Frances Kindon
January 7, 2017
“It is with profound sorrow and sadness that Cherry Red Records and Esoteric Recordings regret to announce that Ray Thomas, founder member, flautist and vocalist of the Moody Blues, passed away suddenly at his home in Surrey on Thursday 4th January 2018,” the company said in a statement.
“We are deeply shocked by his passing and will miss his warmth, humour and kindness. It was a privilege to have known and worked with him and our thoughts are with his family and his wife Lee at this sad time.”
The singer, songwriter and musician was one of the founding members of the band, and remained with them until 2002 when he retired due to ill health.
In 2014 Ray, who suffered from mobility issues, confirmed that he’d been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but assured fans it was largely treatable.
In a statement he said: “My cancer was in-operable but I have a fantastic doctor who immediately started me on a new treatment that has had 90 per cent success rate.
“The cancer is being held in remission but I’ll be receiving this treatment for the rest of my life. I have four close friends who have all endured some kind of surgery or treatment for this cancer and all are doing well.
Read More HERE
Condolences to the family and friends of Ray Thomas. Say hi to Timothy Leary big guy!
I’m sure Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge (the only original member still a MB) wii issue some seemingly sincere note of condolence over their ex-mate’s passing.
But my reading of Hayward’s recent reaction to the forthcoming induction was that his Blondness wasn’t at all sure that Ray Thomas or original keyboardist Mike Pinder should be on stage. As for Hayward’s predecessor Denny Laine—whose Go Now hit gave the Moodies the means to survive until Hayward and Lodge joined—he ain’t welcome. Yet without Laine, there probably wouldn’t have been a Moodies waiting for Hayward and Lodge.
Lodge’s predecessor Clint Warwick died a few years back. But if Pinder and yes, Laine, aren’t on that stage, it will be yet another Hall Of Fame Inductiion sullied by pettiness and spite between a band’s Innies and Outies. That HOF list of bickerers (Chicago, Blondie, CCR, ELO) is growing all the time.
To prevent the Moodies from joining it, percussionist Edge must put his (bass drum) foot down and tell “new boys” Hayward and Lodge: “This isn’t cricket.” Pinder definitely belongs on stage, Laine should IMHO be there, too.
Great band, the previous generation to me is passing away. I remember their music from the 1960s to the 1980s.
RIP
Sadly it seems like there is not a week that goes by that someone in Rock History Passes On.