John Lodge

John Charles Lodge (20 July 1943 – 10 October 2025) was an English musician who was the bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and a songwriter for the longstanding progressive rock band the Moody Blues. Joining the group in 1966, he contributed to many of the Moody Blues' most acclaimed works, including "Ride My See-Saw", "Isn't Life Strange", and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)", helping shape the band's signature symphonic rock sound.

Beyond his work with the Moody Blues, Lodge collaborated with fellow bandmate Justin Hayward on the Blue Jays project in 1974–75, and released the solo albums such as Natural Avenue (1977) and 10,000 Light Years Ago (2015). He also worked as a record producer and remained active in touring and recording throughout his life.

In 2018, Lodge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.

John Charles Lodge was born on 20 July 1943 in Birches Green, near Erdington, Birmingham. He was educated at Birches Green Infant and Junior School and Central Grammar School, before pursuing engineering studies at Birmingham College of Advanced Technology. His early influences were musicians such as Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. At the age of 14, Lodge met future bandmate Ray Thomas.

Lodge was initially involved in the Birmingham music scene alongside Ray Thomas. In the early 1960s they formed the band El Riot and the Rebels. They performed regularly at a club called Teabury, and it was there Lodge met several other bands including the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. He took a year off from the music scene to finish his college education before being persuaded to join the Moody Blues.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.