Band’s Song Inspires Amusement Park Ride
By Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
Classic rockers The Moody Blues have lined up a two month, 29-city spring theater tour in the U.S. that includes several multiple-night engagements. The veteran British group kicks things off with a two-night stand March 4-5 at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre. The tour continues through April 27 in Providence, RI.
The tour coincides with the scheduled May opening of the Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, SC, touted as the world’s first rock and roll theme park featuring a ride based on the group’s signature song, “Nights in White Satin.” The four-and-a-half minute ride, Nights in White Satin – The Trip, promises to be a multi-sensory experience and will include lasers, dreamlike images and special effects.
Original band members Justin Hayward (vocals/guitar), John Lodge (bass/vocals) and Graeme Edge (drums) were on hand to unveil the ride plans on Oct. 31, and also donated their last Mellotron (an early version of the synthesizer) to add to the park’s genuine rock memorabilia. They also re-recorded the song with the Moscow Symphony to place sounds in different places around the ride.
The band’s latest release is “Live at the BBC 1967-70,” released this past May. Their 41-track, double CD span their trips to the BBC studios, including TV appearances from that time.
The Moody Blues tour dates:
March 2008
4-5 – CA San Francisco -Orpheum Theater
7-8 – NV Reno – Silver Legacy Casino
9 – CA Santa Rosa – Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
11 – CA Los Angeles – Nokia Theatre
13-14 – CA Temecula – Pechanga Resort and Casino
15 NVLas Vegas – Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
16 – AZ Sahuarita – Desert Diamond Casino
18 – TX El Paso – Plaza Theatre
20 – TX Ft. Worth – Bass Performance Hall
21 – TX Austin – Austin Music Hall
22 – TX Houston – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
23 – MS Biloxi – Beau Rivage
25 – FL Hollywood – Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
27 – FL Clearwater – Ruth Eckerd Hall
28 – FL Melbourne – King Center for the Performing Arts
29 – FL Sarasota – Van Wezel Performing Arts Center
31 – FL Ft. Meyers – Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
April 2008
1 – FL Orlando – Hard Rock
15 – FL Jackson – Florida Theatre
16 – FL Panama CityL – Marina Civic Center
18 – TN Nashville – Ryman Auditorium
19 – GA Atlanta – Chastain Park Amphitheatre
20 – SC Greenville – Peace Center Concert Hall
21 – MD Baltimore – Lyric Opera House
22 – PA Hershey – The Hershey Theatre
24 – NJ Morristown – The Community Theater
25 – PA Upper Darby – Tower Theater
26 – PA Easton – State Theatre Center for the Arts
27 – RI Providence – Providence Performing Arts Center
