Denny Laine, a founding member of The Moody Blues and the longest serving member of Wings alongside Paul and Linda McCartney, has died at the age of 79. His wife Elizabeth Hines announced on Instagram that he passed away earlier today (Tuesday) due to Interstitial Lung Disease. He had been ill for most of this year and a tribute concert was held for him at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California on November 27th.
Laine was born in Tyseley, England on October 29th, 1944. He started his music career fronting Denny Laine and the Diplomats, which also included Bev Bevan, future drummer of Electric Light Orchestra. He left the group in 1964 and joined Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder to form a new band, the M&B 5, which later became The Moody Blues. Laine sang lead on the group’s first big hit, “Go Now,” but quit in 1966 after the band’s musical direction changed.
He then formed several bands, such as The Electric String Band, Balls, and Ginger Baker’s Air Force, but none of them achieved much success. In 1971, he was approached by Paul McCartney to join his post-Beatles band Wings. Laine remained with Paul and Linda McCartney in the band for the next decade, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, and saxophone. He also wrote several songs with Paul and had some of his own songs included on various Wings albums, such as “Mull of Kintyre,” “No Words,” and “Deliver Your Children.” During his time with Wings, he played on six number-one singles and four number-one albums, including Band on the Run, which was released 50 years ago on December 5th, 1973.
After Wings split in 1981, Laine released a series of solo albums and played on two McCartney solo albums, Tug of War and Pipes of Peace. He also collaborated with other artists, including The World Classic Rockers, The Cryers, and The Moody Wing Band. In 2018, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Moody Blues.
Laine is survived by his wife Elizabeth Hines, his four children, and his grandchildren. He is remembered as a versatile and talented musician who contributed to some of the most iconic songs and albums of rock history.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]