John Lodge in 2007

John Lodge (born John Charles Lodge, 20 July 1945, in Birmingham, England) is best known as bass guitar player, singer, and current member of the Moody Blues.

He also collaborated with fellow Moody Blues member Justin Hayward on the 1975 album Blue Jays, and released a solo album, Natural Avenue in 1977. During the 1970s, he produced the band, Trapeze.

Lodge has been married to his first and only wife Kirsten since 1968, and they are the parents of two grown children. Their first child, a daughter named Emily, was born in 1970, and son Kristian was born two years later. Although he is a private man, Lodge has spoken on several occasions about his Christian beliefs, and credits his faith with keeping him from the dangerous pitfalls and excesses to be found in the often dark world of rock and roll.

Lodge's prolific songwriting for the Moody Blues has created such songs as "Ride My See-Saw", "Send Me No Wine", "Candle of Life", "Minstrel's Song", "Emily's Song", "Isn't Life Strange" (which earned Lodge an ASCAP songwriting award), "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band)" (which also won him an ASCAP songwriting award), "Steppin' in a Slidezone", "Talking Out of Turn", "Sitting at the Wheel", "Lean on Me (Tonight)" and "Gemini Dream" — the latter being a co-composition with Justin Hayward that won them jointly an ASCAP songwriting award. "Bass Player" magazine voted him amongst the most influential bass players.

Most of his career he has used the Fender Jazz bass. He has also used many other acoustic bass and 12 string guitars. the only time he has not used his fender Jazz Bass, he used a custom-made double-neck bass made from Fender.

In 1985, the Moody Blues picked up the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

External links

• John Lodge official site
• All Music Guide