Moody Blues plan local gig; drummer talks with the Times

It's unlikely The Moody Blues could predict the longevity they would achieve when in 1966 they named their first album "Days of Future Passed."

But nearly 40 years later, the group has sold more than

80 million albums worldwide and is still busy recording and touring internationally.

The Central Coast will get a taste of the legendary classic rock band when they kick off a six-week nationwide summer tour Tuesday at the Christopher Cohen Center in San Luis Obispo.

The band recently completed a four-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, and toured Europe earlier this year.

How do American audiences compare with the rest?

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American audiences used to be "more loose, more free," said Moody Blues' drummer, Graeme Edge, during an interview Tuesday with the Santa Maria Times. That's not necessarily still the case.

"The rest of the world caught up with them," Edge quipped.

"Obviously I love America, I live here," he added.

The American audience is not the only thing that has changed since "Days of Future Passed" was released.

Edge relishes the advancements the stage has seen - sound and lighting equipment, and high-tech computer controls, to name a few - since The Moody Blues' early days.

Also, the audience has become more sophisticated, expecting stage technology to enhance performances, Edge said.

For The Moody Blues, a typical day on tour goes something like this:

A call sheet is passed around the night before each show. It lists times for when the band needs to wake up, pack their bags, eat breakfast and hit the road. If they are traveling 200 miles or less, they take a bus; much more than that, they will fly, Edge said.

After freshening up at their hotel, the band is on stage by 6 p.m. for a sound check.

Around 7 p.m., the audience begins filing in, and the band relaxes. "I have a cup of coffee," said Edge.

At 8 p.m., the two-hour show begins.

Edge said audiences can expect "a cross section of all our albums" at the shows.

They make sure they play the five or six hits they've become famous for - making songs like "Nights in White Satin," "Isn't Life Strange," and "I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)" must-plays.

And they try to play at least one from each of their other albums - not an easy task considering they have nearly than four decades worth of classic rock hits to choose from.

Plus, "you can't just put songs together higgeldy-piggeldy," Edge said.

The Moody Blues' last album, "December," was released in November 2003.

"It's time to start thinking about another album," said Edge, adding that it will likely be a hot topic among band members during the upcoming tour.

But in order to begin such an endeavor the group will have to face another aspect of the industry that has changed since their earlier days: the record companies.

According to Edge, they have "almost ceased to exist, at least as recording companies." The Internet and file sharing have dismantled record companies as they once were, he explained, forcing them to focus on distribution over recording.

Still, Edge is optimistic that musicians will get around the mess.

"Every time there has been a technical innovation, musicians have figured something out," he said. "It (the Internet) will be used some way, we just don't know how yet."

The disarray of the record companies may not be at the top of Edge's list of personal complaints, because he prefers performing to recording anyway, mainly because the drums are limited when it comes to studio work.

However, Edge believes his counterparts - Justin Hayward and John Lodge - might prefer the latter, as they can fine tune their vocals in the studio. "If I could sing I'd be right there with them," said Edge.

One thing that hasn't changed since the beginning: Edge still has anxiety dreams leading up to tours.

But the first night of the first show always calms his nerves.

"I love playing live," he said decisively.

* Emily Welly can be reached at 739-2220 or by email at ewelly@santamariatimes.com.

June 3, 2005