Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge turns 80 years old today. We’re taking a look back at the legacy and beginnings of this legendary band.
Graeme is a founding member of the Moody Blues—who were originally known as The M&B Five, hoping to have Mitchells & Butlers brewery sponsor them.
Born on that day in 1941, he's a founding member of the band, which formed on May 4th, 1964 in Birmingham, England.
During an interview, Graeme and Mike Pinder discussed how the band came up with their name:
Edge: "They owned a lot of pubs down in Birmingham and so we were hoping that they would love the name and book us into those a lot, which of course they didn't. And then we were stuck with the M and B as the initials."
Pinder: "So I thought, 'M&B'. One of my favorite things that had stuck with me was Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo," you know, that piece of music, and I loved the name of it. So I said, 'Mood, moody, moody, moody, moody blue. M&B. Blue. Moody Blues. Moody Blues Five."
Graeme was also the band member responsible for much of the poetry that was such a part of many of the Moody Blues’ albums, including most famously “The Lament”—which follows “Nights in White Satin” on the album.
Graeme also recalled jamming with several other icons in the late 60’s, including Eric Clapton, who also has a birthday today, Jimi Hendrix and Jack Bruce:
"One time I was on drums, Jack Bruce from Cream was on bass guitar, Eric Clapton was playing lead guitar, and Chas Chandler from The Animals, remember him? He came up with this American black guy who played his guitar upside down. And I played behind Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Two hours! And you know something, there was no cell phones, there was no recording of that in existence and I'd love it if there was because that was fun."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]