Mike Pinder, last living Moody Blues founder, dies months after Naples' Denny Laine

The last original member of The Moody Blues is gone. Keyboardist Mike Pinder died Wednesday in Northern California, according to his family, the band and guitarist John Lodge of Naples.

Pinder follows original singer and guitarist Denny Laine, who died in Naples last year.

"Very sad news, the last of the original lineup of the Moody Blues has passed away," wrote Laine's widow, Elizabeth Hines of Naples, on Instagram Wednesday. "He is now reunited with Denny, Ray, Graeme and Clint; what a joyous reunion that must be."

Lodge and The Moody Blues confirmed the news Thursday on Facebook.

"All the love possible goes out from the Lodge family to Mike's family today," Lodge and The Moody Blues wrote in separate posts. "RIP."

Moody Blues' Mike Pinder: His family pays tribute

Pinder was 82 years old. He died surrounded by his family, according to the Facebook post.

No cause of death was revealed.

"Michael's family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully," Pinder's family said in a statement posted by Lodge and The Moody Blues. "His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart."

The statement continued: "He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, "Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground." His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come."

Mike Pinder's death follows Denny Laine of Naples

Pinder sang and played keyboard in The Moody Blues. He founded the British band in 1964 with Laine, Ray Thomas, Clint Warwick and Graeme Edge.

Laine was 79 when he died Dec. 5 at Naples' NCH Baker Hospital. After getting COVID in 2022, the singer-guitarist had been in and out of the hospital for various health issues, Hines said last year, including a collapsed lung, bacterial infections and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), the lung disease that eventually killed him.

He's buried at North Naples' Palm Royale Funeral Home & Cemetery.

Both Laine and Pinder were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 with The Moody Blues.

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Moody Blues: Mike Pinder dead five months after Denny Laine of Naples