kaili cochran
Photo by John Nichols
Words by Kaili Cochran
It’s not uncommon for a song to outshine the artist behind it. Take “Tubthumping,” for example. We all know the lyrics: “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down,” but how many people could actually name Chumbawamba as the band behind it?
Justin Hayward has experienced this firsthand (as have many other artists) during his career and in particular during his time as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for The Moody Blues, an English rock band formed in 1964.
“I’m fortunate that I have a recognizable voice when I sing. But it’s not that people know my name, I’m just ‘that guy from The Moody Blues’,” Hayward said.
Hayward joined The Moody Blues in 1966 at just 20 years old, working alongside Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, and John Lodge.
“There was no plan or strategy for what happened to us. Our success in The Moody Blues was slow and steady — nothing happened overnight,” Hayward said. “Unlike other groups brought to America expecting to headline, we expected to only open for others … which was what happened,”
Step by step, the band made their impact on rock history. More than 50 years later in 2018, Hayward, along with the other members of The Moody Blues, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — a bittersweet milestone, as it also marked the year of The Moody Blues’ dissolution.
The band coming to an end didn’t just close a door, but it opened another. Hayward began transitioning to his solo career, continuing to evolve as an artist. He went on to win numerous awards, including an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2022.
During his time with The Moody Blues, there was always a demanding cycle by the record company: record, tour, record, tour. But Hayward thrived under that pressure, believing it led him to create some of his best work.
Now, as a solo artist, he works at his own pace.
“I’m more of a ‘lazy guy’ now,” Hayward said. “I work on new material that I like, and I can reflect more on the catalog of songs I’ve had over the years.”
His solo career allows him to more deeply explore past and new music that he describes as the diary of his life.
“I wrote so many songs that there’s some that I only ever played in the studio for like an afternoon, and then they were gone. But now I’m getting to really enjoy those [songs] and reflect on them.” Hayward said.
Beyond writing and playing, Hayward has been able to dive into the making of his music. Hayward shared that in the early career of The Moody Blues, the band members weren’t even invited to be in the control room as they worked on their first few albums. They would stay in the studio and the producer or sound engineer would say when there’s been a good take and the band could listen to it on the way out.
But in his solo career and collaboration with Alberto Parodi, Hayward has the creative freedom to engage more with the process that comes from creating songs and albums.
“I can immerse myself in the whole process…the recording, the technicalities of recording, and the endless possibilities that there are in making music,” Hayward said.
Hayward’s latest record featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra, “Life In A Northern Town,” is out now on YouTube.
As part of his Blue World Tour, Hayward will be playing at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on April 21st. For tickets and more information, visit floridatheatre.com.
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