JOHN LODGE, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, has added a special symphony show to serve as the finale of his previously announced winter 2023 US tour, “Performs Days of Future Passed.” LODGE will perform with the Coachella Valley Symphony on March 26 at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater in Rancho Mirage, CA. Tickets are on sale now.
This is the only date on the tour that will feature an orchestra. Go here to purchase tickets which include a limited amount of VIP packages. For the VIP packages, go here.
LODGE, together with his 10,000 Light Years Band and the Coachella Valley Symphony, will perform The Moody Blues’ iconic Days of Future Passed album—which marked its 55th anniversary on November 10, 2022—in its entirety, with a special recording by the late Graeme Edge and performances by Jon Davison of YES. Jon has been the lead vocalist with YES since 2012, and is also John’s son-in-law. The show will be rounded out by LODGE’s self-written classic hits “Ride My See-Saw,” “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” and “Isn’t Life Strange”, all making for a truly magical evening under the stars.
This will be John’s first foray to the West Coast since he began touring with his band, and although it is a one-off, he hopes it will be the start of many more. The Moody Blues only performed ‘Days’ with a Symphony twice—once at the Hollywood Bowl, and once in Toronto—and John is looking forward to bringing the show once again to the Moody Blues fans, and perhaps some new listeners too, as they fill the amphitheater with their symphonic sound and take everyone back to 1967.
“The Coachella Valley Symphony approached me and asked me to perform Days of Future Passed with them at their new home at Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, and it intrigued me,” says LODGE. “I had been developing a full orchestra concert, but it was something for the future. However, they are a passionate community music organization, and Alan (Hewitt, who is LODGE’s Music Director and keyboardist) knew them from when he lived there, and so it seemed like a wonderful way to step my feet into the water, and a fabulous finale to the tour. I’m grateful to the 10,000 Light Years Band, Jon Davison and, of course, Graeme, for their belief in this project and helping bring my vision to life. And thank you to all the fans for Keeping the Faith.”
LODGE’s tour also coincides with the 50th anniversary of The Moody Blues’ 1973 album Seventh Sojourn (released November 17, 1972) which spent 5 weeks at Number 1 on Billboard. It featured the LODGE-penned singles “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” and “Isn’t Life Strange.”
The March 26th show is a special ‘one-off’ performance, and the rest of the tour will feature a full electrifying show with a first half of “hits” including tributes to all his Moodies bandmates, followed by Days of Future Passed recreated in full. Listen to “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Peak Hour,” and more fill the room, and you’ll be taken back to 1967, but at the same time, you’ll hear what John has brought to this new version in his vocals, bass and harmonies, and how he sees the album 55 years later. In its own way, it can also be said to be a reflection of John’s own life.
Below are the tour dates and more quotes from JOHN about the show. For tickets, VIP packages--which include a great seat, a personalized video message from John and exclusive merchandise, and more--please visit: https://johnlodge.com/tour.
Background
For the 55th anniversary of Days of Future Passed, JOHN wanted to do something special to celebrate the album. The Moodies had embarked on a US 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 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.
Joining JOHN 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). Jon Davison, lead vocalist of YES, will also light up the night with his special renditions of The Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.”
“As I said at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Graeme, Mike, Ray, Justin, and I, together with Tony, went into a studio, and seven days later we came out with an album that changed our lives forever,” says LODGE of Days of Future Passed.
He adds: “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 realised that I also wanted to look forwards to the Future. My hope is that in this show, and album, you will get to revisit 1967, but at the same time, see how this album has grown with me, and with you.”
“Seventh Sojourn was the last of the first seven ‘core’ albums, and for me it was the pinnacle of the Moody Blues as a 'touring band,’ explains LODGE. The two hit singles from the album, ‘I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)’ and ‘Isn’t Life Strange,' I still feature in my solo shows. When I wrote those songs, I was younger than I am today, but it still amazes me at their continued relevance. What I do know is that they mean as much to me today as they did then, and I can see in the audience that it means the same to them, too. I always feel that we share the deep emotion--the journey, if you will--of these songs together.”
Here are the tour dates for JOHN LODGE’s “Performs Days of Future Passed”:
February 18 - Cary Hall, Lexington, MA
February 19 - Flying Monkey, Plymouth, NH
February 21 - Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY
February 22 - The Warehouse, Fairfield, CT
February 24 - The Cabot, Beverly, MA
February 25 - Infinity Hall, Hartford, CT STANDING ONLY
February 26 - Jane Pickens Theatre, Newport, RI
February 28 - Patchogue Theatre, Patchogue, NY
March 1 - Sony Hall, New York. NY
March 3 - Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ SOLD OUT
March 4 - Keswick Theater, Glenside, PA
March 6 - Sandler Center, Virginia Beach, VA
March 7 - Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD SOLD OUT
March 9 - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
March 10 - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, Ponte Vedra, FL
March 11 - The Lyric Theatre, Stuart, FL SOLD OUT
March 14 - Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, FL
March 15 - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL
March 16 - Rock and Romance Cruise
March 26 - Special Symphony Show with Coachella Valley Symphony, Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, CA
