Mike Pinder, founding member of The Moody Blues, dies aged 82

25 April 2024, 17:24

Mike Pinder, the only surviving founding member of The Moody Blues, has died aged 82.

News of the keyboard player's death was announced by his family and by his fellow bandmate in The Moody Blues, John Lodge.

Sharing a statement of Pinder's passing with the band's fans, his family wrote: "Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family."

"Michael's family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully."

• The Moody Blues' 10 greatest songs, ranked
• Moody Blues and Wings singer Denny Laine has died, aged 79
• The Moody Blues drummer and co-founder Graeme Edge has died, aged 80
• Paul McCartney opens up about loss of Wings' bandmate Denny Laine

"His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart."

"He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, 'Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground'."

The statement continued: "His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come."

Pinder was the last surviving founder of The Moody Blues, after original guitarist - and later member of Wings - Denny Laine died late last year.

The original bassist Clint Warwick died in 2004, vocalist and flautist Ray Thomas died in 2018, and original drummer Graeme Edge died in 2021.

Keyboardist Pinder was renowned for his use of the Mellotron, the instrument which crafted much of the psychedelic sound that permeated the sixties music scene, especially in the UK.

Current members of The Moody Blues, Justin Hayward and John Lodge, took to their social media channels to send condolences and pay tribute to their former colleague.

"All the love possible goes out from the Lodge family to Mike’s family today… RIP," wrote Lodge.

Hayward described how crucial Pinder was to The Moody Blues establishing their sound, and later becoming one of the most influential bands of the era.

"Mike was a natural born musician who could play any style of music with warmth and love," Hayward wrote.

"His re-imagining and rebuilding (literally) of the Mellotron gave us our identifiable early sound. He was a huge part of my own musical journey. My sincere condolences to his loving and devoted family."

Mike Pinder founded The Moody Blues in 1964 shortly before scoring a hit with the single 'Go Now'.

Once Denny Laine and Clint Warwick were replaced by Justin Hayward and John Lodge however, they moved on from their early R&B-influenced sound in favour of more progressive territory, which shaped The Moody Blues as we know them now.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though Pinder was the only member who didn't deliver a speech.

Talking after the ceremony to Louder, Pinder said: "Many MB fans have asked why I did not speak at the induction but by the time the Moodies took the stage we were five hours into the ceremony."

"The oldest of the inductees were up the latest. The speeches were a bit anticlimactic at that point and it was only fitting that the current touring members (Edge, Hayward and Lodge) 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'."

Pinder's legacy will be one that embraced technology with music, helping to pioneer the use of Mellotron in music and pave the way for psychedelic music to break the mainstream.