The Moody Blues singer and bass guitarist, John Lodge, has died at the age of 82, his family have said.
Lodge, who was born in Birmingham, played on some of the group’s best-known songs including Nights in White Satin, Question and Isn’t Life Strange.
“It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that John Lodge, our darling husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and brother, has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us,” his family said in a statement.
“As anyone who knew this massive-hearted man knows, it was his enduring love of his wife, Kirsten, and his family that was the most important thing to him, followed by his passion for music and his faith.
“John peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved ones and the sounds of the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. We will forever miss his love, smile, kindness and his absolute and never-ending support.
“We are heartbroken, but will walk forwards into peace surrounded by the love he had for each of us. As John would always say at the end of the show, thank you for keeping the faith.”
Lodge featured on some of the band’s best-known work, including the psychedelic Days of Future Passed in 1967, regarded as one of rock’s first concept albums, and its followup, In Search of the Lost Chord in 1968, on which the band move further towards experimentation.
Between 1969 and 1972 he featured on the albums On the Threshold of a Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, A Question of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn, on which the band fully embraced prog rock.
His family said: “He was never happier than being on stage. He was just a singer in a rock’n’roll band and he adored performing with his band and son-in-law, Jon, and being able to continue sharing this music with his fans.
“It gave him even more joy to be able to work with his daughter Emily and son Kristian and spend time watching his grandson John-Henry play football and dream of him playing for Birmingham City one day.”
Lodge was born in the Birmingham suburb of Erdington. He went to Birches Green junior school, Central grammar school and the Birmingham College of Advanced Technology.
He married Kirsten in September 1968 and they had two children. The Moody Blues’ Emily’s Song referred to his daughter.
Lodge spoke about being an evangelical Christian, saying it had helped him to avoid the excesses of the rock’n’roll business.
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