Mike Pinder playing the Mellotron at the documentary double feature for Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie and On The Threshold of a Dream in Los Angeles, 2010
This man was a giant, the Moodys would not have even be possible if not for Mikes Mellotron/synthesizers, A fantastic voice, a great work ethic.....I cried when I found out that he had passed, he was one of a handful of musicians that really made an impression on me, the world won't be quite the same without this musical/technical GENIUS...sleep tight Mike....you are missed !!!
Not to argue, but that could said of any group that lost a major cog. The Stones w/o Brian, Traffic w/o Dave, The Hollies w/o Graham. Well, you get my drift 😉
Well you know that Mike was the spiriitual leader of the Moody Blues, and when he left the group they struggled to achieve the same level of creativity and message that was obvious in their classic seven albums. On the other hand, Mike was also energized by the creative energy of the others, and when he left the band he likewise struggled to achieve previous visionary creativity. Let's just leave it that the five member band experienced a synergy that cannot be reproduced outside of that time frame when all were pulling the cart in the same direction.
the Mellotron has such pathos built into....it's the 'analog'/ lo-fi sound, slightly woozy....all those tapes warbling around all those capstans...it sounds like western civilization about to 'shuffle off this mortal coil' into an interstellar afterlife
I can't believe it... Mike, you will always be my favorite of the Moodies. You had an incredible impact on MUSIC altogether. On Psychedelic, Progressive, and bands --like the Beatles! You will be missed... ❤
Quite amazing, it he? A wonderful piece of electronic wizardry, especially for its time. I can't believe that they didn't spiff up the one that he's using in this video. A fresh coat of paint, at least.
@@jamesmartin3870 Consoles are very hard to rig. They are heavy and require a special dolly. They get banged up. If you make it pretty, it will just get banged up again. Besides, the wear gives it character.
That is so true, Mike's spaciness really made the Moodies. Each album seemed to be a statement while Mike was in the band. All albums prior to Octive were incredible. I think Justin Hayward is a genius also.
What would the Moody Blues early music been, w/o Mike Pinder? They wouldn’t have been at all, w/o Mike! The soul of the band w/this unique at the time, Mellotron in it. I’m sad you’re gone, Mike. 😔 I grew up listening to the Moody Blues when my friends were still listening to bubble gum @12. Thanks to my oldest sis, who had all the _best_ albums! I lost track of how many times over the decades, from my teens to well into adulthood, I saw them live. A _unique_ experience like no other... *Thank you Mike.* I hope you’ve found rest in the arms of our Savior.✝And the He carries your heartbroken family & loved ones, through this heavy time, for as long as they need. To your former band mates still w/us, I wish them the same. We’ve lost a grand man & musician. As the Moody’s did too, when you departed. But, you were still around.... 💔 You still are.🎶Through your music, you always will be.🎹🎵🎼💜
Mike Pinder was an innovator and co-founder of the Moody Blues. His contributions to the band's dynamic, sound and songs are immeasurable. Good to see him still active and enjoy the music of the Moody Blues.
PINDER is probably one of the greatest and most innovative keyboardist in music history...his band did their greatest timeless albums with him so his creative force is also unmistakable...it's never been the same since he quit...probably never will be
There were a couple moments when I thought he was going to break out into Watcher Of The Skies. LOL Love his music and what he did with this instrument!!
Lying there studying in university or med school, listening: "Gazing past the planets, Looking for total view, I've been lying here for hours, you've got to make the journey out and in..." Pinder made my life better
'read that he actually worked for the factory and helped improve the mellotron, so he's an engineer as well as a musician. Great guy, incredible instrument.
I remember it breaking down at the Fillmore East. The thing that struck me about it was how appreciative they were of the acceptance and patience of the audience. It was the mutual appreciation flowing in both directions that made it memorable
When I think of the Moody Blues, Mike Pinder immediately comes to mind. My Song, Have You Heard, and Melancholy Man are wonderful compilations that speak to the brilliance of Mr. Pinder. When he left, The Moody Blues were never the same.
