The Moody Blues - About....Moraz,LDV,the Press

[@laurietodd5422]

NEVER EVER EMBARRASSED TO SAY THE MOODIES ARE MY FAVOURITE BAND I like a lot of music but they are my FAVOURITE BAND since 1967 till now 2021 and BEYOND Love you guys❤

[@robertastone7155]

Laurie: Me as well...they always were, are, and will always be my favorite EVER!

[@patrickmorazofficial631]

wow 😮 !,i do appreciate all the encouragement and support... thanks, much love 💕, Hug 🤗 kisses 😘, Have you been to any of my concerts?

[@hobbygamer6220]

The Moody Blues ALWAYS have a future. The talent NEVER dies. People ALWAYS have something to say !

[@WELLBRAN]

Patrick Moraz was and still is ahead of his time, the stuff on his solo albums is amazing, also he is an amazing musician a real one off

[@verresmilliterres]

Love the Moody Blues always. A lot of the most beautiful songs ever made, period !.

[@greenjello74]

I love LDV and "The Present.Now we won't talk about Octave . But The Moodies Rock. Still and always will be my Favorite band forever. Seen them lots of time and I am never disappointed. And I was never embarrassed to say I Love them.

[@capismama2922]

Maybe it's just me, but I say this: If Patrick Moraz is such a great musician/songwriter, then why doesn't he have a better career on his own? Justin has solo career, still touring, and he does quite well with it. John has a solo career, still touring, and he does quite well with it. So...where's Patrick Moraz, if he's so good at it? And me...never embarrassed to say The Moody Blues is MY FAVORITE BAND. Has been since 1966, before Justin and John was even part of the band.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Patrick Moraz is doing a lot better than Lodge and Hayward. 'In November 2015, Moraz released a limited edition 19-CD box set of his 18 albums, including Mainhorse (1971), The Story of I (1976) and the live album Music for Piano and Drums: Live in Maryland (2012).[22]' How many solo musicians are liked enough for people to buy their 19 CD Box set?

[@capismama2922]

@@ColtraneTaylor He released them, but did peoople buy them?

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@capismama2922 No, you're right. He released them and it went straight to the bargain bin. That's how it works, good logic.

[@capismama2922]

@@ColtraneTaylor Ah. But yet, the Moodies are still selling their music, even solo stuff, and although they don't sell in gold or platinum levels, people are still buying their music. I personally have not found anything by them in a bargin bin for years, unless it's one of the "Best of..." or "Greatest Hits of...." (in short, a reculling of their older stuff).

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@capismama2922 Yeah, that's the difference I suppose. Moody Blues are still big stars but Moraz is out there with his 19 cd box set in the bargain bin and he's living in some bed-sit with his useless energies spent, oh cool hearted orb, give him a break!

[@lianelaskoske4397]

I'm a diehard Moodies fan, but I appreciate Moraz's work. The Story of I is my favorite Moraz work. I think he could have been very good if he had more of a part, but he was coming into a solid band and they had another direction.

[@roserandle6392]

Loved the Moodies when I was a teenager, love them now.

[@danielshaheencommodities5748]

Whether with Yes or Moody Moraz was awesome The music was great Thank you Patrick

[@yesman2755]

Yeh totally. Patrick was /is a master musician, no contest. Criminal that he’s been erased off all the Polydor era photos, eg The Polydor Years album etc. Plus all subsequent tour programmes. Those albums would not have existed without Moraz, his contribution was immense, especially on stage. Mike Pinder was right about Edge. He’s just a drummer ! Well, he’s barely even that now, a stand in covers most of the percussion, they might as well stick a waxwork dummy on his stool, no one would notice the difference.

[@hobbygamer6220]

Robert Purcell youre on a roll. More, please

[@cosmo1eleven855]

@@yesman2755 >>>> I've long thought that Edge was the reason for the blowup with Pinder. Yes, Edge was just a drummer and should have respected Pinder.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@cosmo1eleven855 These are mean and not very hippie/spiritual comments about Graeme, but somehow I feel he deserves it. Is it true that Moody's have got to have him on to keep the name?

