John Lodge of The Moody Blues reschedules Birmingham and talks to Music News
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Following the unfortunate cancellation of the show on April 6th, John Lodge is pleased to announce that his Birmingham show has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 17th at the iconic Birmingham Town Hall.
Joining him on stage will be Jon Davison of YES, the magical video of Graeme Edge, and his 10,000 Light Years Band, Alan Hewitt, Jason Charboneau and Billy Ashbaugh. Stepping in for Duffy King will be the incredible Dave Colquhoun.
John says “I am delighted that we have been able to reschedule this show in Birmingham. Bringing ‘Days of Future Passed’ to my hometown has been a dream for me, and especially to the Town Hall where I saw Buddy Holly as a kid, starting me on my musical journey. We have a fantastic show for you, a first set of Moodies classics, followed by ‘Days of Future Passed’ in its entirety. I just wanted to thank everyone who worked so hard to rearrange this show, everyone at the venue, my agent, all my team, and the band - and a special thank you to Dave Colquhoun. Dave played the stunning guitars on my song ‘Whispering Angels’, and when we heard that Duffy couldn’t make the new date, agreed to take on the incredible challenge of learning the show for Thursday. For those that have a ticket, I look forward to sharing this very special evening with you… for those that haven’t, why not join us!”
John will also be at St George’s, Bristol on April 14th and G Live, Guildford, on April 15th here.
Unfortunately, despite all efforts by John and his team, it has been impossible to rearrange the Manchester date, and refunds will be provided by the venue.
We spoke to John to find out more on his latest projects...
Love Conquers All’ is a deeply personal collection of songs. How did your personal experiences shape the themes of this EP? I have had some health challenges over the last few years, but with the love of family and friends it gave me the strength and showed me the way to battle through the problems whilst “leaning on” my creativity.
Your son-in-law, Jon Davison, collaborated with you on ‘Whispering Angels.’ What was it like working with family on such an emotional project? Jon Davison has been joining me on stage for the last six years and as well as he being my son-in-law we have a wonderful emotional relationship. This is very important in songwriting because when you create something new you are really bearing your soul and you have to have the respect and love for the person you’re working with and I have that with Jon.
You’ve faced health challenges recently. How did music contribute to your recovery, and what role did it play in your healing process? One thing I noticed with my health problems there are physical problems that could come to affect the psychology of yourself, and I found out very quickly that the creative process rids you of negativity. You have to open your mind up when you’re writing a song and you have to find the space to create.
The Moody Blues have an enduring legacy. How does this solo work differ from your time with the band, and what elements remain the same? The Moody Blues were my life, and I think still are my life, and that’s why I want to keep The Moody Blues music alive on stage. When you're in a band like The Moody Blues there are five people creating, and all taking the share of the weight of a band. It maybe one person taking the lead at one time, and then another person taking the lead at another time - it was a beautiful experience. As a solo artist I can decide who I want to play different parts in the band. For example, I love the cello and always wanted to feature that, something I’ve done now with Jason. He adds something magic to songs that previously were known for the flute parts. When you are recording your own song, you can experiment with different instrumentation and you can have a wider horizon of interpretation
‘Days of Future Passed’ is a seminal album. How does it feel to bring it back to the stage in its entirety for this tour? Days of Future Passed on stage is a realisation of a life’s work. it seems to join so many generations together - from the audience that was with us at the beginning, to a new audience today
You’ve collaborated with legendary musicians like Geoff Downes. How did these collaborations influence the sound and spirit of the EP? You choose musicians to work on your album or on your songs because you know their work and you admire their work and their creativity. Working with Geoff Downes, Tim Maple, Dave Colquhoun, was an absolute joy because I knew what they would be able to contribute, and it exceeded all expectations.
The title Love Conquers All suggests a message of hope. In today’s world, what do you hope listeners take away from this release? I hope Love Conquers All will bring a serenity to people, a space in their lives and minds, and an escape from what appears to be a confusing time. And bring a smile to their face.
You’re releasing special vinyl editions of the EP. Why do you think vinyl has remained such a beloved format for music lovers? Vinyl to be is the way to listen to music. My new EP is 180 g vinyl. The sound is phenomenal on vinyl - just protect your albums and love them with the care that the artist has put into them!
Your Christmas single ‘Love Will Conquer All’ has a powerful backstory. Do you see this song becoming a seasonal favourite in years to come? Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
After decades in music, what still excites you about creating and performing, and what’s next for you after this tour? I’m just confirming a USA tour for July this year, and we are working on a video for ‘Days of Future Passed’…. that’s a secret, just between ‘us' for now! (Laughs)!
