HAVING chalked up over 50 years in the music, Justin Hayward’s voice is one of rock music’s most distinctive.

Known principally as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for the Moody Blues, his is an enduring talent that has helped to define one of the UK’s classic bands. And he is playing New Brighton this September.

Over 45 years, the band sold 55million albums and received many awards. Commercial success has gone hand in hand with critical acclaim, and the Moody Blues are renowned the world over as innovators and trail blazers in the genres of psychedelic and progressive rock.

In 2018, along with the other members of the Moody Blues, Justin was inducted into the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Having started the ball rolling as a songwriter in his own right with a couple of solo singles, Justin joined the Moody Blues in the summer of 1966. Hitting his stride immediately with the single Fly Me High, he followed it up with the classic hit songs Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon from the seminal album Days of Future Past.

This purple patch showed no sign of abating as Justin created other classic, era and genre-defining hits Question, The Voice, I Know You’re Out There Somewhere and Your Wildest Dreams.

Proving that he could write massive hits outside the Moody Blues, Justin hit the top ten globally in 1978 with Forever Autumn – created for Jeff Wayne’s classic War of the Worlds album. Becoming, even for a writer of his stature, a signature song, this was the spur to him taking to the stage – for five years, from 2005-2010 - and starring in the spectacular live stadium production of the album based on HG Wells’ sci-fi classic.

He is consistently touring the globe with the Moody Blues and as a solo artist accompanied by Julie Ragins and Mike Dawes.

“I have spent most of my life, so far, on the road,” added Justin. “Playing live and creating a small piece of magic in a room is like a drug to me, one that I never want to give up.”

n Justin Hayward plays New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion on Thursday, September 15, 2022. Doors open 7.30pm. Tickets from floralpavilion.com