Inductee Insights: The Moody Blues

Progressive rock pioneers turned synthesizer-driven rockers, The Moody Blues have created over 50 years of exhilarating and significant music that has influenced countless musicians and rocked fans around the world.
With the formation of the classic lineup in 1966, featuring Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, John Lodge and Justin Hayward, the band worked with producer Tony Clarke to record the landmark concept album Days Of Future Passed. The record - heavily influenced by the sounds of British psychedelia including late-Beatles and early-Pink Floyd - fused the band’s sound with symphonic orchestrations and spawned the hit singles “Nights In White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon”.
More than half a century later, The Moody Blues continue to tour around the world with no signs of slowing down, connecting to multiple generations of one of rock and roll’s most loyal fanbases.
Watch and explore the band's sonic history in our Inductee Insights episode powered by PNC.

[@gurgisjones1120]

I'm just glad that Mike was there at the awards ceremony.

[@lovly2cu725]

And denny

[@MerryWidow55]

Yes, me too, but they were snobs to him, which is sad. Justin said in an interview once they couldn't be friends with a member that leaves the band. Not what I expected from a moody blue.

[@reel2reel.]

Happy to see thay Mike was there ...He deserved it. Just wish Ray could have been there too..

[@designerlarry]

elmoe5 mike maurer if you watch their speeches, after John Lodge gave his acknowledgements, Mike Pinder appears to be heading for the microphone, it certainly looked like he wanted to say a few words- (I had hoped he'd be invited to be there) but it sure looked like Lodge moved him to the side next to Denny Laine and Graeme Edge, then Justin Hayward goes up to say his shpeal. Us Moodies fans know there was discourse during and after Seventh Sojourn- and the album almost didn't get released. Sad how politics are even in Rock and Roll- Patrick Moraz deserved to be up there as well. But imho it looked like Mike did want to say his thoughts, but he was subtly prevented from doing so.

[@garycyganek1228]

Larry Fulmer Mike should have also performed with them. That’s the polite English thing to have done

[@rowantreahs2863]

@@garycyganek1228 I actually noticed the empty keyboard stand in the back. Shame.

[@underwriter100]

Mike is nice. I got into the Moodies in 81’. I wrote him some emails asking about the band & the 60’s since it was a bit before my time & he was kind enough to write back to me answering the questions.

[@norms3913]

If the moody blues got inducted earlier ray would have been more delighted to been there thats why the hof sucks.

[@dkelban]

They are truly one of the greats. The spirituality and psychedelic nature of their music never ceases to capture me

[@futuropasado]

The Moody Blues my favorite band. Very underrated, they are up there with the best of the 60s with the beatles, beach boys, the doors and so on, they weren't as famous but you know, they made 7 albums in a row with the highest quality. Days of Future Passed remains one of the greatest and most influential albums ever made, ahead of it's time, pastoral, beautiful, a real concept album probably the first really conceptual, with a massive influence on the progressive rock coming in the 70s starting with King crimson... For me they were the band that peaked psychedelic music, Days of future and in search of the lost chord are a huge statement.

[@jackwegener3484]

Sadly, Mike Pinder has left the stage forever at the age of 82. Glad to have his music remaining to enjoy.

[@lovly2cu725]

I have so many memories of hanging with mike. I remember ever him leaving me a message on my answering machine. My music was the opening of queztion. The message was I owed him 10 cents for playing moodie s music 😂😂

[@ktpinnacle]

RIP Ray, Graeme and Mike. I'll be seeing Justin this Thursday perform live, remarkably. And every time I can in the future.

[@caz3502]

Yes he's still going strong and is wonderful. Seen him every time he tours I've been a fan for 58 years

[@timjones7547]

Really glad to see the Moody Blues inducted. Good to see Mike there. I have all their albums on vinyl. It's difficult to explain how the Moodie's music has affected my life, but it surely has. Congratulations guys!

[@Kieop]

Glad to see Denny there too. He deserved to be inducted with Wings, but that's never going to happen and now both Denny and Mike are gone.

[@paulaswanson13]

A long overdue recognition of one of the greatest bands of all time!!! Love the Moodies💖👍🏻💖

[@thomashumphrey7395]

The Moody Blues never get old and always sound great. One of my favorite bands of all time. They were a stone trip.

[@PajamaManor]

You have terrific taste.

[@thomashumphrey7395]

@@PajamaManor Thanks, I'm glad others still love them as well. Take care.

[@teddymills1]

RRHOF needs new management. Moody Blues should have been in there 25 years ago.

[@PajamaManor]

Heck yeah!!