[@ezioauditore3128]

@@cosmo1eleven855 And not a particularly good one.

[@MajorSeventh]

I love Justin's imitation of Patrick: "yessa coursa do!"

[@n8goulet]

I discovered the Moody Blues during the Patrick Moraz era, and he was a big part of the reason why I loved their music. When he left, my interest in the band dropped by at least 50%. I didn't care for his work in Yes, but I love Yes too. Loved what he did in the Moody Blues.

[@Mario-iq1qb]

I totally agreed. He was most underrated. He did a great Job on Voyager and the following present, which i didn't understand why IT flopped🤮

[@willyboyw.5771]

That's the way I felt when Pinder left.

[@julesmoody]

Loved Moodies from the very beginning.So wrong that UK does not give them publicity like USA does;but they certainly were not forgotten by fans here in England

[@norms3913]

julesmoody cause they were overshadowed by the stones and the Beatles who basically ruled Britain in the music industry

[@howardlapid2283]

I watched the trial with Patrick Moral and agree he is a great keyboardist but Justin kept saying he was always making side deal. They actually asked Patrick if he wanted to be a full equal member. To this replied no. This was towards the end of the trial. The fact the Moodies asked him and the fact he turned them down tells me he was doing better making side contracts on his own. I still love the moodies since I was 17 and loved Mikes melotron. And Patrick's synth. But the opportunity was there.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@howardlapid2283 'To this replied no. ' According to who?

[@dangcoppock7362]

In later years, Patrick Moraz suing Moodies band, ( Justin offered him a few hundred grand ) but Patrick was not happy, he sued them, and and the Court grant him right around 70 grand..! The whole thing was really sad in my opinion.😟

[@georgeisaac9european387]

Very sad for a person who contributed much for the new sound of the Moodies.

[@carolbellas3564]

The joke was on him he did not end up with much after attorney fees

[@lianelaskoske4397]

@@carolbellas3564 Wasn't about the money. Besides, the defendant pays attorney fees.

[@WELLBRAN]

Moody's were arrogant assholes towards him calling him a session man when he was light years better than any of them. They sacked him by phone!

[@luismangiaterra1031]

@@WELLBRAN the moody blues are shoe-shine musicians . Moraz was way over qualified for them.

[@teeniebeenie8774]

brilliant album: long distance voyager

[@hobbygamer6220]

Those who are embarrased can pick a new favorite band for all i care !!

[@hobbygamer6220]

I was NEVER embarrassed 😡 man get a life

[@jdascout]

Unfortunately, I only got to see the Moody's 3 times. This American doesn't have pop idols. My dream concert would have been The Moody Blues, The Grateful Dead, and Pink Floyd. Now, that is a psychedelic show.

[@StefanHaley]

thank you redbaron863. For bringing these videos of this legendary band to light. I get goosebumps listening to Justin Hayward and John Lodge speaking about the band in the beginning.

[@yarsivad000.5]

The USA is good for something. First good news about America in years!

[@pegster6]

What great interviews - never saw these!

[@mollysmith6055]

Wow! The first time I've seen Ivy!

[@supernova1969]

Patrick Moraz is a talented musician and a creative artist but I think he was much underrated by the Moody Blues. Some of the band members still speak of him in a biased way.

[@BobHunter1977]

I saw the Moodies on their first tour with Patrick, and I was appalled by both his playing and stage antics. He was the very opposite of Mike Pinder ( even his initials - PM - were the opposite of Mike Pinder's - MP ). It would be like if John Lennon had quit the Beatles and they replaced him with, say, Jimi Hendrix. Yeah, a helluva guitarist, but what's he doing onstage with Paul, George and Ringo? Reminds me of when Chicago tried replacing Terry Kathy with Donnie Dacus. Donnie just got up there and acted like a rock star all on his own, and he was soon booted out. That said, I can't imagine Mike Pinder continuing with the Moodies into the 80s. The 60s & 70s was an era, and the Pinder-led Moody Blues made music that reflected those magical times. If Mike had stayed into the 80s he would have been forced to play synthesizers and don a flamboyant jump suit, maybe even add an 80s-hair wig while he was at it, his dignity destroyed by what became of the music business in that horrible decade. I'm amazed Ray Thomas stayed on after Mike. All he was given was one song per album and an inaudible tambourine to rattle onstage, with his occasional flute. So sad... I bought LDV and liked one song on it - In My World. I never bought another. When I'm in the mood I will still listen to those First Seven albums, but never anything after that.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

80s concert goer: Hey Ray, great playing on stage tonight! Ray: ??!

