Moody Blues Legend Justin Hayward Receives Royal Honors

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Justin Hayward has received another honor reflecting the impact of half a century of thought-provoking music-making. The Moody Blues legend was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his longstanding contribution to the arts by King Charles III at the July 11, 2023 Investitures ceremony at Windsor Castle. Hayward’s grandson Cassius joined him for the special day.

The Order of the British Empire

The Order of the British Empire dates back to 1917 when George V honored individuals for their outstanding contribution to the war effort. Today, awards are also given to recognize the extraordinary impact of those in other fields. Hayward was struck by the affection, ambience, sensitivity and the flawless execution of the ceremony that followed over a century of tradition.

“There were maybe more than a hundred of us that day receiving honors of one kind or another, and some receiving knighthoods as well, but I have to say that every, every part of it was so immaculate,” he said in a recent interview. Growing up in the same generation as King Charles made the event especially meaningful for the rocker who didn’t reveal conversation details but acknowledged that both knew of the other’s work. Of course they did.

Rock And Roll Royalty

The Moody Blues, formed in 1964, quickly became rock royalty in Britain and the United States in the ’60s and ’70s, laying a soundtrack that would change music history. Hayward and John Lodge joined Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder, and Graeme Edge in 1966 after the exit of Denny Laine and Clint Warwick, forming the lineup that would produce such hits as “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon.” The Moody Blues would go on to sell over 70 million albums worldwide, helping to “usher in the rock-album era.”

“Nights in White Satin,” written and composed by Hayward who is featured on lead vocals, would become the band’s most successful U.S. single, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 8, 1972 and spending 18 weeks on the charts, peaking at #2 on November 4, 1972. It would also become one of the group’s most recognizable hits.

Rock Classic Meets Classic Fashion

This year, “Nights in White Satin” gained another nod of approval with its audio close-up in the 2023 Chanel campaign for its fragrance Bleu de Chanel. The campaign film starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by Martin Scorsese, is slated for a fall release.

Chalamet, the BAFTA
FTA
and Oscar-nominated (Call Me by Your Name) star and 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 alum was recently named the new ambassador for the fragrance. In the current campaign release, Chalamet’s face appears as Hayward’s voice shares just a snippet of the lyrics.

Just what you want to be

You will be in the end

And I love you

Yes I love you

Isn’t the pairing of the video and the song that Hayward wrote in 1967 almost a testimony to the timeless quality of “Nights in White Satin”?

“Well, it’s also about a young man who can just turn and look at the camera and something, something very, almost moving happens. You know, yes, of course it was a good record. But it’s one of those records, there’s hardly anything on. So you have to make something happen if you’re going to put some visual with it,” explained Hayward who knew that the company would be using it in some way but had been curious to see the outcome.

“And then when I saw it, I thought it was particularly kind of—it was quite moving actually.”

Social media responses have noted the “mesmerizing” aspect of the ad and the emotional impact of its extreme simplicity. Some of have called the song and product pairing “brilliant,” while those unaware of the tune have been discovering the music of the Moody Blues. Others have noted a resemblance between the actor and Hayward’s 20-something self, something the older artist hadn’t heard.

Beyond The Moody Blues

These days, Hayward who has long balanced group and solo work, is focused on his solo projects and will be touring the U.S. this fall and next year (The Harmony
ONE
Tour also featuring Mike Dawes). He’ll also host the April 2024 music-driven cruise On The Blue: New Horizons featuring classic rock including the other legendary artists like The Zombies, Alan Parsons, Al Stewart, Uriah Heep, and Little River Band.

Forever a songwriter, Hayward continues to push himself which is likely the tactic that has enabled him to write at a level that deeply and continually resonates with listeners. What can we expect from him down the road?

“I’m working on some things now. And I really want to do something different and maybe use a kind of different voice in things. And I’ll always come back to that writer that sits there in the middle of the night and does these things and tries to make things that move me personally.”