The Moody Blues brings 45 years of hits to Family Arena

By DAN BOEMEKE

At age 71 drummer, poet and original member of The Moody Blues, Graeme Edge, is ready to face that fear once again.

In the 45th year since the release of “Days of Future Passed” – the first major album for the musical giants known as The Moody Blues – the band is still on the road and rearing to go.

An 18-city tour this fall will bring the legendary musicians – drummer Edge, bass player John Lodge and guitarist Justin Hayward – to St. Charles on Dec. 9 when they take the stage at the Family Arena.

Edge, who has been with the band since day one, said performance anxiety fades, but these days, the band is faced with a whole new kind of anxiety. Having grown more comfortable performing their music, the band is now faced with the challenges that come with time.

This is especially true for Edge, as the drum kit is one instrument that requires near constant physical strain throughout each and every performance.

That being said, the reward, both intrinsically and extrinsically, for each completed performance is that much sweeter than the last, according to Edge.

To have the ability to revisit something you created 45 years ago and marvel in the legacy of your creation is something many artists never get to appreciate.

When asked how it feels to have that ability, Edge responded that it is really quite a peculiar process.

“You never think that anything will ever last 45 years,” Edge said. “You don’t even know if it will last 10 years. … We used to have a saying, ‘Don’t trust anyone over 30,’ and next thing you know you’re listening to the music of a younger generation and calling it rubbish just as you had been told when you first started playing music.”

He said that when the band first got together they didn’t have anything better to do, so they spent their time in the studio writing and recording their music.

“We never imagined that we would still be doing this successfully in our 70s,” Edge said.

One song that brings about a sense of supreme accomplishment is “Nights in White Satin” – one of the band’s most famous and frequently requested tracks.

Originally released on “Days of Future Passed” (November 1967), “Nights in White Satin” has received continual airplay for over four decades, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts three separate times. The song was featured recently as the lead track in Johnny Depp’s new film “ Dark Shadows.”

That’s quite a legacy for one track and the band won’t stop playing it any time soon.

One of the most successful bands in rock history, The Moody Blues simply cannot stop.

They are one of the few successful rock bands that have bridged the gap between classical and rock styles. They’re a testament to all young artists who have a passion for what they do and a strong desire to keep moving forward. So, those who already know them – and those who have yet to discover the brilliance and beauty of The Moody Blues – head to the Family Arena on Dec. 9 for an experience that will not be forgotten.