The Moody Blues Announce NZ Shows

Anyone who's had a car stereo that doesn't go higher than 90fm will know (and probably secretly love) The Moody Blues. They are Solid Gold FM favourites and they're coming to NZ this November for two shows...

Saturday 26th November, Michael Fowler Centre - Wellington
Sunday 27th November, The Civic Theatre - Auckland

Ticketing details below. Here is the video for their biggest hit released in 1967 - "Nights in White Satin" :

Press Release:

THE LONG AWAITED RETURN OF

NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2011

WELLINGTON, MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, SAT 26TH NOVEMBER
Book @ 0800ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz

AUCKLAND, THE CIVIC THEATRE, SUN 27TH NOVEMBER
Book @ 0800buytickets or www.buytickets.co.nz

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 15TH AUGUST

With a career that spans over four decades The Moody Blues are one of the most enduring rock bands in music history. They have generated a legendary list of hit songs that are regarded as some of the most groundbreaking and innovative music of our time.

Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge continue their magical music legacy with the first New Zealand tour in 6 years, and their first ever visit to Auckland.

The band’s unique style of music consistently finds airplay on radio stations globally and continues to sell out shows around the world. From being immortalized on The Simpsons to having their music featured in movies, television and advertising campaigns, The Moody Blues are embedded in not only music history, but in pop culture.

A legendary band with an incredible list of hits including NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN, RIDE MY SEE SAW, THE STORY IN YOUR EYES, ISN’T LIFE STRANGE, QUESTION, I’M JUST A SINGER IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND, to name few. The Moody Blues have sold over 70 million albums and received multi platinum and gold albums and have, over the course of several decades, performed sold out tours, making them one of the top grossing album and touring bands ever.

The Moody Blues first album DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED was released in 1967 and was a ground breaking concept album that for the first time fused an orchestra with electric guitars. The album was so unique in its approach that it became a landmark moment in popular music history. Their record company, Decca Records had requested that the band record an album to test stereo recording, which was in its infancy at the time. Decca being a mainly classical label asked the Moody Blues to record a rock version of Dvorak’s 9th Symphony. The band complied but wanted to record it on their own terms. They came up with the concept of fusing classical music with rock, but written to their own soundtrack. The result, DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, an album that today is still considered a masterpiece.

The second single from the album, NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN, was one of the first 4 minute songs played on commercial radio going on to become one of the biggest selling singles in history and hitting #1 three separate times on Billboard. The ultimate result: one of the greatest selling albums of all time.

Following the enormous success of the first album THE MOODY BLUES expanded their musical canvas exploring different types of sounds branching away from their original symphony sound into psychedelic and straight ahead rock. They produced a string of hit albums during the 60s and 70s including IN SEARCH OF THE LORD CHORD, ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DRUM, TO OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN’S CHILDREN, A QUESTION OF BALANCE, EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES A FAVOUR and SEVENTH SOJOURN.

After SEVENTH SOJOURN The Moody Blues took a short hiatus and worked on other projects. During this time, to keep their fans satisfied, released a live album as well as a greatest hits album.

In 1977 the band released OCTAVE, which shot to the top of the charts and included hit singles such as Steppin’ in a Slide Zone and Driftwood. In 1980 the album LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER was released which went to the top of the charts at #1 on the Billboard 200 with hit singles Gemini Dream and The Voice.

The band continued to release more studios albums throughout the 80’s. In 1992 The Moody Blues reached another milestone celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED and the first time, they performed this album live with a symphony orchestra.

In 2000 they released STRANGE TIMES, their first studio album in eight years. In 2003 The Moodies released the first holiday album of their career entitled DECEMBER. The band’s majestic orchestral mix of rock and pop fit beautifully in the Christmas inspired CD.

Nashville paid tribute to the band in 2004 with the release of MOODY BLUEGRASS in which 31 of Nashville’s top musicians recorded and translated the group’s 70’s and 80’s classics into bluegrass form.

In 2008 The Moody Blues released their first seven albums, containing the band’s legendary chart topping singles from the 60’s and 70’s.

In 2011 with a tour in progress, the legacy of The Moody Blues continues to live on. As the world continues to revolve on its axis during any time of economic and political uncertainty, The Moody Blues have always been there to provide the world with live music that is engaging and appropriate to the times.

As they continue to tour and perform for millions of fans around the world The Moody Blues will always offer that unique experience of rock and roll delivered with connectedness, commitment and a sentiment of peace.

“We found early success in an era when freedom of expression was everything,” says Justin Hayward. “Then it became important for us to capture that moment of inspiration and that spark of magic that we had found through song writing and recording and to relive it with an audience every time we go on stage. That is a feeling I personally never want to give up having”, continues Hayward. “We’re so glad to be on this journey.”