Long Distance Voyagers: The Story of the Moody Blues Volume 2 (1980-2018)

The Moody Blues have sold over 80 million records, and scored Top 20 hits in four different decades. Their 1965 single "Go Now!" became a No. 1 single, and they toured with the Beatles. In November 1967 came their now-classic Days of Future Passed, the first LP to combine rock and orchestral interludes, and another No. 1 single: "Nights in White Satin." Overnight, the genre of "symphonic rock" was born. Founding member Mike Pinder helped develop the Mellotron, an early synthesizer which could simulate the sound of a string orchestra. This innovation enabled the Moodies to reproduce their epic albums in concert. The Moody Blues were also the first rock group to champion the "concept album," following Days of Future Passed with the thematic classics In Search of the Lost Chord; On the Threshold of a Dream; To Our Children's Children's Children; A Question of Balance; and Long Distance Voyager.Volume 1 of this set covered the formation of the group, their breakthroughs in the 1960s, and the continuing 1970s success of the classic lineup of Hayward, Pinder, Lodge, Thomas, and Edge. Volume 2 begins at the dawn of the 1980s, when Mellotron guru and spiritual guide Mike Pinder exited the group, replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz. We follow The Moodies onward through four decades, climaxing with their heralded 2017 tour celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Days of Future Passed, featuring the entire album performed on stage with symphonic orchestras. Soon after came their 2018 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Extensively researched and featuring dozens of vintage interviews, reviews, and record-chart statistics, as well as hundreds of photos, Long Distance Voyagers: The Story of the Moody Blues Volume 2 (1980 - 2018) brings you to the threshold of a reality wilder than any dream.