[@dw8840]

I always thought Ray was basically a "filler" guy that didn't have any real significant part of the song unlike the others.

[@ezioauditore3128]

Moraz was awesome - and shit on by this band. And I too saw them in the early 80s. Moraz injected new life into them. Hayward acknowledged that. Pinder was a mellotron man and did not get on board with the technologies available to keyboard players. And how can he help his initials, you spanner?

[@shafiq1537]

i like moraz works on the albums.like the keys

[@JoanVioletStretch]

I now know why the Moodies discredit some of their albums, its sour grapes, Present and Keys of Kingdom are lovely albums the Moodies seem to brush them away as if they don't exist and Patrick made his good contributions to all the albums he was on, it's a pity it ended up like this no one is to blame, things happen, that's life. Please don't discredit any of your albums boys I love them all. Give credit where it due even if it's just for your own contributions. The lady is right about not enough advertising in Britain as for being embarrassed liking you is utter rubbish those that like your music shout it out, I for one. Better publicity is what's needed.

[@arcticwanderer2000]

Or it could be like Mike Pinder said, the music was an embarrassment compared to what they had previously produced, classics like Threshold and Children's Children.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@arcticwanderer2000 Ahem ... Ride my see saw, Dr. Livingstone, How is it we are here, and others are not exactly cool rock music or serious songs. If Graeme Edge still finds it a mystery why they are not considered cool, Ride my see saw alone answers that question. They sounded like grandad's even then.

[@JoanVioletStretch]

@@patrickmorazofficial631 no I havent been to your concerts, Pat, but I have seen you perform live with the Moodies in Liverpool years ago and enjoyed your performances when you were all together then. 🎵🎶🎵

[@patrickmorazofficial631]

Patrickmoraz001@

[@patrickmorazofficial631]

Gmail account..much love ❤️❤❤

[@LordRufus]

I disagree somewhat with the guy who said that Americans tend to hang on to their idols a lot longer than the British. I always felt it the other way around. At least that's the impression I get from reading Mojo, Uncut and Classic Rock where I see advertisements for people like Steve Harley who haven't had hit records in ages and yet who seem to tour quite successfully year after year. Even The Hollies remain a strong concert attraction. And of course there's Sir Cliff.

[@micolsen8895]

I miss Moraz Moodies.....it all went downhill post Patrick.

[@ericgausepohl1398]

Totally agree!

[@hobbygamer6220]

If you say so...

[@hobbygamer6220]

😅😂😂

[@sialatorah]

You'll find me above saying the same exact thing before I read your comment.

[@Poopaloo55]

Brill post redbaron863...you're the best! THX.

[@Wazabooz]

@manicm24 It could be that he hasn't been photographed very well. He looks much better on video where he's actually an animated and relaxed person. I agree with you about The Present, that's when I started warming up to him. I loved Ray's two songs, especially which wouldn't have been the same without Moraz (like the instrumental ending on "Going Nowhere"). Great stuff! and so well produced.

[@norms3913]

Patrick moraz came off with a stint in the group yes who he replaced Rick wakeman on keyboards

[@Robconnors7253]

After Mike left the group it was over ...

[@rosemaryscott9704]

It was just beginning!!

[@x00p3]

@@rosemaryscott9704 For you maybe, not for me.

[@unhingedconnoisseur164]

the one thing i dont get is why they included him in band photos and other stuff you'd include a band member in as opposed to a hired hand

[@user-vi5vq6jf5p]

I dont know anything abou patric moraz And really dont care who is he I know 1 think Justin is the master of the music The brst of all

[@evelynbell5288]

Listen to Relayer by Yes,bet you'll change your tune about Patrick.

[@x00p3]

@@evelynbell5288 I think Patric did a damn fine job with Yes. But I didn't like him as much with the Moody Blues. Though he technically blew Pinder away. Pinder had a certain charm and magic that was irreplaceable.

[@andrito1000]

"The mad Swiss Git? (chuckles)" "side-man"? I was a huge (The) Moody Blues fan for years up till Red Rocks. The introduction of "side-men" replacing duties the band should do on their own was just horrible to me. Moraz was billed as a Moody. That's it. He was on all album covers as a member of the band. He promoted the albums with them. He was never billed as a "side-man" until after and during the lawsuit when the band threw a hissy fit that Moraz stated in Keyboard player that the band relied too much on samples and backing then not just playing. After that I perceive that Mr Edge threw a hissy fit and didnt want Moraz in the band. Edge was also a prime force in Pinder's removal. Pinder stated himself that he made a remark that Edge was just a drummer to which Edge reacted. Edge himself is now a "side-man" with younger people replacing his drumming duties. The way the Moodies reacted to Moraz's comments was to the point of ludicrousness. Seeing Edge hold the claim that Moraz was a side-man, not in the "inner sanctum" of the Moodies, drollingly comment on Moraz during the CourtTV footage makes me just go nuts. I doubt Mr Edge could take part in any recoding the likes of "Gates of Delirium, Sound Chaser, To Be Over" by Yes. So now when Edge plays Higher and Higher live , he gets up and swings a tambourine. My luster of the band literally dulled in 91 when Keys of the Kingdom came out and I saw the huge mess of producers and studios used, how the production went off into left field resulting in a carbon copy of Sur La Mer and The Other Side Of Life. After that, no new material of any note by the band. Hayward Lodge carry the Moody Blues. Hayward is to me the center of the band. Edge is just a senior (coughs) member. LDV (Long Distance Voyager) to me is the best of the Moodies total output. Ranking up to with In Search of the Lost Chord and To Our Children's Children's Children.

[@squatch545]

Andrew Dow. The Moodies made Strange Times a few years after Keys of the Kingdom. Then December. So there was new material. Also remember it was Moraz who sued the Moodies. They offered to settle out of court, but Moraz refused, so they all went to court, and he ended up with practically nothing. I agree, Moraz should have been fairly compensated. He was instrumental in the Moodies comeback in 1981, he was on the covers billed as a fully fledged member, did press tours with the group, and collaborated in creating music. Moraz just didn't have a good business sense, and he didn't read his contract carefully. The Moodies made sure they didn't repeat the same mistake with Norda Mullen. She was never billed as a member, and was never on a cover, and never did any press. Mullen only toured with the group as a side player. It's too bad the Moodies will never do another album together. John Lodge's latest solo album is pure crap. Lodge is nothing without Hayward.

[@pierceelyhibionada342]

Their Done with Ray Thomas.

[@manicm24]

Moraz was vastly underrated IMO, and the stupid old git who said 'he didn't work out' was obviously oblivious to the success of LDV - of which Justin himself said Moraz's contribution was large. Also Moraz's playing on The Present was stunning, whatever you think of the album his performance there cannot be faulted. Patrick just seems to be a guy everyone loves to hate - truth be told whoever else it was to replace Mike would have been equally despised but probably less talented than PM.

[@reel2reel.]

I agree 100%

[@inwoodliver]

that's when i became interested

[@patrickmorazofficial631]

wow 😮 !, thanks.i appreciate all the encouragement and support, Much love 💕 , Hug 🤗 kisses 😘, Have you been to any of my concerts?

[@yesman2755]

Edge insults Moraz by calling him s side man when he knows full well he was an integral part of their sound in the 80’s. He WAS a full time member of the Moody Blues but they decided to get hired keyboard players on the cheap. Moraz saved that band from extinction. Edge is only still there in name only, a second drummer does most of the work on stage so he has now become a side man himself. The guy has no class! If you watch the Moraz vs The Moody Blues trial you will see him state “I can’t be fired”. Oh ok so Hayward /Lodge have to stick you on a drum stool so they can legally go out as The Moody Blues then? Retire mate, go sail your yacht !!!

