The last surviving founding member of the Moody Blues; keyboardist and Mellotron pioneer Mike Pinder, has died at his northern California home.

No cause was given.

Pinder founded the Moodies in 1964 along with Denny Laine, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas and Clint Warwick.

Their breakthrough hit; a cover of ”Go Now,” came out that same year.

Pinder and Laine co-wrote all of the group’s songs for the 1965 debut album.

After Laine and Warwick left the band, Pinder’s the one credited with bringing in Justin Hayward, who, with newly added bassist John Lodge, would go on to form the Blues’ ”classic” line-up.

 

 

 

(Clockwise from top left, Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas, John Lodge, Mike Pinder and Jason Hayward)

Pinder, Edge, Thomas and newcomers Hayward and Lodge, recorded eight albums; from 1967’s ”Days of Future Passed” to 1978’s “Octave.”