Nicky James (2 April 1943 – 8 October 2007),[1] born Michael Clifford Nicholls, was a British musician and songwriter.
[2] Among the rotating membership of The Nicky James Movement were John Bonham, later the drummer for Led Zeppelin, as well as Bev Bevan of ELO, Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues, and Roy Wood of The Move.
[8] In 1972, James signed to the Moody Blues's Threshold Records, and released two more albums: Every Home Should Have One (1973) and Thunderthroat (1976),[2] as well as four further singles, including "Black Dream" in 1972 and "Maggie" in 1976.
[9] James appeared on solo albums by Moody Blues members Graeme Edge and Ray Thomas, including From Mighty Oaks (1975) and Hopes Wishes and Dreams (1976).
"[12] Bev Bevan of ELO recalled his first encounter with James: "a tall, skinny, good-looking guy with a mop of Brylcreemed black hair, swept back Teddy Boy style .
"[4] NME described James as displaying a "perfected vocal technique that melded the blues with prevalent beat pop tendencies."
He appeared in the 2006 documentary Classic Artists: The Moody Blues, and was working on a new record when he died from complications following a brain tumour,[13] on 8 October 2007.