[@norms3913]

Theres groups from the past thats not even in there still

[@lovly2cu725]

Jan Wenner was controlling it all

[@veronikalake6934]

I'm so sad that Ray and Graeme have passed away..I saw them in concert here in VB back in the late 90s and it was THE BEST CONCERT I have ever been to..I couldn't sleep after that concert because it was just fantastic and wonderful music..I'm thankful i got to see them..rest in peace Ray and Graeme..your fans LOVE AND MISS BOTH OF YOU..My heart is hurting

[@lovly2cu725]

12/5/23 was denny. 4/24/24 Mike left us

[@stevehughes1510]

I get lost in Search For The Lost Chord, envigorating and magical...................well done boys, good on 'ya .

[@kamac8761]

This is awesome, thank you! It pretty much says it all!! 50 years!

[@veronikalake6934]

Beautiful music that I've listened to for 50 years!! I LOVE THE MOODY BLUES!!! I can listen to their music everyday !!! THE BEST BAND EVER

[@donnabarnes4040]

Congrats Moodies! 💙

[@cdurkin4885]

I never got to see any of them up close but I did get to their concerts as much as possible. And I miss Ray and I miss Graham and I hope the best for Mike, John and Justin. May I be lucky enough to see them on the other side of life

[@silvanapanella899]

Love you guys 👏🏻❤😍

[@mustangmikep51]

Its a shame Mike Pinder didn't say a word...He was the Heart/CORE of the Moody Blues ,,,They were never the same after he left the group ...I think he was tired of all the touring + wanted something more out of his life which I think he found imo..

[@designerlarry]

mike maurer if you watch their speeches, after John Lodge gave his acknowledgements, Mike Pinder appears to be heading for the microphone, it certainly looked like he wanted to say a few words- (I had hoped he'd be invited to be there) but it sure looked like Lodge moved him to the side next to Denny Laine and Graeme Edge, then Justin Hayward goes up to say his shpeal. Us Moodies fans know there was discourse during and after Seventh Sojourn- and the album almost didn't get released. Sad how politics are even in Rock and Roll- Patrick Moraz deserved to be up there as well. But imho it looked like Mike did want to say his thoughts, but he was subtly prevented from doing so.

[@garycyganek1228]

Larry Fulmer yes I agree

[@rodbottomley4514]

The band went commercial and sold out once Pinder was gone imp.

[@laminage]

It happens sometimes. Some folks have a Been There Done That Vibe about them. Roger Taylor left Duran Duran after 7 Years and was just as happy outside the Group as well as Inside The Group. Also The Narrator didn't acknowledge ethat Go Now was one of many R & B Songs that were covered by British Artists. The Original was done by Bessie Banks.

[@billskalicky5400]

John and Justin have huge egos now. It's too bad they treated Mike that way.

[@pointreven]

Nicely done-thank you.

[@Bruce15485]

Long over due inductees into the Rock and Roll hall of fame ! !

[@LindaJMatic]

So wonderful!

[@barfrockskin535]

No mention at all about the Moodies 2nd #1 album, "Long Distance Voyager." Otherwise a great summary to a great band.

[@willdrucker4291]

Ehhh...I remember attending the Moodies concert in 1981 to promote their new album, LDV....most fans were booing keyboardist Patrick Moraz and chanting for Mike Pinder...the fans wanted to hear the classic Moodies, not the new techno stuff...maybe that explains it

[@genequalitymagazine689]

I fucking love The Moody Blues

[@MoodyJill]

Very excellent video--thank you!

[@tonivertucci6504]

Beautiful songs

[@roserandle6392]

We love you Moody Blues 😘💙!

[@mpatrickthomas]

Most underrated band out there..FINALLY made it.Kinda sucks Ray wasn't around to see it.Now we have the passing of Graeme.Cant believe some people got in almost immediately.Johnny Rotten of all people won YEARS ago.So great Mike was there.That guy just does not age at all,and he's the last of the founders left.Would be great if Mike,Justin and John would make a year tour together.But that won't happen.They already said now that Edge passed away,it just would not be the same.It seems Justin would slow down and be home with his wife so more.He has NEVER stopped,not unless wife just traveled with him,which would be great.

[@Gamble661]

One of the truly great bands; fifty years on. It's just a shame that it took so long for them to be inducted in the hall of fame, should have happened in the first few years they were eligible. They would have put on a hell of a show during the ceremony back then, not that they didn't in 2018 but...age catches up with all of us....but we'll always have their music and they'll all live on forever in that.

[@norms3913]

It took deep purple forever to get in they got passed over every time they get nominated to go in over the years

[@lala5732]

It was about time!!!!!

