The rock hall of fame people were wonderful. The ceremony was too long and the sound too loud for the room but there were moments of great interest. For the Moody families it was the opportunity to share in several days of love, past memories and making new memories for our families. All the band brought their children and grandchildren and that was magic. The grandchildren got to see that the music has remained relevant and impactful for 50 years.
Many MB fans have asked why I did not speak at the induction but by the time the Moodies took the stage we were 5 hours into the ceremony. The oldest of the inductees were up the latest. The speeches were a bit anti-climatic at that point and it was only fitting that the current touring members spoke first. I am happy that we finally got inducted for our fans sake.
As I have said for the last 30 years “the fans are my hall of fame.”
Hi Mike
Congratulations for being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2018. You deserve it very much, my beautiful friend.
I need to say something to you from my heart and get it off my chest for once and for all, or it will bug me for the rest of my life. I am saying it because you are too much of a gentleman to say it.
I have to tell you that I was so full of happiness and spirit when I saw you with the boys and Bon Jovi at the opening of the plaque at the museum, as per the above photo.
I thought you looked great; open and friendly and charming. Moreover, when you all went on stage the next evening I was so delighted to see you there. You are my favourite `Moody Blue. I could not wait to hear you speak, but then I noticed that John Lodge pushed you away twice, when u made an attempt to head for the mic.
I must say after watching the induction footage several times there is no doubt in my mind that he stopped you from speaking at the ceremony. There are rumours circulating that u have a cognitive problem and this is the reason Lodge stopped you speaking. Personally, I think you had more right than John Lodge to speak at the ceremony.
This Induction was about the first 7 albums which you were the architect and soul.
There would not have been theses albums without you and Tony Clarke
It was your song “Dawn” which inspired “Nights in White Satin”. You were a massive creative inspirational force in The Moody Blues.
I am very disappointed with Justin Hayward and John Lodge as they seemed cold and distant towards you. Justin Hayward’s ego is too big now. They sold out. Booze cruises and just degrading the name and memory.
So I was sad that you did not speak. Anyway, I hope things are going well for you and your friends and family in California.
Love and Best Wishes
Roddy_G
Mr. Roddy_G, the best MB photos of the ceremony are those in which Mike and John are together. And they show an atmosphere totally different from the one you saw. Here are some of those moments:
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/john-lodge-and-mike-pinder-of-the-moody-blues-attend-the-news-photo/946341222
http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/rockhall2018.aspx
Hello again, Mike! I, too was so happy to see you at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
I was getting a little testy about the micro analysis of whether you would attend and if not, why not. The most infintessimal thing done by any of you was made to have some mystic significance.
The same attention was given to what was said – did it go into the positive or the negative column? I was only thinking back to the “Long Distance Voyagers days when we would all gather at someone’s home and ask, what I hope you think, more intelligent questions. Because of that, we found you to be very thoughtful and open about YOU in the life you live now. A very happy one as it turned out.
I’ve read quite a bit about the history of you and the Mellotron. I always think of it as a”Band in a Box”.
People would often say that they didn’t know if they would go to the concerts if the band wasn’t backed up with a full orchestra.
I would always say a definite “yes”, as I thought it was every bit as good – like apples and oranges. I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to say “hello” to you and your Family.
I was in excruciating pain and one night, after dinner, it literally took me 45 minutes to cross the street. It turns out ,after 4 years of trying, I got referred by the VA to a proper physical therapy clinic.It was discovered that my pelvis was badly out of alignment in 6 places, along with my spine and hips trying to compensate, which made it much worse. I was disappointed that I couldn’t see the Moody Blues exhibit, but I was just happy to be in the moment.
I did make it to the interview, but was stuck behind one of those monolithic speakers.
I’m probably one of the minority that just accepted everything as it was. I think possibly you thought the same. The circle was finally closed.
Someday, I would like to talk to you about when I was extremely ill a few years ago. My health had badly deteriorated in a short period of time. I was flown to the VA Hospital and transferred to Good Samaritan. While there, they lost me twice.
I don’t remember the 1st time, but the 2nd time was something I’ll never forget. There IS something after this life! I went into a coma, and you CAN hear people talking in the room!
I’m thinking I’m here again for a reason, but I need to find out what it is. The answer is out there somewhere…
My husband died tragically in 2013. But I am dealing with life and try to do something kind every day. We need that now.
Next month, I go to Canada for the holidays. My cousins will ask me about guns and Trump.
When he spoke about using lethal force against the people trying to enter this Country, horrible images flashed across my mind, of WWII. He’s horrible!
I am not sure if the Pentagon would go down that road. It would be illegal, according to our laws.
I apologize for the long letter, but I feel better talking to a rational human being.
I miss FOMP,
TTFN,
Jaz Zander,
523 Sierra Vista Drive
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
Lots of us old timers know the “Hall of Fame” is overly political and randomly slanted, but I guess putting the Moody Blues in was Righting a Wrong, or catching up on an oversight. I watched whatever relevant YouTube clips I could find. I too was disappointed not to hear Mike Pinder speak for a moment. (nice to see him looking well!) He explained here that he appreciated the honor but that the event was taking all night. But I Hope there was some kind of mention (that I simply missed) of the great Ray Thomas, who sadly passed away just prior to the ceremony. I didnt hear & see any mention of him but I sure hope he was lovingly thanked and missed, which was the least they could do. I mean, even before Ian Anderson, there was RAY. I was pleased to see (on Ray’s site) that Ray tried to do a little studio work as long as he was physically able.
I was a tech at ARP in the 70s & am well aware of the hard work that it was to use a mellotron back in the day. That’s why synthesizers took over as soon as designers could minimize the moving parts! Of course, the well-funded Beatles & the late great Brian Jones really kick-started the mellotron, (Strawberry Fields, We Love You, 2000 Light Years) but it was Mike who really got it “off the ground”. Mike remains the foremost mellotron player of its brief period of vitality. Mike’s the only player with a Stack o’ Seven LPs (roughly) dominated by the mellotron sound, when LPs were popular, and his were “hits”. (The piano on Go Now is great, too,) I know one of the foremost curators of classic mellotrons in the US & please let me know if you’d like me to put him in touch.
Before I was a homeowner, in Dec. 1977, my apartment was broken & entered – when CDs didnt exist, and cassettes were less popular than vinyl. In other words, when LPs ruled. I had an impressive vinyl album collection, alphabetized. The only ones the thieves stole were ALL the Moody Blues albums of 1967-1977! The only other thing stolen was jewelry. Burglars are usually in a hurry and only take what they want most. And most Moody Blues fans are NOT that kind of low-lifes. I can only hope they changed their ways after listening to what they took.
When I was registering to comment, I still had this ‘tab’ active & opened another one for reasons I cant remember, & I got a message that said “too many attempts. Youre banned for [x amount of] weeks, days, hours, minutes & seconds.” Come on! Security a little overboard. ~~~Love to All!
I now realise that you and the Beatles changed the world.
Most of the stuff YOU were doing was as big influence from Lennon, Harrison, and Mc Cartney, and visa versos.
Once again thanks for your influence in music and my life.
I think people should understand more what you have give to life and music.