Mike Pinder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Pinder
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Pinder in 1974
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Thomas Pinder |
| Born | 27 December 1941 Erdington, Birmingham, England |
| Died | 24 April 2024 (aged 82) California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
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| Years active | 1964–1978, 1994–2024 |
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Michael Thomas Pinder (born December 27, 1941 – died April 24, 2024) was an English rock musician. He was a founding member of the famous rock band The Moody Blues. Mike was the band's original keyboard player.
He left the group in 1978 after their album Octave. Mike Pinder was known for his amazing contributions to music technology. He helped make the Mellotron a popular instrument in 1960s rock music. In 2018, he joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Moody Blues. He was the last living member of the band's first five members.
Contents
Mike Pinder and The Moody Blues
Early Days of the Band
Mike Pinder was born in Erdington, Birmingham, England. When he was young, he loved rocket ships and outer space. This led to his nickname, "Mickey The Moon Boy." These interests often appeared in the songs he wrote later on.
In 1964, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas, and other musicians formed The Moody Blues. The first song they released, "Steal Your Heart Away," didn't become a hit. However, their second song, "Go Now," became the number one song in the UK in January 1965.
The band had another UK hit called "I Don't Want To Go On Without You." Then they released their first album, The Magnificent Moodies. On this album, Mike Pinder sang the main vocals for the song "I Don't Mind." Another song from the album, "Bye Bye Bird," was a big hit in France.
Mike Pinder and guitarist Denny Laine started writing songs for the band. They wrote many B-sides (songs usually found on the back of a single record). They also wrote hit songs like "Everyday" and "From The Bottom of My Heart." Later, the band's bassist and lead singer left the group.
The Classic Moody Blues Line-up
Mike Pinder played a key role in finding a new guitarist and singer, Justin Hayward. Mike called Justin and picked him up at the train station. His old friend John Lodge joined as the new bassist. This completed the famous 'classic' line-up of The Moody Blues.
At first, the band tried to continue with their old style of music. But then they decided to only record their own original songs. Mike Pinder and Justin Hayward led the way. Justin's song "Fly Me High" was the first song released by the new line-up.
Mike Pinder found a used Mellotron, which is a special keyboard instrument. He changed it by removing sound effects and adding more string sounds. He used this Mellotron on many Moody Blues recordings. Their song "Love and Beauty" was the first to feature it. Mike Pinder wrote and sang this song.
Mike Pinder also introduced the Mellotron to his friend John Lennon. The Beatles then used the instrument in their famous song "Strawberry Fields Forever."
Mike Pinder's song "Dawn (Is A Feeling)" started the album Days of Future Passed. Mike also wrote "The Sunset" for this album. He even narrated the opening and closing poems on the album.
Mike Pinder, along with the band's engineer and producer, found a new way to play the Mellotron. They made its sound flow like a symphony, instead of cutting off sharply. This unique symphonic sound became a key part of The Moody Blues' music.
Mike Pinder was one of the first musicians to use the Mellotron in live shows. He used his mechanical skills to keep the instrument working. Once, during their first US concert, the back of the Mellotron fell open! All the tape strips came out. Mike quickly fixed it in 20 minutes while the audience watched cartoons.
Besides the Mellotron, Mike Pinder played many other instruments. These included organ, piano, harpsichord, and Moog synthesizer. He also played percussion, guitar, and sang harmonies and lead vocals. He was also the band's main music arranger until 1978.
Mike Pinder wrote and sang many of the band's deeper, more thoughtful songs. These included "(Thinking is) The Best Way To Travel" and "Om." He also wrote the symphonic rock piece "Have You Heard/The Voyage/Have You Heard (part two)."
His song "A Simple Game" (1968) won an Ivor Novello Award. This song was later covered successfully by The Four Tops. Mike Pinder's 1970 song "Melancholy Man" became a number one hit in France.
In 1971, Mike Pinder's song "My Song" ended the album Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. He also helped write the opening track "Procession." In the same year, Mike played tambourine on John Lennon's Imagine album.
In 1972, The Moody Blues recorded Seventh Sojourn at Mike Pinder's home studio. This album included two songs written and sung by Mike: "Lost in a Lost World" and "When You're A Free Man."
Band Break and Later Life
The Moody Blues took a break from recording in 1974. This was mainly due to being tired from touring and wanting to spend time with their families. Mike Pinder moved to Malibu, California. In 1976, he released his first solo album, The Promise.
In 1977, the band started recording again. Mike Pinder helped with their 1978 album Octave. He recorded a song called "One Step Into the Light" with the band. He also added some synthesizer and backing vocals to the album. However, he stopped coming to the recording sessions because of disagreements. Mike also had a new family and preferred not to tour. So, the band hired another keyboardist, Patrick Moraz.
After leaving The Moody Blues, Mike Pinder worked as a consultant for the Atari computer company. He focused on music synthesis. He also remarried and started a family in Grass Valley, California.
He stayed out of the public eye until the mid-1990s. Then, he started giving interviews and working on new music. In 1994, he released his second solo album, Among the Stars. In 1995, he released A Planet With One Mind. On this album, Mike read seven children's stories from different cultures. This album was well-received and was a finalist for an award for children's recordings.
Mike Pinder continued to work in his studio. He worked on his own projects and helped new artists develop their music.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In April 2018, Mike Pinder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted as a member of The Moody Blues. However, he was the only one of the five band members on stage who did not give a speech. Some fans thought this was a quiet protest because the Hall of Fame had not included the group in earlier years.
Mike Pinder explained his decision on his website. He said the ceremony was very long and loud. He felt it was best for the current touring members of the band to speak first. He was happy that the band was finally inducted for their fans. He said, "the fans are my hall of fame."
Family Life
Mike Pinder's first marriage was to Donna Roth. They had a son named Daniel. Later, Mike married Tara Lee, and they had two more sons, Matt and Michael Lee. All three of his sons are musicians.
His oldest son, Daniel, is a film music editor. He has worked on movies like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. His other two sons, Matt and Michael Lee, perform together as The Pinder Brothers. They have released two CDs. Mike Pinder sometimes played his Mellotron on their songs.
In 2013, Justin Hayward mentioned that Mike Pinder and other Moody Blues members learned Transcendental Meditation in 1967.
Death
Mike Pinder passed away at his home in northern California on April 24, 2024. He was 82 years old. He had been suffering from dementia for some years.
Solo Albums
- The Promise (1976)
- Among the Stars (1994)
Images for kids
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See also
In Spanish: Mike Pinder para niños
