead vocals would be a major asset to the revised Moody Blues from this point on.
Lodge's prolific songwriting for the Moody Blues has created such songs as: "Peak Hour", "Evening, Time To Get Away", "Gimmie A Little Something","Ride My See-Saw","House of Four Doors", "Eyes of a Child", "Send Me No Wine", "To Share Our Love","Candle of Life", "Tortoise And The Hare", "Minstrel's Song", "Emily's Song", "Isn't Life Strange" (which earned Lodge an ASCAP songwriting award), "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" (which also won him an ASCAP songwriting award), "Steppin' in a Slide Zone","Survival", "Talking Out of Turn", "Nervous", "Sitting at the Wheel","It May Be A Fire", "Rock'N'Roll Over You","Love is on The Run", "Here Comes The Weekend", "Lean on Me (Tonight)", "Shadows On The Wall", "Magic","Wherever You Are", "Love Don't Come Easy", "Words You Say", "Forever Now", "On This Christmas Day","The Spirit of Christmas", and "Gemini Dream" — the latter being a co-composition with Justin Hayward that won them jointly an ASCAP songwriting award. Bass Player magazine voted him amongst the most influential bass players.
Lodge co-wrote 'Out And In' with Mike Pinder for 'To Our Children's Children's Children' in 1969.
He also collaborated with fellow Moody Blues member Justin Hayward on the 1975 album Blue Jays released on Threshold, which in addition to Hayward's compositions included three songs written by Lodge; 'Maybe', 'Saved by The Music' and 'You', together with two tracks co-written by Lodge & Hayward; 'Remember Me (My Friend)' and 'When You Wake Up', and later released a solo album, Natural Avenue, on Decca in 1977, from which the single 'Say You Love Me' was issued . During the 1970s, he produced the band Trapeze.
In 1977 Lodge released a rare non album solo single 'Street Cafe' c/w 'Threw it All Away' on Decca, this single featured future Moodies' Keyboardist Patrick Moraz.
After The Moody Blues resumed recording in 1978 Lodge has also regularly since 1981 co-written songs for the band with Justin Hayward, such as: 'Meet Me Halfway',Talkin' Talkin','Slings And Arrows','Running out of Love', 'Miracle','Breaking Point','Want To Be With You',Once is Enough', 'Highway','Is This Heaven?' 'Sooner or Later (Walking on Air)', 'Strange Times', and 'The One', etc....
Through most of his career he played a Fender Precision Bass. For the last several years he has been playing a Fender Jazz Bass. Other instruments include a custom-made Fender double-neck bass and guitar (which replaced a similar model by Rickenbacker), acoustic bass and acoustic 12-string by Guild.
In 1985, the Moody Blues picked up the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Lodge has been married to his wife, Kirsten, since 1968, and they are the parents of two grown children. Their first child, a daughter named Emily, was born in 1970 (for whom Lodge wrote 'Emily's Song' included on 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favor' album in 1971) , and son Kristian was born two years later. Although he is a private man, Lodge has spoken on several occasions about his Christian beliefs, and credits his faith with keeping him from the dangers of rock and roll.[1] [2]
Charisma Magazine Thursday, 31 August 2000 - Born-Again Rock Stars
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