John Lodge spent Christmas Day 2023 in hospital, as the English say. He had suffered a stroke. There were many days ahead in hospital for John. He wondered if he had come to end of his journey.
I’ve heard music can be a source of strength for some stroke victims. Count John Lodge in that number.
This past Friday night, John Lodge was in Nashville, Indiana at The Brown County Music Center keeping the music of The Moody Blues alive and well. This was a promise he made to his old bandmate Graeme Edge before Graeme passed away in 2021. He is keeping the music of The Moody Blues alive and well as long as he can. John Lodge is 81. He still has the heart of a young English Rocker. There is no better explanation.
Leading up to seeing this show, I really didn’t know what to expect. The last time I saw John onstage was at The Ryman in Nashville, TN not Nashville, IN in 2017. In subsequent years, I have seen his old bandmate Justin Hayward play ten acoustic, scaled down shows. Hearing “a band” again was really special and I didn’t know how much I had missed it. The guitar helps John Lodge keep his balance. Walking out to the mic is delicate for him. Once he is there, he is home. And he can still put on a show. Why? He means it. He lives it. He belongs there. He’s been there a long time. Friday night, he told a story about how he was in a group with future Moody Blues member Ray Thomas called El Riot and the Rebels in the early 60s.
They routinely played gigs at a club outside of Birmingham, England. They were always “Top of the Bill”. One night they showed up and the promoter told them they were not top of the bill that night. The promoter went on to say this group from Liverpool, with a new single called Love Me Do, seems to be the rage. Lodgy said that night was the beginning of the British Invasion of popular music in his eyes.
That’s the kind of history we witnessed Friday night. To hear Ride My Seesaw, I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band), Isn’t Life Strange, and actually really enjoying Gemini Dream for the first time in nearly 40 years of hearing it, I was taken back. I thought about that 18-year-old me walking into The Louisville Gardens to see The Moody Blues for the first time in 1986. When the guys came out, I thought it was a good thing I got there when I did. There’s no way these guys will keep this up much longer! Ahh, the hubris of the young. What did I know? I’m now twelve years older than Graeme Edge, the oldest member of The Moodies, was that night in 1986. 45 looked too old for a rock and roller that night. Not so fast my friends…
John Lodge and Justin Hayward are all that is left of a group that was called The Moody Blues. Many fans wish they would get together again and play as their duo-led 1975 album called Blue Jays. Not me. I say leave these boys alone. Let them do their own thing. They had their run together. After seeing both of their solo shows now, I see why it will probably never happen. I don’t think it would work now. We know I have been wrong about these boys before.
Either way, this show by John Lodge and his band was a triumph. Long time Moodies side man Alan Hewitt on Keyboards and backing vocals, former 2nd Moodies drummer Billy Ashbaugh, Cello player Jason Charboneau, and guitarist Duffy King who also provided backing vocals. They took us back and delivered us forward at the same time with music that is timeless. Not a bad way to spend an evening.
Tragedy
This past Monday, we had to say goodbye to our son Jarrett’s dog Hot Rod. He took a sudden turn for the worse.
When Jarrett was stationed at Fort Bliss near El Paso, he and a friend came across Hot Rod in the desert. Jarrett was probably out there to see how fast he could make a car go without blowing up the engine. All I know is that he found Hot Rod with a back partially filled with buckshot apparently left there to die. Not so fast my friends!
Hot Rod gave us 14 great years. I have never known a kinder dog, providing you were on his side. He was protective as well.
Our alarm for the UPS and Fed Ex truck is gone.
I don’t know if all dogs go to heaven or not, as the story suggests. This one did.
Speaking the rights.
Danny Johnson