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Denny Laine

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Denny Laine


Denny Laine (born Brian Hines, on October 29, 1944, in Birmingham) is an English songwriter and musician, best known for his roles as former guitarist and lead singer of The Moody Blues and, later, co-founder (along with Paul McCartney) of Wings.

Laine is of Romani descent and was educated at Yardley Grammar School, in Birmingham. His first solo performance was at the age of twelve. Having taken up the guitar as a boy, under the influence of jazz legend Django Reinhardt, Laine began his career as a professional musician fronting Denny And The Diplomats, the members of which included future The Move and Electric Light Orchestra drummer Bev Bevan.

In 1964, Laine abandoned Denny And The Diplomats to join The Moody Blues, singing their first big hit, "Go Now." His tenure with the band was short-lived, however, and after a number of comparative failures, Laine quit.

After leaving The Moody Blues, he formed Denny Laine's Electric String Band, which featured Denny (guitar, vocals), Trevor Burton (guitar, another former member of The Move) and Viv Prince (drums), also featuring electrified strings in a format not dissimilar to what Electric Light Orchestra would later attempt. They made two singles, "Say You Don't Mind / Ask The People" (Apr '67, Deram) and "Too Much In Love / Catherine's Wheel" (Jan '68, Deram); plus, in June 1967, they shared a bill with The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Procol Harum at the Saville Theatre in London. However, national attention was not to be, and the pioneering Electric String Band broke up.

With Wings, Laine enjoyed his greatest success since The Moody Blues' release of "Go Now", helping McCartney write such big hits as "Mull of Kintyre". Along with McCartney's late wife, Linda, Laine helped form the nucleus of the band, providing lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, as well as backing vocals and sometimes lead vocals.

Laine's 1967 song "Say You Don't Mind" was a hit when recorded in 1972 by Colin Blunstone.

When Wings disbanded in 1980, Laine slipped off the radar. He filed for bankruptcy in the mid-Eighties (he had sold his lucrative co-publishing rights to "Mull of Kintyre" to co-author McCartney). However, he continued to record music and has appeared at Beatles conventions and on tributes to both The Beatles and Wings. He is currently working on an autobiography.

Album Discography

The Moody Blues Album

  • The Magnificent Moodies (1965)

Ginger Baker's Air Force Albums

  • Ginger Baker's Air Force
  • Ginger Baker's Air Force 2

Wings Albums

Solo Albums

Studio Albums

  • Ahh Laine (1973)
  • Holly Days (1977)
  • Japanese Tears (1981)
  • Anyone Can Fly (1982)
  • Hometown Girls (1985)
  • Wings on My Feet (1986)
  • Lonely Road (1988)
  • Master Suite (1988)
  • All I Want is Freedom (1990)
  • Rock Survivor (1995)
  • Reborn (1996)
  • Wings at the Sound of Denny Laine (1996)
  • Arctic Song (1998)

Compilation Albums


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