Longtime Moody Blues singer/bassist John Lodge passed away suddenly at age 82, his family announced on Friday, October 10. Lodge, along with singer/guitarist Justin Hayward, joined The Moody Blues in 1966, after the band had released its debut album.
After Lodge and Hayward joined the group, The Moody Blues evolved from an R&B outfit to a more experimental psychedelic and melodic rock band, starting with the group’s landmark 1967 symphonic concept album Days of Future Passed. Lodge became a major songwriting contributor to band, and shared lead and backing vocal duties with most of the group’s other members.
Although most of The Moody Blues’ biggest hits were written and sung by Hayward, quite a few of Lodge’s tunes also enjoyed chart success. John remained a member of the band until it retired at the end of a 2018 tour. That same year, Lodge was inducted the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Moody Blues.
Since 2018, John had focused on a solo career, touring with a solo group called the 10,000 Light Years Band. His shows were made up mostly of Moody Blues songs. Yes frontman Jon Davison, who is married to Lodge’s daughter, Emily, regularly made guest appearances at is concerts.
In February 2025, Lodge released a new solo EP titled Love Conquers All, which featured two songs he wrote after suffering a serious stroke in 2023.
John continued touring into 2025, and he had a brief U.S. trek scheduled for this December.
In commemoration of Lodge’s death, here are four classic Moody Blues songs he wrote or co-wrote and sang:
“Ride My See-Saw” (1968)
“Ride My See-Saw” appeared on The Moody Blues’ third studio, In Search of the Lost Chord. The psychedelic rock tune was written by Lodge, who shred lead vocals with Hayward, Ray Thomas, and Mike Pinder.
“Ride My See-Saw” was the first Moody Blues song written by John to break into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 61. At also reached No. 42 on the U.K. singles chart.
The song remained a staple in The Moody Blues’ live set throughout the band’s history.
“I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)” (1972)
“I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)” was a standout track from The Moody Blues’ eighth studio effort, Seventh Sojourn.
Written and sung by Lodge, the rock anthem was the second single released from Seventh Sojourn, which topped the Billboard 200 album chart for five weeks in late 1972 and early ’73. “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)” peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100.
John’s 2025 solo tour was called the Singer in a Rock and Roll Band trek in honor of the song.
Lodge also wrote and sang Seventh Sojourn’s lead single, the soaring introspective ballad “Isn’t Life Strange.” That tune reached No. 31 on the Hot 100.
“Gemini Dream” (1981)
“Gemini Dream” was an upbeat pop-rock tune featured on The Moody Blues’ 10th studio album, Long Distance Voyager. The song was co-written by Lodge and Hayward, who also shared lead vocals, harmonizing throughout the track. It was the first Moody Blues song Lodge and Hayward wrote together.
“Gemini Dream” peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100.
“Sitting at the Wheel” (1983)
“Sitting at the Wheel” was an upbeat pop-rock song featured on The Moody Blues’ 11 studio effort, The Present. Lodge wrote and sang the tune, which reached No. 27 on the Hot 100. The song’s popularity was bolstered by a music video that received moderate airplay on MTV.
“Sitting at the Wheel” was the last Moody Blues song composed by John that had any major commercial success.
Bonus Song: “Whispering Angels” (2025)
“Whispering Angels” was one of two new originals that appeared on Lodge’s final solo EP, Love Conquers All. In the message announcing John’s passing, his family included a link to “Whispering Angels” for fans to enjoy.
The song was co-written Lodge and his son-in-law, Yes’ Jon Davison. Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes is featured on the track.
In a February 2025 interview with American Songwriter, Lodge said he was “really pleased” with the song.
“[It’s] the progressive-rock side of John Lodge or whatever,” he noted. “For me, I like songs which enlighten you. Something happens [that] you don’t expect, but melodically and musically it’s correct for the song. And I like that.”
Lyrically, the ethereal “Whispering Angels” seems to find Lodge reflecting on his mortality.
(Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images)