John Lodge, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of the Moody Blues, has released a live album, The Royal Affair and After. The new collection, which arrived on Jan. 14, 2022, features all of his hits with the band, plus special tributes to his bandmates, Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas. The bulk of the album was recorded live in Las Vegas on Lodge’s Royal Affair Tour, with additional tracks from his subsequent U.S. shows. (A vinyl edition is scheduled for Jan. 28.) Listen to many of the tracks below, and watch him perform “Ride My See-Saw” with a special guest.
During the summer of 2019, Lodge was an integral part of the The Royal Affair Tour, with YES, Carl Palmer, Arthur Brown, and ASIA. The album includes such Moody Blues classics penned by Lodge as “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band),” “Gemini Dream,” “Ride My See-Saw,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” and “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone,” plus “Saved By the Music” from his Blue Jays collaboration with Hayward.
Listen to his performance of “Gemini Dream,” a hit single in the U.S. from 40 years earlier
John Lodge
Also included is Lodge’s tribute to Ray Thomas, with his version of “Legend of a Mind.” The two were friends from the age of 14 when they met on a bus and subsequently formed their first band, El Riot and the Rebels. In 1966 they reunited in the Moody Blues, when Thomas asked Lodge if he’d finished college and would like to join the band.
The album also features a special recording of “Late Lament,” by the Moody Blues’ drummer Graeme Edge.
The poem originally appeared on the iconic album Days of Future Passed, and was written by Edge, but voiced by Mike Pinder.
Lodge’s tribute to Pinder is his rendition of “Sunset,” also from Days of Future Passed.
Jon Davison of YES is also featured as he joined Lodge and his band to provide lead vocals on “Nights in White Satin.” During the tour, Davison would join Lodge on stage for “Ride My See-Saw.” For 54 years, Lodge has played this song at every Moody Blues concert. With the Moody Blues no longer touring, it became an opportunity to pay tribute to Hayward, and continue to perform the iconic song.
Joining Lodge is his 10,000 Light Years Band: longtime collaborator Alan Hewitt (music director and keyboards) and Billy Ashbaugh (drums), both of whom have been part of the Moody Blues touring band, plus Duffy King (guitars) and Jason Charboneau (cello).
Listen to “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)”
Lodge, born July 20, 1945, has been performing and recording with the Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling in excess of 70 million albums, as well as releasing three solo albums Natural Avenue, 10,000 Light Years Ago and B Yond.
Listen to the album’s lead-off track, “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone”
The Royal Affair and After Track Listing
1. Steppin’ in a Slide Zone
2. Saved by the Music
3. Legend of a Mind
4. Sunset
5. Late Lament (with Graeme Edge)
6. Nights in White Satin (with Jon Davison)
7. Gemini Dream
8. Isn’t Life Strange
9. I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)
10. Ride My See-Saw (with Jon Davison)
He’s planning a tour for 2022 with many dates already scheduled.
John Lodge 2022 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
3/08 Infinity Hall, Norwalk, CT
3/09 Levoy Theatre, Millville, NJ
3/11 Suffolk Theater, Riverhead, NY
3/12 The Warehouse, Fairfield, CT
3/13 Infinity Hall, Hartford, CT
3/15 Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA
3/16 Rams Head, Annapolis MD
3/17 Tin Pan, Richmond VA
3/19 City Winery, Nashville TN
3/20 City Winery, Atlanta GA (two shows)
3/23 Savannah Centre, Villages FL (two shows)
3/25 Ponte Vedra Hall, Jacksonville FL
3/26 Casino at Dania Beach, Dania Beach FL
3/28 Flower Power Cruise (Celebrity Summit), Miami, FL
Related: Our 2017 concert review of Lodge
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1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationJohn Lodge is the one of the nicest people you will ever meet from one of the best bands ever. My husband and I just listened to the video you provided and we will be adding this CD to our collection. Thank you for the story.