<P> The Moody Blues are an English rock band formed in Birmingham, England in 1964 . They first came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music, but their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established them as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock . It has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums". </P> <P> The band became known internationally with singles including "Go Now", "Nights in White Satin", "Tuesday Afternoon", and "Question". They have been awarded 18 platinum and gold discs . The Moody Blues have sold 70 million albums worldwide . They will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 . </P> <P> The Moody Blues formed in 1964 in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham in the county of Warwickshire . Ray Thomas, a young John Lodge and (occasionally) Mike Pinder had been members of El Riot & the Rebels . They disbanded when Lodge, the youngest member, went to technical college and Pinder joined the army . Pinder then rejoined Thomas to form the Krew Cats . Back from a disappointing spell in the Hamburg region a few months later, the pair recruited guitarist / vocalist Denny Laine and band manager - turned - drummer Graeme Edge . Pinder and Thomas initially approached their former El Riot bandmate John Lodge about being the bass player, but Lodge declined as he was still in college . They instead recruited bassist Clint Warwick . The five appeared as the Moody Blues for the first time in Birmingham in 1964 . The name developed from a hoped - for sponsorship from the M&B Brewery which failed to materialise, the band calling themselves both "The M Bs" and "The MB Five", and was also a subtle reference to the Duke Ellington song "Mood Indigo". Around this time the band were the resident group at the Carlton Ballroom, later to become rock music venue Mothers on Erdington High Street . </P> <P> The band soon obtained a London - based management company,' Ridgepride', formed by Alex Murray (Alex Wharton), who had been in the A&R division of Decca Records . Their recording contract was signed in the spring of 1964 with Ridgepride, which then leased their recordings to Decca . They released a single, "Steal Your Heart Away", that year which failed to chart . They also appeared on the cult TV programme Ready Steady Go! singing the uptempo' B' side "Lose Your Money (But Don't Lose your Mind)". But it was their second single, "Go Now" (released later that year), that launched their career, being promoted on TV with one of the first purpose - made promotional films in the pop era, produced and directed by Alex Wharton . The single became a hit in Britain (where it remains their only Number 1 single) and in the United States, where it reached No. 10 . The band encountered management problems after the chart - topping hit and subsequently signed to Decca Records in the UK (London Records in the US) directly as recording artists . A four - track extended play release titled "The Moody Blues" featuring both sides of their first two Decca singles was issued in a colour picture sleeve in early 1965 . </P>

Where did the moody blues get their name
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