[@eyarbroughzone]

Love them.

[@Redbaron863]

Very nice!

[@jerryjazzbo2845]

Real nice, though their HOF induction came a bit late, as Ray wasn't there.

[@marklar5334]

Puro pinche Moody Blues, por siempre! ...de San Antonio, Texas.

[@WilliamPace-mq2eb]

I love the moody blues

[@kamac8761]

"Dedicated fan bases...", Ya got that one right!

[@gwynnesmith9028]

Brilliant

[@samedu100]

Ya era hora, bien merecido 🤘🤘

[@lindalicata8303]

I love kings of the kingdom. Great CD. I think two songs sound like disco. Amazing group. Amazing CD. Cheers for The Moody Blues!

[@antrygis1]

Tony Clarke...the ignored 6th member of the Moody Blues. He added a lot.

[@yenbbc8840]

thought provoking music. i feel blessed to have heard it. the core/classic seven. together they created these amazing albums. if they had never found each other it wouldn't have happened. their post moodies solo releases were weak except for the hayward/lodge blue jays which imo could have made it a core eight if all members had been involved.

[@Lynneheal]

Thank you to #MoodyBlues talented musicians .

[@leicaman100]

Shame that Ray was to ill to enjoy the moment.... "Its all a load of bollocks anyway" RIP Ray Thomas ... Legend !!

[@dw8840]

Unfortunately in 2018 the band split up, sadly Ray Thomas passed away and Grame Edge in 2021, leaving Mike Pinder the sole remaining founding member who I believe is still not on the best of terms with Justin and John. And we wont even get into Patrick. So no more touring.

[@JenDoe1]

I’m still upset the way they treated Mike Pinder. That needs to be addressed, clearly something was happening and Mike was just as confused as the rest of us.

[@mbfan1]

His son spoke afterwards and said his father was treated with nothing but love and respect by his former bandmates. Others also said Mike has cognitive issues and that's why he didn't speak. Based on what I know, I believe John and others were just trying to help him onstage. I also believe that they would have treated Mike fairly. I think the love is still there.

[@tomyoung5449]

Thank you CM -- that's reassuring. Great to see Mike there with his old MB mates.

[@RG-hf4et]

Song of Life Don't assume anything. None of us were there.

[@JenDoe1]

G R Speak for yourself.

[@RG-hf4et]

Song of Life Where you at the RRHoF ceremony?

[@Socrates99]

I don't care what anyone says, Mike should have been on stage playing with his Ray's and Graeme's band.

[@dominiquemessager3008]

Un de mes groupe préféré❤

[@brucewang319]

In your widest dream.

[@CaminanteNocturno]

Epic!

[@edugomh]

Al menos pudieron estar en la premiacion la mayoría, si los hubieran premiado un año antes estaban todos. Hoy abril 2024 solo quedan dos de ellos.

[@michaelshea5622]

It was good to see Mike there. But I think he was snubbed. After all, it was him on the keyboards in all their best music. Not that goofy Patrick Moraz. No matter, they will always be my favorite music in the world.

[@djmcnerney]

Moraz was not goofy; he was (and is) dazzlingly talented. 🎼

[@michaelshea5622]

@@djmcnerney opinions are like assholes. Yours included.

[@laminage]

The Narrator made a mistake. "Go Now" may have been their breakthrough Song but it was actually done by Blues Singer Bessie Banks that was produced by the Late Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller the first successful Songwriting Team of the Rock Era who met in 1950 at 17. Justin's speech was so beautiful because in many ways New York was the original epicenter of the Music Business. It's Home to The Apollo Theater, The Brill Building where Phil Spector created his Masterpieces and legendary Disc Jockey Alan Freed whose career was destroyed by his greed and payola.

[@Luileadolfo]

Glad to see Mike Pinder went. But, why he did not talk?

[@patricklemeur6360]

on sais très bien que les MB se sont arretes quand M PINDER est parti !..ce mellotron magique ...

[@egertonmark]

The Moodies are awesome...the Hall of Fame...naffsville.

[@DrLillys4thProTege]

When they're all gone, the world will be a much poorer place without their presence!

[@dropfacebook7533]

Certainly the most neglected and snubbed group of the RRHOF ... 29 years to wait for such a popular group. A record, I think. And a shame, because Thomas was dead at the time and Pinder, apparently, suffers from Alzheimer's or something ...

[@lovly2cu725]

Justin finally understood when they were inducted

[@hgodvilla00]

Thank goodness they did not recognize Patrick Moraz. What he did to the band was despicable. That is sadly an open wound that will never heal.

