Denny Laine

In 1964, Laine left the Diplomats, and shortly afterwards, he received a call from Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder to form a new band, The M&B 5, which eventually was changed to The Moody Blues.[3] He sang the group's first big hit, "Go Now"; other early highlights included "I Don't Want To Go On Without You", another UK hit, and the two minor UK chart hits "From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)" and "Everyday", both written by Laine and Pinder. He also sang on "Can't Nobody Love You" and "Bye Bye Bird" which was a hit in France. A self-titled EP and The Magnificent Moodies LP on Decca followed. Laine and Pinder wrote most of the band's B-sides during the 1965-66 period, such as "You Don't (All the Time)", "And My Baby's Gone" and "This Is My House". However, Laine's tenure with the band was relatively short-lived and, after a number of comparative chart failures, Laine quit the band in October 1966. He was replaced by Justin Hayward. The last record issued by the Moody Blues that featured Laine was "Life's Not Life" b/w "He Can Win" in January 1967.[4]

A compilation album of singles and album tracks of the early Moody Blues led by Denny Laine titled An Introduction to The Moody Blues was released in 2006.

After leaving the Moody Blues, Laine formed the Electric String Band in December 1966, which featured himself on guitar and vocals, Trevor Burton (of the Move) on guitar, Viv Prince (ex-Pretty Things) on drums, Binky McKenzie on bass guitar, and electrified strings in a format not dissimilar to what Electric Light Orchestra would later achieve. In June 1967, the band shared a bill with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Procol Harum at the Saville Theatre in London. However, it did not achieve national attention, and the Electric String Band broke up.

At the same time, Laine recorded two singles as a solo artist: "Say You Don't Mind"/"Ask The People" (April 1967, Deram) and "Too Much in Love"/"Catherine's Wheel" (January 1968, Deram). Both failed to chart, although "Say You Don't Mind" became a #15 hit in 1972 when recorded by former Zombies frontman Colin Blunstone.

Laine and Burton then went on to the band Balls from February 1969 until the band's breakup in 1971, with both also taking time to play in Ginger Baker's Air Force in 1970.[5]

Only one single was issued by Balls: "Fight for My Country"/"Janie, Slow Down" on UK Wizard Records.[5] The top side was re-edited and reissued on UK Wizard and issued in the UK on Wizard and in the United States on Epic under the name of Trevor Burton; Laine and Burton shared lead vocals on the B side. The single was reissued again as B.L.W. as "Live in the Mountains" for a small Pye-distributed label, "Paladin". Twelve tracks were recorded for a Balls album, but it has never been released.[5]

In 1971, Laine joined Paul McCartney to form Wings,[3] and he remained with the group for 10 years until it disbanded in 1981. Laine provided lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards, bass guitar and woodwinds, in addition to writing or co-writing some of the group's material. Laine, McCartney, and McCartney's wife, Linda McCartney formed the nucleus of the band to which it was also reduced twice. The most acclaimed Wings album, Band on the Run, and the majority of material released upon London Town were written and recorded by Wings as a trio. Denny Laine was also the most frequent contributor to the songwriting process and as lead vocalist. He wrote and sang several songs himself ("Time to Hide", "Again and Again and Again"), co-wrote a number of compositions on Band on the Run and London Town albums as well as non-album single "Mull of Kintyre", sang lead vocals on McCartney's songs in full ("The Note You Never Wrote") and partly ("I Lie Around", "Picasso's Last Words", "Spirits of Ancient Egypt", and "Silly Love Songs"). During Wings live shows Denny Laine often performed "Go Now", his hit with the Moody Blues.

During his time in Wings Denny Laine also released two solo albums, Ahh...Laine (1973) and Holly Days (1977). The latter was also recorded by Wings core trio of Denny, Paul and Linda.

With Wings, Laine enjoyed the biggest commercial and critical successes of his career. "Mull of Kintyre", co-written by Laine, became a hit reaching #1 in the UK in 1977 and becoming the UK's highest-selling single until 1984. "Deliver Your Children" from London Town, co-written and sung by Laine,[6] was released as a double A-side with "I've Had Enough" in the Netherlands and charted at #13.[7]

After Paul McCartney was arrested for possession of marijuana on arrival at an airport for a Wings tour in Japan in January 1980 the band's future became uncertain and Denny Laine released his third solo album, Japanese Tears, with the title track as the single.[8][9] The album was notable to include several songs recorded by Wings over the years. Laine also formed the short-lived Denny Laine Band with Wings member Steve Holley.

Though Wings briefly reunited in late 1980, on 27 April 1981, Laine announced he was leaving Wings due to McCartney's reluctance to tour in the wake of John Lennon's murder.[10]

Denny Laine performing at the Cavern Club in 2008

After leaving Wings Denny Laine signed with Scratch Records and released a new album, Anyone Can Fly in 1982. He also worked on McCartney's albums Tug of War and Pipes of Peace and he co-wrote one more song with McCartney, "Rainclouds" (issued as the B-side of "Ebony and Ivory").[11]

Laine continued to release solo albums through the 1980s such as Hometown Girls, Wings on My Feet, Lonely Road and Master Suite.

In 1996, Laine released a new solo album, Reborn; and an album of reworkings of Wings songs, entitled Wings at the Sound of Denny Laine.

From 1997 to 2002, he toured with the rock supergroup World Classic Rockers. He left the World Classic Rockers and now tours with The Denny Laine Band, and teams up with other bands on occasion.[12]

He also had three fanzine publications, including Ahh Laine, and wrote the musical Arctic Song.

Laine's latest solo release is the 2008 album The Blue Musician.

Albums

Singles