Denny Laine, who passed away at the age of 79 due to lung disease, gained prominence as a dedicated member of Paul McCartney’s band Wings from 1971 to 1981.
Life of Denny laine
His significant contributions encompassed vocals, guitars, percussion, and keyboards across all seven studio albums, spanning from their debut, “Wild Life” (1971), to “Back to the Egg” (1979). Notably, their album “Band on the Run” (1973), which achieved chart-topping success on both sides of the Atlantic, featured hit singles such as “Jet” and the title track. This album is often hailed as the pinnacle of Wings’ musical legacy.
Prior to his collaboration with McCartney, Denny Laine had already amassed a diverse musical background. In 1964, he teamed up with Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas to establish the Moody Blues. The band initially delved into cover versions of blues material before transitioning to a more pop-oriented direction. Swift success followed, highlighted by their rendition of “Go Now” (originally recorded by American singer Bessie Banks), featuring Laine on lead vocals and guitar. The song not only claimed the top spot on the UK chart in 1964 but also secured a place in the US Top 10.
Laine’s tenure with the band concluded in 1965 following the release of their inaugural album, “The Magnificent Moodies,” when he departed due to a financial dispute with their record company. Reflecting on the experience, he remarked, “Like every other band, we got ripped off. We got the fame, but we didn’t get the money.” The Moody Blues subsequently brought in Justin Hayward and John Lodge, propelling them to immense international success.
Afterward, Laine engaged in psychedelic ventures with his group, Denny Laine & the Electric String Band, incorporating an amplified cello and violin quartet, foreshadowing the approach later embraced by fellow musician Roy Wood and Electric Light Orchestra. Despite favorable reviews, the group failed to achieve commercial success. Following a hiatus spent in Spain, where he taught himself classical guitar, Laine’s next venture in 1969 involved joining Balls, alongside Trevor Burton, the former guitarist of the Move.
Despite being under the management of the innovative entrepreneur Tony Secunda, Balls encountered challenges amid a series of personnel changes. Subsequently, Laine assumed the role of lead guitarist and vocalist in Ginger Baker’s Air Force, a jazz-rock ensemble orchestrated by the former Cream and Blind Faith drummer.
The initial lineup boasted notable figures like Steve Winwood and Graham Bond, yet Air Force, despite generating considerable buzz in the music press, disintegrated following a calamitous American tour. Laine’s subsequent destination was Wings.
Born Brian Hines in the Channel Islands to Herbert Hines and Eva (nee Bassett), he was raised in Tyseley, Birmingham, and attended Yardley Grammar School. It was there that he initiated his guitar education, drawing inspiration from the jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Making his solo debut at the age of 12, Laine went on to form his first band, Denny Laine and the Diplomats, alongside drummer Bev Bevan, who later became part of Electric Light Orchestra.
In 1971, Denny Laine finally found a stable position with McCartney. Their acquaintance dated back to the early days when the Moody Blues toured with the Beatles. McCartney had also witnessed Laine’s opening act for Jimi Hendrix at the Saville Theatre in London. Reflecting on their connection, Denny Laine stated, “Because he was impressed with seeing me trying to do something different onstage with my Electric String Band, and because we became friends, that inspired him to call me because he wanted to do something new and different.”
Soon, he found himself in Scotland alongside Paul and Linda McCartney and drummer Denny Seiwell, collaborating on material for Wings’ inaugural album. The world was grappling with the absence of The Beatles, and although the album received lukewarm reviews, it secured the 11th spot on the UK chart and the 10th position in the US.
The tide turned with “Red Rose Speedway” in 1973, which not only claimed the top spot on the US albums chart but also reached No. 5 in the UK. Their third album, “Band on the Run,” became a phenomenal success, reaching No. 1 in both the UK and the US. Recorded in relatively basic conditions in Lagos, Nigeria, and with drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Henry McCulloch departing the band before recording commenced, the album was pieced together amid a backdrop of creative chaos.
“It was essentially Paul and me handling the backing tracks,” recalled Denny Laine. “It took on a more relaxed approach to album production than the typical band scenario with multiple parts. We were thrust into this as a last resort because two of the guys didn’t make it to Lagos.”
In total, four Wings albums claimed the top spot on the US charts, with two achieving the same feat in the UK. The band secured 24 Top 40 hit singles in the US and 20 in Britain, along with six No. 1 singles in the US. Mull of Kintyre (1977) emerged as their sole chart-topping single in the UK, featuring a co-writing credit for Denny Laine, one among several in his Wings career.
However, this became a point of contention as he received only a flat fee for his contribution, missing out on royalties from a record that sold over 2 million copies in Britain, standing as the UK’s bestselling non-charity single.
Laine’s discontent deepened with McCartney’s 1980 arrest for marijuana possession in Japan. This incident led to the cancellation of Wings’ Japanese tour and a subsequent trip to the US, resulting in significant financial losses.
In December of 1980, Denny Laine unveiled his third solo project, the album “Japanese Tears.” During this period, he remained associated with McCartney, supporting him through the recording of McCartney’s solo endeavor, “Tug of War” (1981). However, Laine eventually parted ways after completing his responsibilities. Over the years, Denny Laine went on to create nine more solo albums, with his final contribution being “The Blue Musician” in 2008.
Between 1997 and 2002, Denny Laine embarked on tours with the World Classic Rockers, a collective of seasoned rock musicians led by Nick St Nicholas of Steppenwolf. Concurrently, he led his own bands in performances featuring compositions from Wings and the Moody Blues. Notably, Laine organized a series of concerts that presented a complete rendition of the iconic album “Band on the Run.” In 2018, he received recognition for his musical contributions when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.
Denny Laine is survived by his second wife, Elizabeth Mele, with whom he exchanged vows in the summer. From his previous marriage in the late 1970s to American singer Jo Jo Laine (nee Joanne LaPatrie), which concluded in divorce, he leaves behind a son and daughter, named Laine and Heidi Jo (Hines).
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