LONDON (AP) — John Lodge, the singer and bassist for British rock band the Moody Blues for more than 50 years, has died. He was 82.
In a statement Friday, his family said “with the deepest sadness” that Lodge died “suddenly and unexpectedly.” It added that Lodge “slipped away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones and to the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly.”
Lodge, a Birmingham native, joined the band in 1966, two years after its formation, along with fellow singer Justin Hayward, following the departures of Denny Laine and Clint Warwick. He stayed with him until he stopped performing live in 2018.
Lodge contributed to some of the band's most famous work, including the psychedelic 1967 album Days Of Future Passed, widely regarded as one of rock's first concept albums, and its follow-up, released a year later, In Search Of The Lost Chord.
Lodge also contributed to the 1977 album Octave, which introduced The Moody Blues to a more pop-oriented sound.
He continued to make records with the group until their final studio album in 2003, December, a collection of Christmas songs.
The band continued to perform live until 2018, the same year the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
