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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