Moody Blues’ Graeme Edge Passed Away At 80

RIP

Graeme Edge, drummer, co-founder and last original member of the Moody Blues, passed away at the age of 80. His cause of death wasn’t revealed.

“It’s a very sad day,” Moody Blues singer Justin Hayward wrote on Facebook. “Graeme’s sound and personality is present in everything we did together and thankfully that will live on. When Graeme told me he was retiring, I knew that without him it couldn’t be the Moody Blues anymore. And that’s what happened. It’s true to say that he kept the group together throughout all the years, because he loved it.”

Born in Rocester, Staffordshire, in 1941, Edge was a member of the band during their formation in 1964. He also played in each of their studio albums. In 2019, he retired from touring. The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

“I’m not gonna make a long speech. I’m 77 years old, I ain’t got time,” Edge said in his acceptance speech. “The first thing I want to do… I want to thank Justin and John for putting up with me for 50 years and counting. I want to thank me for putting up with Justin and John for 50 years and counting. I want to thank everyone in the world that’s ever helped me. You know who you are. Thank you. And all the people in the world that haven’t helped me… screw you.”

Several other classic rock artists paid tribute to Edge on social media.