They did some amazing songs with this instrument that will always be remembered. Like he said in an interview..he lived in Britain as a child during the war and knew real hardship. This instrument really allows him to bring some real emotion into their songs back then. They were young when they first got together. I can imagine that it was good for them to take a 4 year bread before getting back together. It probably made their music better. Mike's musical history knowledge is awesome.
I am blessed to Have been born Gen X but blessed more to have had a Mom that LOVED the Moodies an to have that love of passed on to me. With My Mother passing some time ago..I Cherish Sunday chores an Cooking a nice roast with The Moodie's playing in the background... And now With Grand Daughter at 7 years of age to share stories of How my Mom would put on a platter... break out the Vacuum as I do now and get Sunday Dinner on the go. Rest In Bliss Mike. Bless.
I met Mike in the early 90s and he is easily one of the most real and personable stars I ever met! Ive seen the Moodys 30 times and I would love to see mike back in the band!
For those too young to know, back in the 60s, there were no digital keyboards that could produce unlimited sounds. There was just the piano and a handful of different sounding organs. Then THIS hit the scene. And only the Moody Blues had it. Mike tells the story of Justin Hayward coming into the studio with "Nights in White Satin." Played it to the others, who were like, "Ok - no big deal." Then Mike had Justin sing the opening line again, this time with Mike adding the opening mellotron notes. And the rest is history...
I really like Mike's music with the Moodies....He is the most moody and the most blue of the Moody Blues...he just severed himself from them or mutual...but I have heard the others say they would love to see him...He does not say that and in an interview he said something really bad to Graeme and that created a silly rift that they all never got over...Mike has never done anything of significance again...too bad..such a talent...just still does mellotron historical things.He is a melancholy man
What about when he said to Edge ' your just a drummer' after Graeme was bothering him in the studio on Octave. I heard that he left because Edge said its him or me.
It has such a deep and mellow sound. I like the sound better than today's synthesizers. I saw them in 1972 with Mike playing the mellotron and was completely blown away. Aston you have a good ear for pure and beautiful sound / music. :)
Love the Mellotron. Love 💕 Mike.and GREATLY SEE .. HEAR... & FEEL HOW ALL THE INDIVIDUALS truly are The FABULOUS MOODY BLUES !!!!!🌹🌹🌹🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️🎉🎉🤷♀️😻🙀🙏😅😊😊😊😊😊🙋🏼♀️
Most of "today's synthesizers", that is, what most people, including their manufacturers, nowadays call "synthesizers" are no more really synthesizers than the mellotron was--or is. The mellotron was or is simply a collection of analog recordings, just as most of "today's synthesizers" are simply collections of digital recordings. That makes them a very different species of animal from the voltage-controlled analog modular synthesizers of Robert Moog and Don Buchla from the late sixties and into the seventies.
This is interesting. I was actually wondering the other day if those cheap multi voice keyboards are true synths or not and you've answered my question.
I've been a MB fan since the sixties, listened to most of their songs and without a doubt Mike Pinder and the melloton gave much of the character to their first 7 albumns. These were the classics and the best of their recordings. I always held out hope that they might get back together for a sentimental tour, playing all their great hits from the core 7 albumns. Life to short to hold a grudge that long.
fer real Sarlos! he and the mellotron gave that Trademark feel and sound to Moodies. Hell....it IS why they became the "Moody" blues! Orchestral gave a rollercoaster gave Rock bands that emotional rollercoaster of emotion. LOved it! You are soooo right!
Wow, am I getting old. I remember The Moody Blues 1st hit, Go Now. Sung by Denny Laine, who later joined McCartney and Wings. Always loved the big sound of the Mellotron.
I have all the Moody's music and the one Blue Jays album. Their music is ethereal in sound and most soothing to the ear. My husband and I have seen them 5-times. God's blessings to them.
I love some classical music, but when it comes to rock music, Mike and his mellotron beat an orchestra hands down. Nothing else has that haunting quality.
