Moody Blues bassist: We're finally playing Germain Arena

The Moody Blues have played arenas all over the world. Yet somehow, the prog rockers have never performed at Germain Arena. That used to bug bassist John Lodge, who visits Southwest Florida several times a year and just bought a condo in Naples. “We've never been to Germain Arena before,” Lodge says. “I drive by it all the time and say, ‘Yeah, we should play there!’" Now it’s finally happening. The Moody Blues perform Thursday, March 10, at Germain Arena. “It should be great fun!” Lodge says. In a way, the show cements Lodge’s commitment to Southwest Florida. He and his wife Kirsten have been visiting here for about a decade and spending time with their son’s family, including 7-year-old grandson John Henry. He even recorded part of his recent solo album, "10,000 Light Years Ago," at The Mix Factory recording studio in Bonita Springs. The Englishman will be spending even more time here once his condo is completed at Kalea Bay, a new 480-acre high-rise community being developed on Vanderbilt Drive in North Naples. That could be as soon as early 2017. Whenever he visits Naples, the 70-year-old Lodge mostly hangs out with his family, golfs, watches sunsets and — of course — plays music. “I’m a musician,” he says. “I play every day. My guitar is always with me.” READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE