1966 The Moody Blues

In 1966 my sister and went to a Moody Blues concert in Paris. 

While we were waiting outside by the stage door to see the band arrive, we were interviewed by a guy who said he worked for a radio station. He was intrigued because we spoke English and because my sister was carrying this huge stuffed owl named Ostrobogolus. She wanted to give him to one of the band, but this radio station guy said we should throw him onstage. 

Ostrobogolus

For the concert we sat in the 2nd row. The guys sitting in the front row turned around and talked to us a lot about Ostrobogolus, plus the fact we were American, etc. The one who talked the most was named Alain and my sister had an instant crush on him (he was cute for sure). When I told him we had been interviewed by the radio station guy, he cracked up and told us that was no radio station guy, that was his brother Claude and the tape recorder didn't even work, he was just trying to meet girls! We felt pretty dumb. 

I believe Alain is the one who threw Ostrobogolus on stage.  Denny, the singer, picked him up and set him on John's piano and he sat there for the whole concert. When they left the stage, they took him with them.  

Moody Blues 1966

Afterwards we went backstage (easy at the Olympia in Paris if you spoke English). That’s the first time we met them. John said they were going to take Ostrobogolus to their recording studio and keep him on their piano because the Paris concerts were so successful. 

We saw them several times after that.  

Denny Laine

The final time, I told Denny about a Union Jack shirt i had just bought, it was a shirt that looked like it had been made from a British flag. He wanted to see it, so I shot home in a cab (that he paid for), got it, and wore it back. He loved it!  At the concert that night during the show, he yelled "Long live the shirt". I’m sure no one knew what he meant but my sister and me!

The next day he asked if I wanted to go to the airport with them. Of course I did. I cut school (again) and we went to the airport from the hotel in a Plymouth Valiant driven by an English girl who had something to do with the TV show "Ready Steady Go!" but who lived in Paris.  (I think she was the one who recruited the dancers). It was a tight fit in that car, as there were the 4 of them, and her and me. 

I stayed at the airport for a couple of hours until they left, and gave Denny a big hug, then she drove me home where I proceeded to get a royal ass chewing from my dad because that absence was the one that caused me to be suspended from school.  I didn’t care; I was flying high at that point, I was so crazy about Denny. The next day i got on the metro and someone asked for my autograph because they had seen me with the Moody Blues and thought I was 'someone'. How crazy was that?  But that was the last time I saw Denny. 

Later, the Moodys came back to Paris, but Denny was not there, it was Justin. That’s when

Denny Laine

their sound totally changed to what they are more famous for (which I love also). 

I heard Denny had had a nervous breakdown and was in a mental hospital, but I think that was all crap because I can find no record of it. Then he was with Paul McCartney and Wings. 

The Moodys did a song called "Everyday","…every day, someone finds a love they say". I haven't heard it since the last time I saw them.  And, "Go Now" is one I cannot listen to - ever.   He left a hole in my heart and this song rips it open every time.  This video may well be from that Paris concert.  

Go Now

I know I will always love Denny. Maybe someday he will come around here and I can find out if he remembers Ostrobogolus and 'Long live the shirt'

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December  5, 2023

Rest in Peace, Denny, I will never forget you.  "Long live the shirt!"