The Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder dead at 82
The Moody Blues founding member Mike Pinder has passed away aged 82, his family have confirmed.
The iconic group were formed in 1964 with Pinder on keyboard duties. He was part of their most commercially successful period, scoring three number one albums in the United Kingdom with On the Threshold of a Dream, A Question of Balance, and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. However, Pinder departed the band following the recording of their ninth LP, Octave, in 1978.
Octave marked the first album by the Moody Blues in six years after a lengthy hiatus, which Pinder enjoyed greatly. During that time, his life changed significantly as he settled down and didn’t want to return to touring.
Outside of the Moody Blues, Pinder notably made guest appearances on two tracks that feature on John Lennon’s album, Imagine. He also embarked on a solo career, releasing two albums in 1976 and 1994, respectively.
His 1994 album, Among the Stars, marked Pinder’s return to public life after disappearing upon leaving the Moody Blues, and taking up a music synthesis consultancy role with Atari.
In a statement, Pinder’s family said of his passing: “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. 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.”
The Pinder family continued: “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.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him.”
They concluded the message by saying: “His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come.”
In tribute, his former Moody Blues bandmate John Lodge remarked: “All the love possible goes out from the Lodge family to Mike’s family today… RIP.”
Notably, in 2018, Pinder appeared alongside his former colleagues in the Moody Blues when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Pinder later reflected on the moment on his website and shared his gratitude: “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.”
He added: “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.”
As of yet, Pinder’s cause of death hasn’t been revealed.
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