John Lodge (musician)
| John Lodge | |
|---|---|
 John Lodge in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Charles Lodge |
| Born |
20 July 1945 Erdington, Birmingham England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, progressive rock, symphonic rock |
| Occupation(s) |
Musician Songwriter Producer |
| Instruments | Bass, vocals |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Labels | Decca, Threshold |
| Associated acts | The Moody Blues, Trapeze |
| Website | John Lodge official website |
John Charles Lodge (born 20 July 1945) is an English musician, best known as bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of the longstanding rock group, The Moody Blues. He has also worked as a record producer. Lodge has collaborated both with his bandmates in the Moody Blues, and with other musicians outside the band.
Biography
Early years
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. By age 15, Lodge had met future bandmate Ray Thomas.[1]
Career with the Moody Blues
Lodge was initially involved in the Birmingham music scene, although he temporarily dropped out to continue his studies. In 1966, however, after the Moody Blues' original bassist Clint Warwick had left the band, Lodge succeeded the temporary substitute bassist Rod Clarke[2] as the permanent bassist and vocalist, rejoining Ray Thomas during the same period as the band recruited guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward to replace Denny Laine. Lodge's distinctive falsetto ranged from a high harmonious voice and his solid lead vocals were 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", "Gimme a Little Somethin'", "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" (which also won him an ASCAP songwriting award), "Steppin' in a Slide Zone","Survival", "Talking Out of Turn", "Nervous", "Sitting at the Wheel","Hole in the World", "Under My Feet", "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, recorded on 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 Records, 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, Lodge 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 music for the band Trapeze.
In 1980, Lodge released a non-album solo single "Street Cafe" b/w "Threw It All Away" on Decca this single featured future Moody Blues keyboardist Patrick Moraz. Since 1981, Lodge has co-written songs for the band with Justin Hayward, such as: "Meet Me Halfway", "Talkin' Talkin'", "Running Out of Love", "Slings and Arrows", "Want to Be with You", "River of Endless Love", "Breaking Point", "Miracle", "Once Is Enough", "Highway", "Is This Heaven?", "Sooner or Later (Walking on Air)", "Strange Times", and "The One", and from December, "In the Quiet of Christmas Morning (Bach 147)" amongst others.
In 1985, the Moody Blues picked up the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Lodge participated in the 2011 bluegrass tribute album to The Moody Blues, Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love, as lead vocal his song "Send Me No Wine". Lodge joined other current and past members of The Moody Blues on this album. Two of Lodge's Moody Blues compositions, "Ride My See-Saw" and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" are featured on an earlier tribute album, Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute To The Moody Blues, released in 2004.[3][4]
In May 2015 John released a solo album titled "10,000 Light Years Ago," which reunited him with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder.[5]
Personal life
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; Lodge wrote "Emily's Song" for the 1971 Moody Blues album, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. His son Kristian was born two years later. Lodge has spoken on several occasions about his belief as an evangelical Christian, and credits his faith with preventing him from sinking into the dangerous elements of the rock music business.[6] Lodge is a supporter of Birmingham City F.C.
Solo discography
Studio albums
- Blue Jays (1975) with Justin Hayward UK No. 4
- Natural Avenue (1977)
- 10,000 Light Years Ago (2015)
References
- ↑ "John Lodge.com". John Lodge.com. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ↑ Tony Brown (23 November 1942). "Rod Clark page 1". Themoodyblues.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ↑ Hackett, Vernell (28 June 2011). "Moody Blues Have 'Much Love' for Bluegrass". theboot.com. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ Munro, Steve, "Moody Bluegrass: Rocking Through the Hills", National Public Radio, 30 December 2004. Retrieved on 29 August 2015.
- ↑ http://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/news_and_views/curtain_call/the-moody-blues-bring-timeless-flight---the-polydor/article_b86eb83a-d714-11e4-864e-6730a1bb26ac.html
- ↑ Bruce, Billy (31 August 2000). "Born-Again Rock Stars". Christian rock stars. Charisma magazine. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/fameandfortune/11638486/John-Lodge-I-brought-a-car-back-from-the-US-as-excess-baggage.html