John Lodge

Biography

John Charles Lodge (20 July 1943 – 10 October 2025) was a English musician who was the bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and a songwriter for the longstanding progressive rock band the Moody Blues. Joining the group in 1966, he contributed to many of the Moody Blues' most acclaimed works, including "Ride My See-Saw", "Isn't Life Strange", and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)", helping shape the band's signature symphonic rock sound.
Beyond his work with the Moody Blues, Lodge collaborated with fellow bandmate Justin Hayward on the Blue Jays project in 1974–75, and released the solo albums such as Natural Avenue×Natural Avenue28 January 1977 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Intro to Children of Rock 'n' Roll1:04A2Natural Avenue3:56A3Summer Breeze5:21A4Carry Me5:42A5Who Could Change6:04B1Broken Dreams, Hard Road4:33B2Piece of My Heart3:57B3Rainbow3:53B4Say You Love Me6:25B5Children of Rock 'n' Roll4:30 (1977) and 10,000 Light Years Ago×10,000 Light Years Ago2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1In My Mind4:532Those Days in Birmingham3:173Simply Magic2:444Get Me Out of Here3:555Love Passed Me By3:246(You Drive Me) Crazy2:387Lose Your Love4:01810,000 Light Years Ago4:54 (2015). He also worked as a record producer and remained active in touring and recording throughout his life.
In 2018, Lodge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.

Early life

John Charles Lodge was born on 20 July 1943 in Birches Green, near Erdington, Birmingham. He was educated at Birches Green Infant and Junior School and Central Grammar School, before pursuing engineering studies at Birmingham College of Advanced Technology. His early influences were musicians such as Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. At the age of 14, Lodge met future bandmate Ray Thomas.

Early career

Lodge was initially involved in the Birmingham music scene alongside Ray Thomas. In the early 1960s they formed the band El Riot and the Rebels. They performed regularly at a club called Teabury, and it was there Lodge met several other bands including the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. He took a year off from the music scene to finish his college education before being persuaded to join the Moody Blues.

The Moody Blues

In 1966, Lodge joined the Moody Blues as bassist and vocalist after their original bassist Clint Warwick had left the band, rejoining Ray Thomas during the same period as the band recruited guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward to replace Denny Laine.
Lodge was one of the primary songwriters of the Moody Blues, writing many songs including "Ride My See-Saw", "Isn't Life Strange" and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)", receiving an ASCAP songwriting award for the latter two. He also wrote "Gemini Dream" alongside Justin Hayward which reached no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and also won an ASCAP songwriting award.
In 1980, Lodge released a non-album solo single "Street Cafe" b/w "Threw It All Away" on Decca, produced by Pip Williams, who by that point was best known as a producer for Status Quo. He also co-wrote "Out and In" with Mike Pinder, recorded on To Our Children's Children's Children in 1969.
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 on 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.

Other works

Lodge collaborated with fellow Moody Blues member Justin Hayward on the 1975 album Blue Jays×Blue Jays12 March 1975 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1This Morning5:55A2Remember Me (My Friend)5:27A3My Brother3:28A4You4:35A5Nights Winters Years3:39B1Saved by the Music6:09B2I Dreamed Last Night4:28B3Who Are You Now2:29B4Maybe5:38B5When You Wake Up5:17. Lodge would later release a solo album, Natural Avenue×Natural Avenue28 January 1977 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Intro to Children of Rock 'n' Roll1:04A2Natural Avenue3:56A3Summer Breeze5:21A4Carry Me5:42A5Who Could Change6:04B1Broken Dreams, Hard Road4:33B2Piece of My Heart3:57B3Rainbow3:53B4Say You Love Me6:25B5Children of Rock 'n' Roll4:30, in 1977, from which the single "Say You Love Me" was issued. During the 1970s, he produced the band Trapeze's first two albums.
In May 2015, Lodge released a solo album, 10,000 Light Years Ago×10,000 Light Years Ago2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1In My Mind4:532Those Days in Birmingham3:173Simply Magic2:444Get Me Out of Here3:555Love Passed Me By3:246(You Drive Me) Crazy2:387Lose Your Love4:01810,000 Light Years Ago4:54, which reunited him with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder. He toured behind the album in 2017 and 2018. In February 2019, Lodge took his solo band onto the "Cruise to the Edge" sailing out of Florida. Lodge and Jon Davison of Yes became friends on board when Davison began dating his daughter Emily. Davison then toured with Lodge as "guest vocalist".
On 2 April 2019, it was announced that Lodge would join Yes on "The Royal Affair Tour" in the middle of 2019, which also included Asia and Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy. In February 2020, Lodge appeared on the "Rock and Romance Cruise" alongside Don Felder, America and other acts before continuing on a 12 date tour. Jon Davison again joined Lodge on stage. The tour ended on 8 March, just before the COVID-19 lockdowns began.
During lockdown Lodge wrote and recorded the song "In These Crazy Times" in his home studio. He recorded the track himself and was joined by his son Kristian on lead guitar, his wife Kirsten on backing vocals and Jon Davison also on backing vocals. His daughter Emily managed the project.

Personal life and death

Lodge was married to his wife, Kirsten, from 1968 until his death. They had two children: Emily, the namesake of "Emily's Song", and Kristian. In 2022, Emily was engaged to Yes vocalist Jon Davison. He spoke publicly about being an evangelical Christian and credited his faith with helping him avoid "the excesses" of the rock music business.
Lodge died on 10 October 2025, aged 82. His death was announced by his family later that day who described it as "sudden and unexpected" and said he was surrounded by loved ones at the time.

Legacy

In 2018, Lodge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues. In September 2019, Lodge was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Prog Awards by Prog in London.

Studio albums

Blue Jays (1975) with Justin Hayward
Natural Avenue (1977)
10,000 Light Years Ago (2015)
Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn (2023)

Live albums

Live from Birmingham: The 10,000 Light Years Tour (2017)
The Royal Affair and After (2021)