Displaying items by tag: The Moody Blues

Ray Thomas (harmonica, vocals), John Lodge, and Michael Pinder keyboards, vocals) were members of El Riot & the Rebels in Birmingham in the early 60s. The group disbanded when John Lodge went to technical college and Mike Pinder left to join the army. Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas later formed the Krew Cats and recruited Denny Laine, Graeme Edge and Clint Warwick. They appeared as the Moody Blues in 1964 for the first time in Birmingham. Decca Records signed the band and their first single which met with modest acclaim was called “Steal your heart away.”

The music business is littered with A & R faux pas, the most notable is Dick Rowe's. Dick was the head of A & R at Decca in the 50's and early sixties. He'd made some very good signings, which include Them, The Moody Blues, The Zombies, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Tornados, Tom Jones, The Small Faces, Marmalade, and The Rolling Stones. However, when Brian Epstein turned up in his office and, after a lengthy audition, he turned down The Beatles.