Lisa Berigan

Lisa Berigan

Lisa Berigan is the midday host on BIG 100 on weekdays 10AM - 3PM. Lisa is host of the BIG Guitar Riff weekdays at 10:40 AM and Live in Concert every...Full Bio

 

MOODY BLUES: DRUMMER GRAEME EDGE DEAD AT 80, HEAR CLASSIC INTERVIEW

33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Arrivals

Photo: Getty Images

I was saddened to hear the news about the death of Graeme Edge, the drummer and a founding member of The Moody Blues (complete story below).

I was lucky enough to see Graeme perform with The Moody Blues at Constitution Hall and at Pier Six Pavilion.

Graeme checked in on my show several years back, and I wanted to share this classic interview. We spoke a few years before The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, so we talk about the band being snubbed for so many years. We also chat about his years in the band, performing live, his poetry book and other projects.

Enjoy the interview.

R.I.P. Graeme.

Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge passed away today at the age of 80 from cancer.

Born on March 30th, 1941, he was a founding member of the band, which formed on May 4th, 1964 in Birmingham, England, and was their longest serving member, having been part of every incarnation of the band.

Hoping to have the Mitchells & Butlers brewery sponsor them, they called themselves The M&B Five.

In addition to being the drummer, Graeme was also responsible for the poetry that was weaved throughout many of their albums. This included "Late Lament," which follows "Nights in White Satin" on their 1967 breakthrough album, Days of Future Passed. Ironically, in that poem, Graeme wrote, "Senior citizens wish they were young."

Graeme also was the funniest and most lighthearted member of the band, as was evident each time he would introduce on stage his 1969 song, "Higher and Higher."

"I did live through the '60s twice. The first time my hair was brown and my teeth were white, and [holding up two fingers] meant peace. Now my hair's white and my teeth are brown and [holding up two fingers] means Viagra. But if you think about it, it's still sex, drugs and rock and roll."

Not only was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 a highlight of his career, but so was jamming with three other members of the Hall in the late '60s in London.

A resident of Florida's Gulf Coast, Graeme retired in 2019, which spelled the end of the Moodies. A longtime sailor, he liked to spend time on his boat as well as tooling around in his three-wheel Morgan — a British sports car — the occasional round of golf, war films and sci-fi – he was a confirmed Trekkie.

Graeme Edge leaves behind a son, daughter, five grandchildren and his soulmate, best friend and confidant Rilla Louise.

Source: The Sun and Premiere

The Moody Blues Perform At The Nokia Theatre L.A. Live

Photo: Getty Images


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