In between a few stories about his life and late friends, Hayward performs stripped-down versions of the progressive rock anthems and hits that got him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, including a version of “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” which might be superior to the original late ‘80s recording of the sentimental look at the past. Guitar whiz Mike Dawes—who plays in the 78-year-old’s band—opens.
Ahead of this show, Hayward told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the best gig he ever saw turning him onto the Gibson 335 guitar that would later become his go-to axe.
Read his full quote below.
“The best concert I ever saw was Joe Brown and the Bruvvers at McIlroy’s Ballroom in Swindon in 1960.Tickets to see Justin Hayward play Clearwater’s Bilheimer Capitol Theatre on Friday, April 18 are still available and start at $49.50.Joe had had a couple of hits by then – “A Picture of You” and “It Only Took a Minute.” But even more important than obviously Joe’s genius, was the guitar he was playing. It was the first time I had ever seen a Gibson 335 in-person – but not just any 335: Joe was playing his 1959 Sunburst Dot – the first in the country, and with a sound from paradise (to a 13 year old like me!)
Joe would later become a friend through my first “boss” Marty Wilde. Marty and Joe were from the same part of London and were in the same management stable, run by Larry Parnes. They were still with Larry at the time I was playing for Marty, in 1964. Joe was the only one in the ‘stable’ who refused to change his name to something dramatic like the others (Thunder, Gentle, Wilde, etc.) He was right. Anything but ‘Joe’ wouldn’t have suited him.
That night at McIlroys, me and my girlfriend had positioned ourselves close to the stage, and I could see up close that Joe was going into the normal channel of a Vox AC30, something I always did on all Moodies recordings. Joe’s sound was clean and kind of clanky, the way 335’s often are, but absolutely brilliant.
From that moment on, I knew I had to have my own 335, and that dream came true for me when I was still at school and my parents went guarantor for me to purchase my own in 1963. I was doing enough semi-pro gigs to afford the payments. I was still playing it when I was with Marty. Sadly, just weeks before I joined the Moodies, I was flat broke trying to get my songs heard, and had to sell my first 335. As soon as I could afford it, in 1968, I acquired the lovely red 335 I still have to this day. It’s my greatest friend. Thank you Joe – what a gig!
You can find a photo of George Harrison online somewhere with Joe’s 59′ Dot 335 – he loved it too.”—Justin Hayward, The Moody Blues
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This article appears in Apr 10-16, 2025.