John Lodge, bassist, singer and songwriter for The Moody Blues, has died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 82. His family announced that Lodge passed peacefully on 10 October 2025, surrounded by loved ones and listening to the music of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. No cause of death was disclosed.
In a statement, his family described him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother whose “love, smile, kindness and never-ending support” would be deeply missed. They thanked his fans for “keeping the faith,” a phrase Lodge often used to close his shows.
John Charles Lodge was born on 20 July 1943 in Birches Green, near Erdington in Birmingham, England. He attended Birches Green Infant and Junior School and Central Grammar School before studying engineering at the Birmingham College of Advanced Technology.
Lodge was drawn early to rock’n’roll, inspired by Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and the left-hand boogie of early rock piano. That rhythmic pulse guided him toward the bass, an instrument he would make lyrical and melodic in his hands. As a teenager, he befriended Ray Thomas, with whom he played in local bands including El Riot & the Rebels. Around the age of sixteen, he bought the Sunburst Precision Bass that became his lifelong companion on stage.
In 1966 Lodge joined The Moody Blues at the same time as guitarist and singer Justin Hayward, replacing original members Clint Warwick and Denny Laine. Their arrival marked the moment the group began to transform from an R&B outfit into one of the great symphonic rock bands of the era.
Lodge’s writing was central to the Moody Blues’ creative rebirth. His songs “Ride My See-Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Peak Hour,” “Emily’s Song,” “House of Four Doors,” “To Share Our Love,” “Gemini Dream” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” helped define the band’s sound. Both “Isn’t Life Strange” and “I’m Just a Singer” earned him ASCAP songwriting awards.
The band’s 1967 album Days of Future Passed was a turning point in rock history, blending orchestral arrangements with lush harmonies and poetic lyrics. It became one of the earliest concept albums and a cornerstone of progressive rock. Lodge played a major part in that evolution, focusing not on psychedelic excess but on musical transcendence.
By the early 1970s, The Moody Blues were one of the world’s biggest bands. Their tours were grand productions – during the Seventh Sojourn tour in 1973, the band famously travelled in a Boeing 707 fitted with bedrooms, TVs and even a fireplace. Yet, despite the scale, Lodge remained grounded and self-aware, later admitting the experience felt oddly hollow.
Following a brief hiatus, the band returned in 1978 with Octave, featuring Lodge’s “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone,” a showcase of his adaptability as musical fashions shifted. Over decades, the group fused rock, symphonic and electronic textures with emotional depth in a way few could emulate. Their final studio album, December (2003), marked the end of their recording years, though Lodge continued to tour and release solo material.
His solo albums included Natural Avenue (1977), 10,000 Light Years Ago (2015) and B Yond (2019). His “Days of Future Passed – Bringing It Home” tour in 2025 featured guest vocals from Yes singer Jon Davison, with video tributes to late bandmates Graeme Edge and Ray Thomas connecting the Moody Blues legacy across generations.
By the time of his death, all of the original Moody Blues had passed: Ray Thomas in 2018, Graeme Edge in 2021, and Mike Pinder in 2024. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, an overdue recognition of their innovation and influence.
Lodge was never the loudest presence in the group, but he was its quiet architect, the steady heart who anchored its sound and spirit. His bass lines carried melody and grace, his voice was warm and sincere, and his songs radiated humility. He once said that “psychedelic” music should transport listeners, not just entertain them – an ethos that defined the band’s most transcendent work.
Beyond the music, Lodge’s devotion to family, faith and fans set him apart. He shunned excess and spectacle, preferring authenticity and connection. Even into his eighties, he continued performing, determined that the Moody Blues’ legacy remain alive on stage.
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