Page 6-Friday, November 17, 1978-The Michigan Daily

Reunited Moody Blues thriving


U

By JOHN DEARING
I've been thinking about our fortune,
And I've decided that we're really not to
blame,
For the love that's deep inside us now,
Is stillthe same.
And the sound we make together,
Is the music to the story in your eyes,
It's been shining down upon me now,
I realize. ..
-Moody Blues member
Justin Haywood
As the Moody Blues prepared to
perform, Mike Pinder pleaded with his
audience: "It's so very cold. . . warm
us!"
The crowd responded on cue by
holding up matches and lighters.
Pinder and the Moodies reciprocated
with their golden-toned melodies and
own special brand of warmth.
That memorable experience took
place five years ago at Crisler Arena,
as one of the thirteen concerts the
Moody Blues had scheduled on their.

supposedly final tour. From the Ann
Arbor performance, the group
travelled to San Francisco where they
formally announced their break-up.
REUNION RUMORS had begun

circulating in the music world shortly
after the split, but only in the last year
were any of them substantiated. After
at least two solo albums apiece by the
band's members, they decided to give it
another go.


TONI
presernts:

TE ONLY!

I


tPLUS
LOONEY
TUNESI
Chaplin's first all-dialogue film; a
devastating caricature of Der Fuhrer.
In his final appearance, Chaplin's
famous Tramp character plays a dual
role as Adenoid Hynkel (Der Fovey)
and a meek Jewish barber. Chaplin
said that had he really known what
was happening in Germany at the
time he made the film, he could
never have completed it. Plus Shorts
-FRESH HARE-Canadian mountie
Elmer Fudd must bring in his man-
er-rabbit, Bugs Bunny. And Sth
COLUMN MOUSE-References to
WW II abound in this period Looney
Tunes.
At 7:00 & 9:00
Angell Hall Aud. "A"
r1.50

APPhoto
No swan song yet AP
Veteran screen actress Gloria Swanson (with husband Bill Duffy) is honored on
her 80th birthday Wednesday at the old Astoria studios in Queens, New York,
where the movies began so many years ago. In the background is a still from
one of Swanson's early movies, "Manhandler," which also starred George
Raft.
you are cordialla invited
to attend on ex ibition
of unique work: b

"We met in Surry, England, and
considered the 5ositive and negative
aspects," said flitist Ray Thomas after
the Moqdies' recent concert at Olympia
stadium in Detrdt. "For example, we
discussed how pying on stage inflates
the ego, only toreult in the inevitable
letdown after perorming. I mean what
a trip standing ai stage before 15400
fans, and then afterward.w.d. I'm
wasted right now 1
"During the course of our
discussion," claime Thomas, "I told
the others that I'c reunite on the
condition that we tar. I didn't just
want' to record an album and make
money. I wanted to progress and then
present the good things we'd done."
BACKSTAGE, the Mody Blues are
relaxing after their Oympia show.
Thomas is leaning agahst a railing,
watching the road crew tke down the
equipment they will brig to Chicago
for a show the following niht. Thomas
is drained from perfornting, but is
personable and responsive b questions.
Meanwhile, at the dressing room, a
towering female bouncer wh stands at
least 6'3" is, fending off intruders. Bass
guitarist John Lodge appears at the
doorway and begins to talk about the
performance, gradually sirinking next
to the bouncer's formida:le presence
until he is looking up into h r face.
Justin Haywood, a mast at makigg
his guitar weep, convers s with 'ap
older man holding a bab. Haywood
looks considerable older than he did in
the group's heyday, but is as dapper ai
ever. One of the original Moody Blues is
not present.
"Mike Pender, our ke boardist,
didn't want to tour," explains Thomas.
"It's not for religious reasons or
anything; he said he'd simply had
enough of the whole scene. Since we
really couldn't blame him we gt
Patrick Moraz to take his place"
FOLLOWING THE group's meetin
in England, Thomas explained that
they went to California (with Pinder)to
record Octave, their new release, and
then to Germany to rehearse for he
tour.
"We played four gigs in smalIedr
clubs," says Thomas. "Before thei fist
gig I remember telling a friend I 'fet
like a prize fighter. That is, we'd finish
all the necessary training and'now it
was time to limb into the ring."
Some of the band menbers dont
seem overly 0teased ith'the Olympia
performance.) "Justiniei'and I reay
didn't perform up to our owh
expectations," claims Thomas. "Nea'r
the end of some of the songs we were
kind of sloppy: But then again, this is
the first tour we've done together ir,
what, four or fiveyears."
Thomas blames the previous break-
up on an atmosphere of sterility
surrounding the goup: "We had said
the same things to each other for ten
years. We had nothing left to talk to
each other about. 3esides," he adds,
"it really felt good entering the
recording studio to do the things I
wanted without wondering if the others
liked it. The great ;hing about solo
albums is that if "he effort isn't
successful, it doesn't hirt anyone else's
reputation."
HAYWOOD concurs 'vith this. "'The
solo work," he says, "alpwed us to pt
our lives in order and helped us to
branch out. We now have the room to
expand within the framework of the
Moody Blues. Actually, V"n six, songs
into my next solo album.' John Lodge
also claims he's written a number of
songs for possible upcoming slo

projects.
But though they have enough solo.
material to sustain ttemselves
individually, Lodge claims They'll put
out another Moody Blues album first.
Turning toward the exit, he says,
"We've got the balance, right now."



II

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SUN: HARDER THEY COME

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NO V17,1978

Jesse
Colin
YOUNG

U


EVERYDAY

AT

(JESSE

-NEW-
COLIN YOUNG S

By William Shakespeare


r IN CONCERDT

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