Moody Blues: Minus The Moodys

Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward is working on new music, but it's not for a new Moodys album. He's planning his first solo album since 1996's The View From the Hill. He's recorded 14 songs and plans to release it next year.

Hayward says, "It's very, very kind of Moodys influenced, a lot of it. You'll definitely be able to tell, 'Oh, that's the guy from the Moodys,' which is usually what people say when they hear me. It's stuff I've had for quite a few years, and it's gathered momentum over the last couple of years, and it's been a real joy to do."

The Moody Blues, who haven't released a new album since 2003's December, are winding down their last U.S. tour for the year this week, wrapping up on Saturday in Las Vegas. They'll be back in March for dates in Texas, Mississippi and Florida before embarking on the maiden voyage of the Moody Blues Cruise, March 20th to the 25th from Ft, Lauderdale, Florida.