Mike Pinder
1941 – April 24, 2024
As reported by Tom Breihm at Stereogum, Mike Pinder, the original keyboardist of the highly successful British band the Moody Blues, has passed away at the age of 82. He was the last surviving founding member of the group, following the recent death of his former bandmate Denny Laine also of Wings. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Growing up in Birmingham, Pinder teamed up with local musicians to form the M&B 5 in 1964, which later became known as the Moody Blues. Their rendition of Bessie Banks’ “Go Now” quickly soared to the top of the UK charts in 1965. Pinder took the lead vocals on James Brown’s “I Don’t Mind” for their debut album the same year.
As the band evolved, shifting from blues covers to a more psychedelic sound, Pinder delved into the ethereal possibilities of the Mellotron and contributed vocals and songwriting on more experimental tracks like the raga-infused “Om” in 1968.
In 1971, Pinder collaborated with his friend John Lennon on several tracks for Lennon’s solo album Imagine. The Moody Blues’ breakthrough in the US came with the 1972 re-release of their single “Nights In White Satin,” which reached No. 2 on the charts. Their ambitious album Seventh Sojourn was recorded at Pinder’s studio the same year.
Following a hiatus in 1974, Pinder relocated to California and released his solo debut The Promise in 1976. He briefly returned to the Moody Blues for their 1978 album Octave but departed after its completion, replaced by Patrick Moraz.
In California, Pinder worked as a consultant for Atari and released two more solo albums in the 1990s. In 2018, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.
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