Mike Pinder, Moody Blues Founding Keyboardist, Dead At 82
Source: Billboard
Mike Pinder, the last surviving original member of psychedelic rock of 1960s/70s prog rock band the Moody Blues has died at 82. The pioneering keyboardist/singer credited with helping to introduce the mellotron into the rock arena passed away on Wednesday (April 24) at his home in Northern California of undisclosed causes.
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Born in Erdington, Birmingham England on Dec. 27, 1941, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Pinder co-founded the group in May 1964 with multi-instrumentalist/singer Ray Thomas, singer/guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist/singer Clint Warwick; Laine and Warwick left the band in 1966 after the release of 1965s debut album, The Magnificent Moodies, and were replaced by guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist Lodge. Pinder and Laine co-wrote all the original songs on Moodies, which included the bands wistful, R&B influenced breakthrough single, Go Now.
The new lineup released one of the landmark early prog rock albums, Days of Future Passed, in 1967, on which Pinder made his recorded debut playing the mellotron, a keyboard that used prerecorded three-track tapes to reproduced a variety of orchestral instrumental sounds and special effects. The Mellotron enabled me to create my own variations of string movements. I could play any instrument that I wanted to hear in the music. If I heard strings, I could play them with the Mellotron. If I heard cello, brass, trumpets or piano, I could play them, Pinder told Rolling Stone in an oral history of the albums enduring hit single, Nights in White Satin.
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Before his passing, Pinder the was the last living member of the original lineup following the death of bassist Warwick in 2004, singer/flautist Thomas in 2018, drummer Edge in 2021 and guitarist Laine in 2023. Mike your music will last forever. Rest in peace on your travels to heaven, Lodge wrote on Twitter. The band, including Pinder, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Read more: https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/mike-pinder-dead-moody-blues-founding-keyboardist-dies-obituary-1235666090/
The article has video of a few Moodies songs, plus John Lodge's Facebook post.
My thread in General Discussion about his passing, with the last song he recorded with the Moodies, one he wrote and took the lead vocal on:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218895499
Marthe48
(17,031 posts)They were superstars, kept it low profile and created some of the best music I ever heard
Mine too.
50 Shades Of Blue
(10,048 posts)Dem2theMax
(9,654 posts)Archae
(46,348 posts)Some of that was a little silly at times.
"Cold-hearted orb, rules the night..."
ancianita
(36,137 posts)the first to use synthesizers not as some weird insertion, but in the main of their compositions, because their music was of experiencing the macro, the cosmic.
"... With the eyes of the child you must come out and see
That your world's spinning 'round and through life you will be
A small part of the whole of the love that exists
In the eyes of the child you will see..."
Archae
(46,348 posts)And the poetry wasn't Vogon-level bad, but it just sounded silly sometimes.
highplainsdem
(49,041 posts)The people most likely to dislike Graeme's poetry (which was usually read by Mike) were also likely to hate the Moodies' music.
ancianita
(36,137 posts)Archae
(46,348 posts)This was the same generation that thought "Age Of Aquarius," "Horse With No Name" and "In A Gadda Da Vita" were "so profound, man..."
ancianita
(36,137 posts)maybe in the fullness of time....
BuddhaGirl
(3,609 posts)so, so not silly. This was and is very good stuff.
Celerity
(43,535 posts)Label: Big Life BLRT 75, Big Life 863 095-1
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 8 Jun 1992
Genre: Electronic
Style: Dub, Ambient
ancianita
(36,137 posts)psychedelic, cosmic experience you added to the world of rock. There have never been finer headphone sounds since those of the pounding bass and synthesizer composers who were the Moody Blues. You all were the GOAT.
My favorite song ... just after my first child was born...
from my favorite album ...
ancianita
(36,137 posts)Earth-shine
(4,044 posts)Love that song.
RIP
Ahpook
(2,751 posts)One of my favorite albums was from that band. I can't think of anything more relaxing but listening to this album with a small shower outside, windows open, and the drapery slightly moving. The birds are chirping, slightly cloudy.. It is magic!
littlemissmartypants
(22,817 posts)?si=Pn3aj8iZxbiu8QS4
Bongo Prophet
(2,651 posts)If you want a reminder of the thematic heart of the Moody Blues, this is a good one. Here he narrates Graeme Edge's poem "On the Threshold of a Dream" as an intro to what could be considered his magnum opus "Have You Heard", a cosmic musical journey of self-realization in 3 parts.
Farewell to this artistic genius and a major influence on my own musical journey and outlook on life since I heard this as a teenager...
A few find the lyrics or poetry to be silly, it's true. How wise they are, how superior to scoff.
But they were nothing if not sincere (man) and often humorous in their own cosmic joker way.
As the song says,
"Scatter good seed in the field."
ancianita
(36,137 posts)The comments on YouTube are about when the heart opens, tears fall. So sweet and beautiful.
It's as if the Moody Blues put to music Carl Sagan's love of the cosmos, and our spirits in it.
Bongo Prophet
(2,651 posts)In this case, mysticism being simply the pov that whatever we are, we share a common home, common need of survival, and common (though diverse) thought processes. We can learn from each other, together on this pale blue dot.
That's as close to religious as I get, and it'll do.
MissMillie
(38,581 posts)WestMichRad
(1,340 posts)Thanks for all the wonderful music.
Emrys
(7,265 posts)And we have liftoff.
aurora the great
(75 posts)The band I most connected with during the days of Prog. I listened to Floyd, ELP, Yes I loved all of it. But it was the Moody Blues that got under my skin and into my brain and took my a trip (with out the drugs) Also my favorite music to listen to with those gigantic ear muffs of the day. Lights off and headphone on it transported me.. So thank you Mike Pinder and know you help to touch this 14 year old girls soul so many decades ago. R.I.P
MarineCombatEngineer
(12,449 posts)So many artists from my generation are leaving this world.
At least we still have their music to still listen to.
RIP Mike Pinder, you can now join you other band mates and crank out your tunes.