Mike Pinder may not be the best keyboardist ever, but he was the soul of the Moody Blues Classic 7. He created an ambiance - a mood - an emotion for these albums. Who else did that? No one. The Moody Blues to their credit it seems to me were a democracy. Egos were shelved for the sake of the music and the evolution of their own ideas and sound. Each one of the Moody Blues on the "Magnificent 7" were contributors. Graeme Edge was not a drummer - he was a percussionist, the bass playing is inventive, flutes, voice harmonies - it must have been wondrous to participate in the creation of the Magnificent 7.
I love reading the texts from true Moody Blues fans..It's really a blast to realize that their music had the same effect on them as it did me..Mike Pinder to me is in the same stratus as Brian Wilson..
@@Syfollyes, loved Rick Wright & Mike & the atmosphere that both set for their bands. As a teen, I ‘Discovered’ both groups in the early 80’s & they became my two favorite bands growing up.
rest in peace inventor of the best instrument ever. thanks for your songs, thanks for your work, thanks for your life, Ill be always with you. and i guess, we'll meet again very soon ;) :(
Hey to all you loyal MB fans don't you think that Mike Pinder and the rest of the Moodies should mend fences its been long enough don't you think and if there ever comes a time when the Moodies ever decide to call it a career like the Who has recently he should be included as a member of the group what do you say?
I'm not sure Pinder is interested. He doesn't seem to be interested in being in a band. I have not seen any output like that. I bet a ton of prog groups would love him to be in the band, and would even feature him and they would do Moody Blues music. I certainly would love to play guitar for Pinder, and could do nothing but Moody Blues music and be very happy! Hey Mike, I don't know any MB songs other than Knights in White Satin, but I would love to form a band with you!!. I can even move to L.A.
Sadly, a reunion is no longer an option with the sad passing of Ray Thomas. Thankfully, we have many memories that will never fade away and are recorded for all time.
Sometimes we must leave well enough alone. While I am sure many would love to see the original band play again, their days of future have passed, along with Ray sadly. I have seen a few 'reunions' in my time working in 'the biz'. They never quite have the original magic and the music suffers slightly as well. The modernization of playing songs onstage that are 40-50 yrs old now is a detriment to the orginal sound as recorded or performed way back then. For those who have seen the MBs in their heyday it would be somewhat of a let down. Remember them as they were, a great band that left timeless moments for us to listen to forever.
I have a digitally sampled Mellotron (the brilliant GForce Retron) and I don't regard it as cheating. Firstly, you can't buy a real Mellotron today and if you could find one they are hell to maintain, secondly I have access to the many great Mellotron sounds that hardly anyone back in the day used, like wineglasses, mandolins, clarinet and guitar which sound just as good as the more commonly used strings, flute and choirs. I also have a sampled Chamberlain which inspired the Mellotron.
@@astrophonix Totally agree, can't stand the people that act as if the Mellotron is some sort of organic instrument that can't be recreated. Sampling and playing an instrument that is too temperamental and expensive to use nowadays is called being logical!
IMHO, When Mike left the MOODIES they lost the cosmic connection and the music became less significant and more pop oriented. The other moodies are fine song writers in their own right but Mike lifted them to a more spiritual significance that they never really achieved again.
@Aeryn Sun I totally agree, with the loss of pinder, The cosmic sound which was a key element of their style was gone. Never again would we hear this gorgeous music, pinder's voice and great writing.
@@cyclic8 Mike Pinder brought a mindset to the group that they could not replace. Moratz was probably a more technically advanced musician (but did he ever write a lyric?) but Pinder was/is a more advanced human being. He knew stuff. He had out of the body experiences, a voice of wisdom IMHO. When you lose a thought leader, you lose more than just a keyboard player. Their early music, the first 7 albums was absolutely unique, the later albums seemed more like other pop albums out there despite some great songs and melodies over the years.
The way they came together after Denny left is one of the most unlikely of occurrences. Mike introduced the mellotron and Justin started writing so beautifully. John and Ray seemed to come in to their own as well. Denny did ok for himself too.
I agree with Carlo D'Anna. Mike is the reason I fell in love with the Moodies in the first place after seeing them in 1972. I'm still a big fan but they are not the same. Would love to see them together again and using the mellotron.
