Denny Laine, the lead singer of the Moody Blues and later a key member of Wings with Paul McCartney, passed away at the age of 79.
He had lung damage caused by interstitial lung disease. His wife, Elizabeth Hines, wrote on Instagram: “My darling husband passed away peacefully early this morning. I was at his bedside, holding his hand as I played his favourite Christmas songs for him … My world will never be the same.”
Laine sang on Go Now, a significant ballad from the 1960s, and helped write Mull of Kintyre, one of the top-selling songs in UK chart history for Wings.
In 1944, Brian Frederick Hines was born in Birmingham. As a teenager, he adopted a catchier stage name and formed his first band called Denny Laine and the Diplomats. The lead singer was Roy Wood, who would later become a glam rock icon, and the drummer was Bev Bevan, who would go on to join the band ELO.
Together with other rising stars in the “Brumbeat” music scene, he co-founded the Moody Blues in 1964. The group’s second single, a cover of Bessie Banks’ R&B ballad “Go Now,” quickly became a hit. The song’s unique and melancholic opening, with Laine soulfully singing “we’ve already said goodbye” to a former lover, along with its beautifully harmonized chorus, helped propel it to the top of the charts in the UK and No 10 in the US.
The group initially faced difficulties in replicating their previous success. However, a song co-written by Laine, titled “From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)”, managed to reach the top 30 in the UK in 1965. The Moody Blues joined the Beatles on their last UK tour later that year, but with the band struggling in 1966, Laine decided to leave. (He was replaced by Justin Hayward, and the Moody Blues would go on to achieve success with a more psychedelic sound, highlighted by songs like “Nights in White Satin” and the album “Days of Future Passed”.)
Laine’s subsequent musical group, the Electric String Band, had a more psychedelic style and shared stages with renowned artists such as Jimi Hendrix. He also released solo songs, joined the supergroup Balls, and became a member of Ginger Baker’s Air Force. However, his greatest and longest-lasting achievements were with Wings, the band formed by Paul and Linda McCartney after the disbandment of The Beatles.
Laine was working on a solo album, but abandoned it when McCartney reached out to him. McCartney has stated, “I had known [Laine] in the past and decided to give him a call to see what he was up to.” Laine responded that he wasn’t doing anything, so McCartney invited him to join the band. Laine remained with the band for the next decade, receiving co-writing credits on songs such as the powerful Celtic tune “Mull of Kintyre,” which became a Christmas number one hit in 1977 and was the first British single to sell 2 million copies.
Wild Life was not able to reach the top 10 in the UK, but the band gained significant popularity, possibly due to McCartney briefly joining the group. Their next five albums, including the live album Wings Over America, all reached number one on the US charts. This period also produced one of McCartney and Laine’s most beloved songs, “No Words”, which was co-written by Laine and featured on their album Band on the Run.
Mull of Kintyre was composed by Laine and McCartney while overlooking the mull referenced in the title, where McCartney was residing at the time. According to Laine, the two sat outside a cottage in the Kintyre hills one afternoon with a bottle of whisky and co-wrote the song. McCartney had already written the chorus and they collaborated on the rest. The addition of a local bagpipe band gave it a Scottish touch, and the song surpassed the Beatles’ “She Loves You” to become the highest-selling single in the UK. This record stood until 1984 when it was overtaken by Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
In addition to his primary role as a guitarist, Laine also provided harmonized backing vocals and contributed to keyboard, bass, and woodwind arrangements. His musical prowess was highlighted during the Wings Over America tour, where he had a solo segment and performed songs like “Go Now” and others. The McCartneys also supported Laine on his own solo album, “Holly Days,” which featured covers of songs by Buddy Holly in 1977.
During the early 1980s, Laine made contributions to two solo albums by McCartney while Wings were still active. Despite changes in drummers and guitarists, Laine remained a constant member alongside the McCartneys throughout Wings’ entire career.
However, he had a disagreement with McCartney about the band’s business dealings and personal conflicts, causing him to depart in 1981 and ultimately leading to the band’s dissolution. He released several solo albums during that time period and later returned to performing material from Wings, even reuniting with the band without McCartney.
Laine also went on individual tours, such as his Songs & Stories tour earlier this year. This tour combined acoustic performances with stories about his career.
Reflecting on his career this year, he stated that he considers himself a regular musician and doesn’t focus on the fame aspect. He is often surprised by the attention and recognition he receives, as he has never had a chart-topping hit. However, he is humbled and pleased when fans approach him and express how much they appreciate his solo work. It is a compliment that makes him feel gratified, realizing that he has reached a wider audience than he initially thought.
In her tribute, Hines expressed that Laine battled his illness daily and showed immense strength and bravery without ever complaining. His only desire was to be at home with her and their pet cat, Charley, playing his gypsy guitar. Hines also shared that Denny was a kind and loving person who brought color, fun, and vitality to her days, just as he did in his own life. She extended her gratitude to fans and medical personnel for their support during this time.
Source: theguardian.com
