RIP - Mike Pinder (the moody blues)

[markperry]

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgyjednyxno.amp
Another voice in the sky...

[williammcgregor]

Sad news ...

R.I.P Mike and thanks for the memories

[Patrick Coles]

Mike was co-founder of The Moody Blues, key songwriter (first with Denny Laine), the band's arranger, a distinctive lead and harmony vocaliat, multi instrumentalist - most notably the member responsible for their later trademark atmospheric / symphonic signature sound and was during their halcyon years the backbone, spiritual guru and 'soul' of The Moody Blues

Most importantly during the 1966-78 period, notably over 1967 to 1974 Mike along with guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Justin Hayward (the 'face' and most public 'voice'of the group) spearheaded an extraordinary run of classic albums - assisted by the strong works and talents of Ray Thomas and John Lodge plus drummer/poet/ later songwriter Graeme Edge.... with key Decca staff producer Tony Clarke and recording engineer Derek Varnals

Mike later opted to put raising a family first and bravely left the group and the music scene in 1978 after playing on the 'Octave' album - respects to him for that

The group carried on very successfully of course - Mike's successor musician in the band 'hired gun' Patrick Moraz retained the 'symphonic wave' lush keyboard approach Mike had largely pioneered, plus kept the unusual openings approach to albums Mike had devised... and pretty much always played faithfully Mike's keyboard parts on the earlier classic era songs in later 80's concerts which was a kind of tribute to Mike as his work simply could not be bettered.

whilst still successful The Moodies were never quite the same minus Mike's songs on later albums, and their choral four part male vocal harmony sound while still strong (when Ray Thomas was contributing vocally) was a bit diminished....and when Ray dropped out of the recording group later became a much thinner vocal sound.

Mike was finally inducted into the American Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with Denny Laine, the late Ray Thomas and the then current group members Justin, John and Graeme - a fitting if rather belated acknowledgement to a classic group of which Mike Pinder was such a key member in it's original and classic incarnations

I doubt we will see influential figures such as the likes of Mike Pinder in music again...that era has passed

[sonnybh]

Sad news, I remember watching the Rock Family Trees edition about the Moody Blues, The Move & ELO, which was very good.

I've read that in contrast to their often etherial output behind the scenes, things were often driving by macho posturing by certain members!