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From the Strange Brew podcast: Host Jason Barnard on John Lodge passing + 2023 interview (transcript & video)
https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/john-lodge-remembered/-snip-
Lodge joined the Moody Blues in 1966, helping them shift their sound from R&B to orchestral rock, kickstarted by the groundbreaking Days of Future Passed LP. More than half a century later, Lodge revisited the album. Lodge’s songwriting revealed a distinctive voice. “When I really started getting to my serious writing, there was sort of a homespun philosophy in the writing,” he said. “I really like to have layers in the writing of my songs, and put them to the right piece of music that I think goes with that song.”
That was evident in ‘Isn’t Life Strange,’ a contemplative meditation on existence. Yet he also insisted on humility, summing it up in his wry anthem ‘I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).’ “Yeah, that’s all I have. That’s all I have,” he told me with a smile.
Even songs born from turmoil became cathartic. ‘Steppin’ in a Slide Zone’ emerged from the troubled recording of Octave (1978). “So many things went wrong… the Record Plant burned out while we were recording. I broke my arm… Then private lives in the band between guys and wives, that started to fall apart. We lost our producer during the making of the album… And ‘Steppin’ in the Slide Zone’ seemed to conjure up everything to me that was wrong. Or fighting the tide, probably.”
Lodge remained a dedicated performer to the end, touring with his band and collaborating with his son-in-law Jon Davison of YES. “Tuesday Afternoon on this album, there’s something special about it… In 2019 I did a tour of America supporting Yes… I said, ‘If I’m joining you, can Jon join me for my encore, ‘Ride My See-Saw?’’ And he joined me for ‘Ride My See-Saw’ and he’s been in every concert I’ve done since. Not only that, my daughter and he got married as well. So he is my son-in-law, as well. But it’s great, it’s fantastic.”
-snip-
Lodge joined the Moody Blues in 1966, helping them shift their sound from R&B to orchestral rock, kickstarted by the groundbreaking Days of Future Passed LP. More than half a century later, Lodge revisited the album. Lodge’s songwriting revealed a distinctive voice. “When I really started getting to my serious writing, there was sort of a homespun philosophy in the writing,” he said. “I really like to have layers in the writing of my songs, and put them to the right piece of music that I think goes with that song.”
That was evident in ‘Isn’t Life Strange,’ a contemplative meditation on existence. Yet he also insisted on humility, summing it up in his wry anthem ‘I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).’ “Yeah, that’s all I have. That’s all I have,” he told me with a smile.
Even songs born from turmoil became cathartic. ‘Steppin’ in a Slide Zone’ emerged from the troubled recording of Octave (1978). “So many things went wrong… the Record Plant burned out while we were recording. I broke my arm… Then private lives in the band between guys and wives, that started to fall apart. We lost our producer during the making of the album… And ‘Steppin’ in the Slide Zone’ seemed to conjure up everything to me that was wrong. Or fighting the tide, probably.”
Lodge remained a dedicated performer to the end, touring with his band and collaborating with his son-in-law Jon Davison of YES. “Tuesday Afternoon on this album, there’s something special about it… In 2019 I did a tour of America supporting Yes… I said, ‘If I’m joining you, can Jon join me for my encore, ‘Ride My See-Saw?’’ And he joined me for ‘Ride My See-Saw’ and he’s been in every concert I’ve done since. Not only that, my daughter and he got married as well. So he is my son-in-law, as well. But it’s great, it’s fantastic.”
-snip-
2023 podcast - and I don't have an exact date for this, but it would have been done before he had a stroke at Christmas time 2023:
https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/john-lodge/
In a new interview, John Lodge discusses the inspiration behind his reimagining of the classic Moody Blues album, Days of Future Passed. He explores the thematic elements of the new album, now symbolising the passage of time. John also recalls the original 1967 recording sessions and how Nights in White Satin held a special surprise upon its recording reveal. John also reveals to Jason Barnard the inspiration behind his greatest songs including Isn’t Life Strange, Ride My See-Saw and Steppin’ in a Slide Zone.
You have a fantastic new version of Days of Future Passed and we’ve already heard the advance track off that, Peak Hour. I’ve read the idea for it started to come from the live dates you were doing. Is that right?
Yeah, during Covid I recorded stuff in my own studio and it was rather insular. But I thought what am I going to do when Covid’s gone and back on the road. And I started to think about the concert and I thought about all the classic Moody Blues songs and everything. While I was talking with Alan Hewitt, my keyboard player, and my daughter Emily, who manages me, we realised it was the anniversary of Days of Future Passed.
I think jointly we thought, I wonder if it’s possible to do Days of Future Passed live. We did a few live concerts with the Moody’s of Days of Future Passed, but it was really short lived. I thought, I really hope we can do that, how do I do that? And I thought I would need one big tick to do this. It was Graham Edge. I went to see Graham and said, Graham, “I’m thinking of doing Days of Future Passed on stage. Would you record your poetry for me? And you’ll always have a place on stage with me. I will also film you and you’ll be on the screen on stage with me.” He said, “John, I’d be thrilled to. I’ve never recorded my own poetry. And I would love to do it. Great. Keep the Moody Blues music alive.”
-snip-
You have a fantastic new version of Days of Future Passed and we’ve already heard the advance track off that, Peak Hour. I’ve read the idea for it started to come from the live dates you were doing. Is that right?
Yeah, during Covid I recorded stuff in my own studio and it was rather insular. But I thought what am I going to do when Covid’s gone and back on the road. And I started to think about the concert and I thought about all the classic Moody Blues songs and everything. While I was talking with Alan Hewitt, my keyboard player, and my daughter Emily, who manages me, we realised it was the anniversary of Days of Future Passed.
I think jointly we thought, I wonder if it’s possible to do Days of Future Passed live. We did a few live concerts with the Moody’s of Days of Future Passed, but it was really short lived. I thought, I really hope we can do that, how do I do that? And I thought I would need one big tick to do this. It was Graham Edge. I went to see Graham and said, Graham, “I’m thinking of doing Days of Future Passed on stage. Would you record your poetry for me? And you’ll always have a place on stage with me. I will also film you and you’ll be on the screen on stage with me.” He said, “John, I’d be thrilled to. I’ve never recorded my own poetry. And I would love to do it. Great. Keep the Moody Blues music alive.”
-snip-
Audio of the podcast interview: