John Lodge of the Moody Blues Sets ‘Performs Days of Future Passed’ Tour
by Best Classic Bands Staff
John Lodge (Photo by Brian Aris, used with permission)
John Lodge, bassist, songwriter and vocalist of the Moody Blues, is bringing his new show, “Performs Days of Future Passed,” back for another series of U.S. concerts in summer 2023. Lodge, together with his 10,000 Light Years Band, will perform the Moody Blues’ Days of Future Passed album in its entirety, with a special recording by the late Graeme Edge and performances by Jon Davison of Yes. The show will also feature a set of classic hits including “Ride My See-Saw,” “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band),” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Legend of a Mind” and “Nights in White Satin.”
The tour follows a run that took place in February and March. Purchase tickets for many of the shows here. See the summer itinerary below.
From the original tour announcement: On Nov. 10, 2022, Days of Future Passed celebrated its 55th anniversary, and John wanted to do something special to celebrate the album. The Moodys had embarked on a U.S. tour in 2017 to celebrate the 50th, but regrettably stopped touring shortly after, and then, very sadly, Graeme Edge passed away in 2021. However, shortly before his passing, John and Graeme met and spent some special time together, and at that meeting Graeme told John how he hoped John would continue on with the music and keep the Moody Blues’ music alive.
“John returned home and realized that what he really wanted to do was revisit this iconic album, honor his lost friends Ray Thomas and Graeme Edge, and his other bandmates Justin Hayward and Mike Pinder, but also reimagine it for today. How would he do it differently? Graeme had already recorded a special version of ‘Late Lament’ for John, and John’s great friend (and future son-in-law) Jon Davison (of Yes) had recorded ‘Nights in White Satin’ for him, and so the stage was set; John went into the studio and began work with his musical director, Alan Hewitt, on both a new show and a new album, details of which are TBA.”
On Feb. 3, Lodge added, “I’m sorry that the Moodies are no longer touring, and I miss my friends Ray and Graeme deeply, but as I looked back to the past, I realized that I also wanted to look forwards to the Future. My hope is that in this show you will get to revisit 1967, but at the same time, see how this album has grown with me, and with you.”
Joining Lodge on stage is his 10,000 Light Years Band, long-term collaborator Alan Hewitt (music director and keyboards) and Billy Ashbaugh (drums) from the Moody Blues touring band, together with Duffy King (guitars) and Jason Charboneau (cello).
John Lodge (Photo by Frank Piercy, used with permission)
John Lodge “Performs Days of Future Passed” Tour Dates
Tickets are available here and here.
Jul 11 – Edwardsville, IL – Wildey Theatre
Jul 12 – Edwardsville, IL – Wildey Theatre
Jul 14 – Davenport, IA – Adler Theatre
Jul 15 – Chicago, IL – Copernicus Center
Jul 16 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center
Jul 18 – Rockford, IL – Coronado PAC
Jul 19 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
Jul 21 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
Jul 23 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
Jul 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
Jul 26 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre
Jul 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Smith Center
Jul 29 – Thousand Oaks, CA – Fred Kavli Theatre
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
Watch Lodge and band perform a Days of Future Passed favorite earlier in 2023
Related: Our review of a 2018 John Lodge show in NYC
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9 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSo why aren’t John Lodge and Justin Heyward working together? Is there bad blood or something between them? It would be great to see the two of them onstage side by side, wouldn’t it?
Got my hackles up. I think only Justin should perform “Nights in White Satin” simply because that is a very personal song for him.
I think especially with the lost of Graeme they decided to move on and do music they have wanted to do and still keep Moody Blues music alive. I do not believe there is bad blood.
I’ve often wondered that myself. Say all you want about Graeme being the heart, soul, glue (and legal heir to the name) that held the group together, but Justin and John were the music.
No flute? That seems strange.
I totally agree Justin Hayward alongside of John Lodge in a tour
Why this ? We have a beautiful Days live from 2018? I think it is not very original, but it can be a success, because of the band and its performance!
I loved the Moody Blues and their music.
Justin Haywood and John Lodge should re-unite and perform new music together, continuing where they left off in 1975 as the Blue Jays. They are a dynamite duo.
I don’t blame Moodies’ fans for having a lot of feelings about this, and John’s and Justin’s separate tours. I’ve shared those feelings. But I’ve seen Justin’s show and it was wonderful, and I just recently saw this John Lodge show and it defined my expectations. His band is really excellent and does the music a great homage. I was also impressed with John’s vocal ability and the way they treated his vocals at shows because at the last Moodies shows I saw John vocals were played down somewhat, and I thought he didn’t have much left. He sounded great, even doing some of his famous high falsetto parts. I realize he needed a higher voice to pull off “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Nights In White Satin,” but in all honesty, I did not care for Jon Davison’s vocals on either. I think I would have preferred John try the songs, or some other unknown with a richer voice. I can’t stress enough how great his band is though. Between Alan Hewitt, his keyboardist, and Jason Charboneau his cellist they handled the moodies music incredibly well, including all those classical music interludes on “DOFP.” It was surprising and rather astonishing how well they pulled it all off. I loved hearing songs by both Ray Thomas and Michael Pinder in the show, which the Moodies themselves never seemed to want to do in their concerts.