Died On This Date (December 5, 2023) Denny Laine / Moody Blues and Wings co-founder

As reported by CBS News, British musician Denny Laine, known for his roles as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, passed away at the age of 79. Laine, recognized for his contributions to both the early incarnation of the Moody Blues and as a longtime collaborator with Paul McCartney in the band Wings, died on December 5, 2023, in Naples, Florida, due to interstitial lung disease.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Moody Blues, Laine’s career spanned decades, marked by significant milestones such as his involvement in McCartney’s acclaimed Band On the Run album, released almost exactly 50 years prior to his passing. Born Brian Frederick Arthur Hines, Laine adopted his professional name in his youth, partly inspired by the singer Frankie Laine.

In 1964, at the age of 20, Laine joined Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder to form the Moody Blues, where he notably sang lead on their breakthrough hit, “Go Now.” Despite early success, the band faced challenges, leading to Laine’s departure in 1967. He pursued a solo career and collaborated with various groups before reuniting with McCartney in Wings, a band formed in 1971 following the Beatles’ breakup.

Throughout Wings’ decade-long journey, characterized by lineup changes, Laine, McCartney, and Linda McCartney collaborated on several chart-topping singles, including “My Love,” “Listen to What the Man Said,” and the titular track from “Band On the Run.” Laine also co-wrote the hit “Mull of Kintyre.”

After Laine’s departure from Wings in the early 1980s, McCartney disbanded the group, but Laine continued to contribute to McCartney’s solo projects, such as Tug of War and Pipes of Peace, and lent his vocals to George Harrison‘s tribute to John Lennon, “All Those Years Ago.”

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Died On This Date (April 17, 1998) Linda McCartney / Paul McCartney & Wings

Linda McCartney
September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998

Linda McCartney was many things, including the wife of the Beatles’ Paul McCartney. She was also a photographer, animal activist, vegetarian cookbook author, musician and Oscar nominated songwriter.   She even had her own line of vegetarian frozen food.  Before marrying McCartney in 1969, Linda was well on her way to becoming a respected rock photographer, having shot the likes of Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. After marrying Paul, she devoted more time to her music, becoming a member of Paul’s post Beatles band, Wings. It was during this period that she and Paul co-wrote, “Live and Let Die”, which earned them an Academy Award nomination.  Linda McCartney was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and died from its results on April 17, 1998.



Died On This Date (September 27, 1979) Jimmy McCulloch / Wings

Jimmy McCulloch
June 4, 1953 – September 27, 1979

Jimmy McCulloch was a rock guitarist who played with Thunderclap Newman, Stone the Crows, and most famously, Paul McCartney’s band Wings from 1974 to 1977.  His most celebrated contribution to Wings was his lead guitar work on “Junior’s Farm.”  Jimmy McColluch died of a heroin overdose at the age of 26.

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