[@raymondkizer1216]

He gets paid all that money just to be a member while he sits behind a drum kit letting someone else do the work?

[@vduncan54]

Graeme Edge is one of the Original Moody Blues. He has been there from the beginning. Justin and John are replacements when Denny and Cliff left. They made the Moodys the success they are,because they changed the music being made by the band. They have all contributed through the years. These guys have been touring for 50 plus years..if you,Robert Purcell had been playing drums the way Graeme has for All these years and you were 77 years old,,do you think you could play all the parts still?? So he has help on the percussion parts..he does have a bit of arthritis I believe,but hes still out there at least trying to do his part.

[@yesman2755]

vduncan54 Thanks for the input. With respect, I do know the entire history of the Moody Blues. I’ve followed them avidly since 1967. Thing is, the band were in a hole after Mike Pinder quit, and Patrick Moraz was a wonderful classically trained world class keyboard player, having helped Yes complete one of their greatest albums. For Graeme Edge to refer to him as a sideman is such an insult it just makes me angry. He helped the Moodies back to the top of the American charts with LDV which Hayward acknowledges that Patrick played a huge part on. The intro to The Voice which they still play on stage was composed by Moraz and kick started the record. He also gave them some long overdue stage presence, maybe Edge was jealous of him for stealing some of the limelight from him. Sour grapes all round.

[@vduncan54]

@@yesman2755 Moraz should have gotten a Contract stating he was a member and then he wouldn't have had the trouble with the way they treated him when he was out of the group. He was a bit over the top for me sometimes,but he did help them into a new era after Mike left. He should have taken their offer..at least he would have had something..

[@yesman2755]

vduncan54 Fair comment. Although Patrick is a brilliant musician I think he probably is not a good business man, and my take is that he trusted the Moody Blues and they stabbed him in the back for his naivety. He was listed as a full time member of the band on all the albums for about ten years so something really dodgy went on behind his back. He even did stacks of promotion with them, way more than Edge or Thomas. Patrick was and still is a highly prolific artist who loved to work outside of the band as well on other projects and I don’t think they took too kindly to that either. Really sad how it ended. They should have allowed Moraz more input, not less, it would have made them far more interesting and they’d probably have released more albums too. After Moraz, the recorded output practically stopped and they just became a nostalgia act, albeit a damn good one !

[@BluebirdintheSky]

I agree, Lord Rufus.

[@GordonHudson]

"The mad Swiss git!"

[@MACTRUQUE]

What was this piece from?

[@ssmmkk2]

@manicm24 I also agree 100%

[@ybrix101]

"Didn't want to replace Mike"? That says it all. No wonder there was a lawsuit years later. The four should have just hired a tech guy who could play and never put that tech guy on the album covers. Would have saved a lot of wasted time in a courtroom. The MB were lucky to get Patrick. He gave them a fresh new sound for the eighties.

[@JoanVioletStretch]

Patrick looked good at the time and him being on the album covers was cool pity they fell out I for one saw Patrick live with the Moodies twice, it was a great sound. 🌟

[@BluesLicks101]

Man... they sure put a hate on Patrick Moraz after the lawsuits. The guy just wanted to be one of the band.

[@BluesLicks101]

Moraz LOST the case, its on YT you should watch all 12 hrs of it.

[@oceanwatchesclaudejolly1742]

exactly Anthony he did not lost the case but get very less what he was expecting . I think the jury did not know so much about technical music and gears , they should add a few in the jury who were musicians or in the similar field , i watched all the trial . I met Patrick in Japan many years ago he was nice person . i hate the moody blues from the day they fired him .