[@paulstuart8331]

At 22 seconds did the commentator say 'German rock band,The Moody Blues'? surely not.

[@MajorSeventh]

"...synthesizer-driven rockers..."

[@dina113east]

Dennie Laine was the original lead vocalist. Why wasn't he there??

[@kamac8761]

He was there.

[@dina113east]

@@kamac8761 I had read he was not there, but you are right he was there.

[@designerlarry]

dina113east he was!

[@moonshinefiftyseven6063]

He was. He spoke first.

[@lovly2cu725]

John told grae me to talk more, then crossed his arms and prevented Mike from speaking, twice.

[@jdfleo8140]

I’ll never step foot in the purported Rock n Roll hall of fame. At least a third of the inductees never had anything to do with rock n roll music, the whole thing is a joke. I’ve been to the baseball Hall fame and didn’t see any football inductees in it, I’ve been to the football hall of fame, didn’t see any other sport inductees in it. Change the name to the music hall of fame.

[@thehighllama8101]

I went there a few years ago. Yeah, it should be called the Music Hall of Fame. In any case, there was some cool memorabilia to see. When I was there, they had on display the actual Mellotron that John Lennon played on Strawberry Fields Forever.

[@adamkorin5863]

I am really dissapointed that Clint Warwick was not inducted. 1 - Was with The Moodies at the same time as Denny was and left around the same time 2 - Had a great harmonious backing voice and played the bass well 3 - Played on their first album and on The Moody Blues only #1 Hit: Go Now Why o why was he not included posthumously? It makes no sense....

[@barrycross2585]

Why did it take so long for them to get into this 'Club'? Was it because they aren't yanks?

[@norms3913]

I bet if the late Clint Warwick the original bassist for the moody blues before John lodge he be on that stage too

[@Syfoll]

On the Threshold of a Dream is their best by far

[@willdrucker4291]

Sheesh...why didn’t they let Mike speak...and take a good look...Mike Pinder is 3 years older than Graeme Edge and SEVEN years older than both Justin Hayward and John Lodge...but you’d never know that by looking at his clip

[@carolbellas3564]

If he has dementia he more than likely didn't even know where he was They just spared him and his family embarrassment

[@pacreaugerard3291]

Graeme Edge and Mike Pinder are born in 1941John Lodge 1945 and Justin Hayward 1946 i believe.

[@moonshinefiftyseven6063]

No, Graeme was the oldest, born March 30, 1941, Mike was born December 27, 1941, which makes him 9 months YOUNGER than Graeme. John was born July 20, 1945, and Justin October 14, 1946.

[@BP-kx2ig]

Did you say synthesiser German rockers? if you did you are wrong twice. They are a mellotron band and British.

[@guesser7]

Can't believe that DRUMMER Edge has kept Mike Pinder from joining up with the guys again, maybe the don't want Mike ? However if that is the case, the day the Moodies lost Pinder, they lost their sole and became just another bunch of aging middle of the road rockers. Their songs have nothing to say anymore, except we want to bore you and make money.

[@kenreeve6549]

Donald duck as narrator!

[@rodbottomley4514]

Justin talking integrity of his music and not following trends. What a Joke. After they lost Pinder thats just what they did and to disco music. Yuck! Without Pinder I guess that integrity was gone too.

[@jonlindquist6186]

They even nudged Ray Thomas aside for a couple albums. A real shot to the foot, that move.

[@PajamaManor]

First of all, When did the Moodies do disco? Secondly how are you going to remain relevant if you don't go along with trends just a little bit? Sure, they did some synthpop stuff in the 80s. So? If they hadn't bent to trends Just a little bit we wouldn't have great songs like 'The Voice' and I Ynow Your Out There Somewhere'. Lol sorry I just love these guys. Also, King of Pop Michael Jackson is in the R&R Hall of Fame, and he ain't going anywhere. ✌

[@billskalicky5400]

Justin and John would not let Mike Pinder speak. Not cool at all. And Graeme Edge "I wanna thank Justin John smh.

[@dmoore7519]

When Mike Pinder left the MB’s music was never the same.

[@steverogers2635]

Boy they must really hate Mike.

[@svkyseth1]

There have been some comments about Mike being in cognitive decline so maybe he couldn't play or didn't want to. Others have shown up for the induction and haven't wanted to play - Bill Bruford and Steve Perry come to mind for more recent inductees. They let Denny Laine talk which surprised me and makes me think something else was going on with Mike.

[@sciwiz57]

Terrible they didn’t seem to let Mike speak at all. He was so important to the classic seven albums.