M&B Brewery 1960s Band
Once upon a time, (the 1960′s actually), there were five Brummie lads who liked beer and music. Sitting in the pub drinking their local ‘Brew X11′ for the “Men of the Midlands”, they decided to form a band.
One of them had heard that the Birmingham brewery Mitchells and Butlers were looking for a band to play at their trade fairs. So they decided to call themselves the M & B Band and tried to get sponsored by the brewery.
Unfortunately the M&B Brewery changed their marketing policy, and the lads never got the sponsorship they hoped for. In the meantime however the group had played at many venues as the M&B Band, and while they wanted to change their name, they didn’t want to confuse their customers and fans.
So they decided to call themselves something beginning with M and B, and became………..the Moody Blues! 
The original five Brummie lads were Ray Thomas, Clint Warwick, Graham Edge, Mike Pinder and Denny Laine (who later joined Paul McCartney and Wings, co-writing the “Mull of Kintyre“). Mike Pinder and Denny Laine both left early in the Moodies career, and were replaced by John Lodge and Justin Hayward.
1967 saw the Moody Blues produce their “Days of Future Passed” album together with a full classical orchestra. This album contained their biggest hit “Knights in White Satin“.
However I prefer their tribute to the late Timothy Leary ‘Legend of a Mind’, from “In Search of the Lost Chord“, 1968. This was a good showcase for Ray Thomas’s talent as a flautist.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Never been into pop music in a big way John but must say I have always liked “Knights in White Satin”. I’ll bet not many know that story regarding the groups name.
Bill
[Reply]
John McNally
Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Speaking as a drunk, it’s a bit of local history I gathered while boozing. M&B Brew X11 is one of my favourite session beers.
John
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Glad to see your post on the M&B Band! It was a good suggestion of mine. I bought In Search of the Lost Chord recently to listen to again.
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John McNally
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May 27th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
I’ve still got that one, but I gave “A Question of Balance” away, and I haven’t been able to get it again for £3/£5.
John
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Usually I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice article.
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John McNally
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May 29th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Glad you enjoyed it. I doubt that many people connected the M&B Brewery with the Moody Blues!
John
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Hi John, I’m pleased to see that you have added the plugins, have you noticed a difference yet?
I for one have never linked the M&B Brewery with the Moody Blues, but to be honest I grew up with a deaf mother so music was never playing in my house. Until my Brother and Sister bought their own record players and then it was David Bowie and Marc Bolan playing wall to wall.
Hope you’re well my friend, take care.
Regards, Barry
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John McNally
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June 3rd, 2010 at 6:22 am
Hello Barry,
The plugin “WordPress Thread Comment” works great thanks. I like the way my reply looks different, with the small photo in the top corner. I’ve also noticed that I’m getting more comments from all over the world, so the SEO must be good.
It’s all done automatically as well, so that appeals to my lazy nature. 
A house with wall-to-wall Bowie and T-Rex, sounds good to me Barry. I have two brothers. One was into Elvis, one was a Johnny Cash fan, and I liked the Beatles. Quite a good mix really.
I then moved onto Pink Floyd and Led Zepplin, and still listen to them nearly every day. 
In nearby Stratford Upon Avon there is a live music venue called ‘Cox’s Yard’. I have just seen ‘T-Rextacy’ and they were really good, – ‘Marc Bolan’ dressed the part as well.
See you back at your blog Barry.
John
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I really enjoyed your article and would like to know if I provide a link back to your site if I can use your article on one of my sites?
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John McNally
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June 4th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Of course you can use this article Kennith, no problem. I would appreciate the backlink though.
John
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