Moody Blues Belong In The Hall of Fame

In October the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will honor itself with a 25th anniversary shindig at Madison Square Garden. The usual suspects will be performing: U2, Clapton, Springsteen, etc. Goody for them! They certainly deserve it. Yet there are so many other acts who should be in the Hall of Fame and the most glaring omission is the Moody Blues.

I recently saw the band entertain thousands of fans on a lovely summer night in the Sierra foothills. Lead singer Justin Hayward has aged quite well. He still has a mop of auburn hair and boyish looks and he still plays a mean guitar. There were a few notes he couldn't hit during the show but 99% of the time his voice sounded terrific, singing two decades of songs, most of which he wrote.

Bassist John Lodge played with a youthful enthusiasm and drummer Graeme Edge let fellow percussionist Gordon Marshall handle most of the skin pounding. Smart decision since Marshall is a fantastic drummer and engaging showman. Surrounded by other talented musicians the Moody Blues put on one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Opening with "The Voice" the concert touched on the familiar: "Questions,""Nights In White Satin""Ride My See-Saw" and the obscure: "Driftwood" and "Are You Sitting Comfortably?" I had completely forgotten about the last one, an English ballad with King Arthur imagery, and it sounded wonderful in the open air of the Ironstone Winery amphitheater.

The unexpected highlight was "Isn't Life Strange." This powerful tune from 1972 went from quiet verse to thundering crescendo leading into the chorus. Fit for a Philharmonic Orchestra, its hard to believe this beautiful song was once a Top 30 hit in the USA!

I think every person who buys a ticket goes to their show hoping to hear one or two specific songs. The Moody Blues played my wish list back to back! "The Story In Your Eyes" had an edge to it when Hayward and Lodge strutted the stage in rock star fashion. Then came "Your Wildest Dreams," one of those songs that can make you cry or make you smile. I think I did a little of both. I couldn't help but think about the terrific video which won the Billboard Video Of The Year award in 1986.

Think about it!

The Moody Blues started in 1965 with the Top 10 single "Go Now," (featuring Denny Laine who would later join with Paul McCartney and Wings). That song was featured in one of the first music videos ever made! (Called promotional films back then.) Over twenty years later they won an award for best video, slugging it out with the pretty hair bands half their age on MTV.

And they're not in the Hall Of Fame?

Their first album with Hayward was 1967's Days Of Future Passed recorded with the London Festival Orchestra. It reached #3 in the US and spawned two massive hits: "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights In White Satin." How many high school proms have used "Nights" for their theme? How many other songs with a poem at the end of it were played on Top 40 radio? Imagine selling your new record company on an expensive concept album when you only had one hit and the guy who sang it had left the band! The Moodys did all that and Days was a commercial and artistic success.

And they're not in the Hall Of Fame?

From 1967 to 1988 the Moody Blues stayed on the charts and hit number one in the US with two classic albums: Seventh Sojourn and Long Distance Voyager. During that time they were one of the first bands to start their own record label: Threshold. Let's not forget the positive themes that run throughout the band's extensive catalogue. Like their contemporaries The Beatles, the Moody Blues (and especially Hayward) chose to focus on uplifting and insightful lyrics, disdaining the decadent rock and roll party imagery. They can rock hard if needed, but their success has shown that art and good times are a pleasing combination. Over forty years of touring and the Moodys sound better than they did in 1973 when I first saw them.

And they're not in the Hall Of Fame?

Let's take a look at who has been inducted, starting with the opening act at Ironstone: Dave Mason. I have no qualms with this great guitarist getting the honor. He wrote "Feeling Alright" - one of the greatest rock anthems ever - and of course he made it in as a founding member of Traffic. That's one of my favorite bands of all time. Yet they only recorded a handful of albums and their commercial success was limited at best.

Who else? Percy Sledge? For one hit? The Ronettes? They didn't perform or write their hits! Miles Davis? He made one kinda rock album! The Ventures and Duane Eddy? Instrumental acts...I mean really? Del Shannon? Who knows anything but "Runaway" by this guy?

How about bands who were so talented they changed the face of music by exploring unknown technology and still sold records and packed arenas? Does YES and Emerson, Lake & Palmer come to mind? Or Procul Harum? What about the good time bands who have been touring for decades and still selling out shows? Are you telling me CHICAGO isn't in the Rock Hall of Fame? With all those hits and terrific musicianship?

Those four bands should be in the Hall of Fame.

But The Moody Blues have to be.

No "questions" asked.

Michael Jackson Memories

I wasn't going to write about Michael Jackson. I mean, my god, what else is there to say? Personally I saw him in concert twice and both were extravaganzas. Even more, as a white DJ in the eighties, I loved the way he could put all people from all colors on the dance floor at the same time. The only other solo artist who could do that was Phil Collins. Go figure!

Suddenly-on the 7th day after his shocking death-two incidents made me put aside my review of the Clapton/Winwood concert I saw at the MGM Grand (should be my next installment) to write this epitaph.

First: I turned over my calendar for the month of July and Michael Jackson ("Off The Wall" era) was staring at me! I have a nice Rolling Stone magazine "Decades of Rock" wall calendar for 2009. It started with The Who and The Dead and now its the King of Pop! I'd never looked through the entire calendar so I had no idea that his haunting visage would be with me for the next 31 days.

Second: Speaking of Rolling Stone magazine, I received a year's subscription for free when I bought the calendar back in January. If you have the latest issue with the Jonas Brothers on the cover (I know, pathetic right?) then you may have read an article on page 19 entitled "Michael Jackson's Troubled Comeback". Pretty much describes everything that would happen in the coming weeks except for his ultimate demise.

I was doubtful about the singer's ability to perform 50 dates in the UK. The Rolling Stone article said it would be his last chance at redemption. The promoter-AEG Live-had already advanced Jackson $5 million to pay off a major debt. Now AEG has to pay back all those ticket holders. Just like they paid David Beckham millions to play soccer in L.A, another complete failure. Amazing this company is still in business!

When I saw Jackson, he was in his prime. December 1984 at Dodger Stadium with his brothers The Jacksons. The "Victory" tour was actually the unofficial "Thriller" tour for MJ and the first chance to hear those songs live in concert. I had great seats from the newspaper I was writing for and regret not bringing my camera. I'd heard security would be tight and absolutely no cameras but when I arrived with my fiance' in tow we breezed through the ticket line. In time to hear "Beat It""Billie Jean" and my favorite "Human Nature" plus the rarely performed "Heartbreak Hotel." Taught me its always worth it to try and get the camera in, usually you succeed.

In the late Eighties one could always see Michael Jackson in the spectacular 3D Movie Captain EO showing around the clock at Disneyland. I saw it about five times and loved the song "We Are Here To Change The World" which was unreleased at the time. This is how big MJ was after Thriller: Francis Ford Coppola directed Captain EO and George Lucas produced it.
I always wondered why Jackson did not follow up with another big screen endeavor.

The next time I saw MJ live was with a new girlfriend at the LA Sports Arena in January 1989. Notable for his co-vocalist on the sappy ballad "I Can't Stop Loving You"- the then unknown Sheryl Crow! The 15,000 seat Sports Arena was one of the smallest venues of the BAD tour and it was great to hear "The Way You Make Me Feel" in such an intimate setting. On that night my chance for romance was quashed when a semi-major earthquake hit LA during the concert. We didn't feel it while the show was on-not even Mother Nature could stop a Michael Jackson concert!

Unfortunately, something else could stop his life. Rest In Peace, MJ...