[@tonymak9213]

I watched all the court case videos, although not particularly an MB fan. Moraz throughout the case tried to answer the opposing lawyer in a long winded way, giving the impression he was putting his own slant on the answer, looking like evasion. The judge didn't like it, and even warned him that he would discount all of his testimony if it continued. In the event, that's what happened, the judge told the jury to disregard everything Moraz said, and told them to rule only on monies he lost due to their company's accounting procedure, and not look at any compensation due with regard to not being a proper band member. The jury foreman said afterwards that although the majority sided with Moraz, their hands were tied and they awarded him more than he was due because of the accounts malpractice. I think that Moraz should have been schooled by his lawyer, but who knows, maybe the lawyer did try to tell him particularly after the judges warning, but was possibly the type of guy that listens then ignores, or thinks he knows better. A harsh lesson maybe, but I see that he's still performing and drawing an audience, good for him.

[@Fortdirt1]

They should have used Rick Wakeman or some quality unknown.

[@peterl3282]

I run hot and cold with Moraz. I don't think he was a good personality fit with the courtly, reserved Moodies. In my first concert with Moraz, I vividly recall him destroying "Twilight Time" with his zaps and swirls on synth. Just awful. But his work on LDV and The Present was superb. Hayward has admitted that there was filler on the Visconti albums and it is obvious that Hayward and Lodge struggled to come up with 10 quality songs on those albums. They might have dropped the three weakest tracks from each of those albums and given Moraz 15 minutes for some proggy instrumental interludes. But there may have been a business reason why this didn't happen. Too bad. As for the trial, Moraz should never have slagged off the band in the Keyboard magazine interview. That was bad faith and breach of some implied contract. Always handle grievances in private. He was basically asking to be let go. By the way, his comments were on point. Just not how you go about it.

[@sialatorah]

'The Present', the best and most overrated album post-7 classics. After that, it's all the downhill way. Blame the arrogance and narcisism of Hayward and Lodge, who owned the band for themselves and started chanting about nostalgia and the past while the present and future slipped out of them in form of a Swiss keyboard genius with whom (along with sidelined Ray Thomas) they would have conformed the best rock band in the eighties' music. When you listen to 'Long Distance Voyager' and 'The Present' you hear a concert of Patrick Moraz's wonderful and colourful keyboards filled with imagination, melody and emotion, with just voices and guitars on top. Then you can hear what came next. Good, but and abyss away from the former Moodies. Arrogance is your worst enemy whatever you undertake in life.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Nicely said.

[@joseanl1967]

one english in America its 0

[@timothyantoine914]

Mike Pinder makes you realize what a joke Patrick Moraz was , nothing more than a fill-in musician .

[@djmcnerney]

Timothy Antoine Patrick Moraz is no joke. He’s an immensely talented virtuoso keyboardist. Moodies music in the 80s & 90s would have been more interesting if Patrick had been given a larger role.

[@ezioauditore3128]

What garbage. Pinder is average at best.

[@ezioauditore3128]

"Side man" my arse. Embarrassing.

[@Adezek]

What a bunch of despicable, abject people.

[@BP-kx2ig]

Did anyone who was seriously a Moody Blues fan like Gemini Dream.? I did not like it as a song, and certainly not as a Moody Blues song. Never understood why they would start their concerts with this rubbish song.

[@theonlyantony]

I think there was racism and jealousy. Moraz was a consummate musician, well about the Moody's plying abilities, to be frank. they never let him in. he could have melded them but they resisted. And they rinsed him. appalling Brum greedbags, with a couple of good records. Good but overrated.

[@lianelaskoske4397]

Racism?

[@x00p3]

"Racism"..... How?

[@ColtraneTaylor]

1:49 Who is this racist British git? Does he realize there are far easier and worse stereotypes about Brits like him? That's a talented musician and a foreign culture he's ridiculing. Really, Brits are off the charts when it comes to casual and serious racism. And The Moodies showed a bit of that to Patrick Moraz. Lodge seems like a good person, wish he had put his foot down and said, we don't treat our band members with disrespect. I didn't like Ray's reaction in the court case. You can tell from his body language in interviews also that he resented the Swiss-French person. Too much of a Brit, Ray Thomas.