John Lodge, the longtime bassist, singer, and songwriter for the Moody Blues, died suddenly at the age of 82, his family announced on Friday (October 10). A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Lodge penned hits including “Ride My See-Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” and “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” and was a key member of the band’s classic lineup from 1966 through their retirement in 2018, appearing on 15 of their 16 studio albums. Lodge also released a trio of solo records during his prestigious career, and collaborated with bandmate Justin Hayward on the 1975 album, Blue Jays, during the Moody Blues’ five-year hiatus.
Hayward paid tribute to Lodge on social media by writing, “I’m very sad and shocked to hear of John’s passing. I have such happy memories of making music together. My sincere condolences to his dear wife and family.” Lodge is the fourth member of the Moody Blues to have passed away following their 2018 Hall of Fame induction, after founding drummer Graeme Edge’s death in 2021, original vocalist Denny Laine died in 2023, and founding keyboardist Mike Pinder died in 2024, while founding flutist Ray Thomas died in January 2018, only months before the Hall of Fame induction. (Rolling Stone)