I remember hearing Ray Thomas saying in an interview about the boredom that was setting in with the Moodies in the 70's..."Mike, create another miracle on the mellotron." He is profoundly gifted, and the MB's simply weren't the same when he departed. The famous "7 albums" were vastly superior to anything that came afterwards. The various "solo" albums were to an album disastrous (I should know I bought them).
The Moody Blues were a product of the counterculture, they were interpreting their experiences during that time. Once the counterculture was over, they were no longer writing songs inspired by mystical experiences. For some bands, like The Moody's and The Airplane, they did their best work during that period. Other bands, like the Beatles had the talent to write interesting songs outside of those influences.
Mike made a wise decision leaving when he did. The stuff Hayward was writing at that point which was mostly soft pop/rock would never have fitted his style. Patrick Moraz was perfect for the 80’s Moody Blues and he helped salvage their career. Mike wanted to raise a family, fair play to him. His awesome talent is with us forever in those core seven albums.
When Mike left Moody Blues. part of the Moodies sound went with him. The mellotron sound. He used to re-force chorus, that´s why moody blues albums without Mike don´t have those magnificient and deep chorus
Mike's Mellotron turned an average R&B group into something truly special. Each member of the Moody's had gifts, but I believe it was Mike's sound which enabled them to reinvent themselves after the Denny Laine period. Touring is really hard on the body and mind, and he got out with his health and sanity. That's a real bargain!
Been a casual Moody fan for awhile but am finally getting into them very heavily now. As a casual fan, I didn't mind the three continuing but now that I know more it really is kinda nuts that they tour without all 5. I get that it can all be replicated, but this is one of those rare bands where EVERYONE is pretty essential and has their place. People say Pink Floyd can reunite. No, they can't without Rick Wright who is integral. Mike Pinder is integral to the Moody Blues sound. Not even getting into the fantastic playing, half of the reason I knew the Moodys all these years was that distinctive narration voice on all their records! You're telling me he doesn't play with them anymore?! I get it, they need to continue on, but I didn't realize how much they really should have all 5 still there. All those albums were such band efforts it feels weird that Mike, and Ray, aren't there live. Mike is responsible for so much, and I say that even though Justin and John are my favorites songwise.
Thanks for the update. I agree with everyone on here in saying that the Moodies were a vital part of R & R and should have gotten much more recognition than they ever received for their classic works.
There may have been a personal drama with the boys, something they could not resolve. Mike has never looked back as the group reinvent themselves. But time does heal and it takes a long time. Mike did have his family and pride and wanted independence.I think the distant past has a lot to do with the split, in fact I know it does, I was there!
wonderful to hear Mike again. I wish he would get together with John and Justin and be the New Trio now that Graeme has retired. this is 2021 now wishful hand hopeful thinking! Love you always Mike!
I think what might possibly happen is that Graeme would pass on, and the surviving members, with Mike Pinder included (by invitation), would do a memorial concert, which would give Mike an opportunity to recite all of Graeme's wonderful poetry once again.
I WAS THERE! I attended this premiere at The Egyptian in 2010! The presentation was fabulous! But you can see it in Pinder's demeanor, that that old beastly Mellotron that someone "donated" to the premiere that night for him to play, was drastically out of tune! Beats the living snot outta me, why they didn't wheel onto the stage, one of those BEAUTIFUL Mellotrons that were featured in much of their early films & "videos" back in the day? (Probably 'cause NONE even exist anymore!)
As a musician, I always thought that this instrument was not enough appreciated. I am sure that Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven and many other great composers had used it if it was available at their time. The results got by the Moody Blues, and other bands are inquestionable now that enough time has passed. Don't forget that Mozart used the Glass Armonica to compose some concerts and pieces. I know that many of you don't know what this instrument is and that Mozart used it. Look for it, please: your are going to get surprised. I can imagine what he could do with the mellotrone. Thank you, Mike Pinder for creating this jewel. Be produ of all the work you have done for all of us
A lot of bands have had a Mellotron, but I still credit Mike as the Mellotron King. He did more with it than anyone else, and influenced others to take it up (like Fripp).
