Hayward melds past with present as he talks about new and classic material, and an upcoming solo tour.
By Lee Zimmerman
Suffice it to say, the Moody Blues rank as one of the most respected — make that, revered — bands in the entirety of classic rock realms. Borne from the remnants of what was once a blues band, new members Justin Hayward and John Lodge were recruited to showcase the stereo recording techniques of Decca Records’ new label imprint, Deram and partnered for that purpose with the London Festival Orchestra. Although the intent was essentially to create a demonstration record, the band opted to expand on that idea by writing new songs which would emphasize ordinary people engaged in a quest for love by realizing the way relationships might evolve over the course of a 24-hour time period. The result was Days of Future Passed, one of the greatest concept albums in history and a huge international sensation. It spawned two enduring classics — “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon” — and soon put the band on track to release any number of other classics — In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Seventh Sojourn, and any number of other efforts that became vital lexicons in the new and emerging progressive rock era.
Sadly, with the recent passing of drummer Graeme Edge and keyboardist Mike Pinder, Hayward and Lodge remain the only surviving Moodies, making any chance of reunion completely out of the question. Nevertheless, both men soldier on under their own auspices. Hayward has a new single, “Living for Love,” very much in keeping with the lushly beautiful ballads that he’s made his stock in throughout his career, both as a member of the Moodies and on his own as a solo artist. He’s also about to embark on an extensive solo tour with bandmates Mike Dawes on guitar, flautist Karmen Gould and keyboardist Julie Ragins, one which will take them out west and then into the Northeast and last from mind June until the end of July before rebooting in the U.K. throughout October.
Read the full interview HERE.