4 | AUGUST 10 • 2023

PURELY COMMENTARY

for openers
80 is the New 40
O

n July 21 I went to
see John Lodge, one
of the mainstays of
the English singing group the
Moody Blues, perform at the
Royal Oak Music Theatre. I can’t
recall the last time I went to a
live rock and roll
concert.
A telltale sign
it had been a
verrrrry long
time was the
fact that Lodge
just turned 80
years old the
day before his
appearance, which, by the way,
makes him older than our John
Lodge Expressway. The sold-out
crowd knew that and treated
him to a spontaneous rousing
rendition of “Happy Birthday,
”
as rousing as a few thousand of
us AARP members can get.
How old was this audience?
I’m surprised there wasn’t any-
one in the lobby trying to sell us
reverse mortgages.
A sure sign I’m getting old? I
now take a jacket with me wher-
ever I go in case there’s a draft
and, on this particular evening, I
took ear plugs in case the music
was too loud. It won’t be long
before I’m yelling at kids to get
off my lawn.
The Moody Blues originally
formed back in 1964 at the
height of Beatlemania. Lodge
joined the group just two years
later and, 52 years later, in 2018,
he and his bandmates were
inducted in the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame. Overdue, if you
ask me.
The crowd gave Lodge a
roaring standing ovation upon
his entrance, at least those who
could still stand. After 57 years
of performing, he still sported
shoulder length hair, now gray.

But the piece de resistance was
he was wearing skintight black
leather pants. At his age, maybe
they were doubling as compres-
sion socks.
For context, I made the mis-
take of visualizing the 80-year-
old versions of my grandfathers
Isadore and Sam in skintight
black leather pants. I’m still try-
ing to unsee that.
The second half of the concert
featured both sides of arguably
the Moody Blues most popular
album — Days of Future Past.
Even if you’re not a fan, you
surely would recognize the likes
of “Nights in White Satin” and
“Tuesday Afternoon.
”
The keyboard player was able
to simulate the band’s signature
sound that is part rock and part
symphonic. Go to YouTube and
watch the Moody Blues live at
Royal Albert Hall in London,
accompanied by the World
Festival Orchestra. It is magical.
John Lodge did himself
proud. I have found in the past
that older singers sometimes try
to cover up their weaker, aged
voices with louder music. But
Lodge held his own.
Sadly, on the day of the con-
cert we learned of the passing
of the legendary Tony Bennett
at age 96. Even after a 2016
Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Bennett
continued to perform until his
final performances in August
2021 at New York’s Radio City
Music Hall. I had the privilege
of seeing him many years ago.
Meanwhile, Detroit just might
be this summer’s hub for senior
citizen singers. At one point in
the evening, Lodge generously
plugged an upcoming show of
another octogenarian legend
set to appear in Detroit, the one
and only Ringo Starr who just
turned 83 in July.

Who knew when Ringo sang
“Will You Still Love Me When
I’m 64” off the Beatles Sergeant
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
album that he’
d have the chance
to ask an audience whether they
still loved him when he was 83.
He’ll get that opportunity when
Ringo Starr and His All-Star
Band come to Masonic Temple
on Oct. 7. But wait, there’s more!
Coming to Pine Knob on
Sept. 22, is 90-year-old Willie
Nelson. Remember when he
made headlines in 2006 when
he was arrested for possession of
marijuana while on the road in
Louisiana? At 90, I trust Willie
now has a legit prescription
for medical marijuana … and
Lipitor and Flomax.
On Aug. 25, it’s 83-year-old
Smokey Robinson’s Music and
Memories at the Fox Theatre.
The show marks the 35th
anniversary since Smokey per-
formed at the Fox as part of the
iconic venue’s grand reopening
in 1988.
I had a memorable interview
with Smokey back in 2005. I’ll
never forget it. Just as I hit the
record button on my tape play-
er, Smokey asked if we could
begin first by plugging his new
business venture … Smokey
Robinson Frozen Dinners.
There I was, one-on-one with
Grammy Award-winning, Rock

and Roll Hall of Fame induct-
ee and Detroit-born Motown
legend Smokey Robinson, and
we’re talking about … seafood
gumbo. Gosh, I love show
business.
Also, I’
d be remiss if I didn’t
give a shout-out to Mick Jagger
who just turned 80 on July 26.
Rumor has it the Rolling Stones
“may” play some dates in 2024
and have rewritten some of
their popular hits to reflect their
advanced ages. “Start Me Up”
will now be called “Help Me Up”
and “
Angie” has been updated to
“
Angie-oplasty.”
Finally, my only disappoint-
ment at the end of the John
Lodge concert was not being
able to show our appreciation
by taking part in the tradition
of holding up lighters in unison
like the old days. An alternative
would’ve been to turn on the
flashlight feature on our cell-
phones, but unfortunately there
weren’t enough young people in
attendance to show us how.
Anyway, a big salute to all
these incredible octogenarian
crooners. Still able to belt out
a tune but not able to drive at
night.

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/

acting talent, speaker, and emcee.

Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com,

“Like” Al on Facebook and reach him at

amuskovitz@thejewishnews.com.

John Lodge
of the Moody
Blues

DEREK RUSSELL

Alan
Muskovitz
Contributing
Writer

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