Died On This Date (December 5, 2023) Denny Laine / Moody Blues and Wings co-founder
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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.”
What You Should Own
Nicky James was a British singer-songwriter whose career began in the early ’60s when he formed the Lawmen. In 1963, he joined forces with Denny Laine in a band they called Nicky James with Denny and the Diplomats. He was in and out of the band over the next few years, and was gone for good just before they changed their name to the Moody Blues and got signed to Decca Records. James soon signed to Columbia Records with his Nicky James Movement, a band that would be the early home to such pre-fame musicians as 