Wings, Moody Blues Musician Denny Laine Passes Away

Denny Laine, the guitarist and co-founder of Wings and The Moody Blues, passed away at 79.

The musician died “peacefully” yesterday (5 December), his wife, Elizabeth Hines, wrote on social media. His passing followed setbacks with his health from interstitial lung disease.

“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. He’s been singing Christmas songs the past few weeks and I continued to play Christmas songs while he’s been in ICU on a ventilator this past week,” Hines wrote.

Hines continued to state that she and Laine hoped he would recover from the setbacks and eventually return home after visiting a rehabilitation centre. “Unfortunately, his lung disease, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), is unpredictable and aggressive; each infection weakened and damaged his lungs.

“He fought everyday. He was so strong and brave, never complained. All he wanted was to be home with me and his pet kitty, Charley, playing his gypsy guitar.”

Her Instagram statement thanked all of Laine’s supporters, especially the “surgeons, doctors, specialists, physical therapists and nurses at Naples Hospital”. While her world will “never be the same” following Laine’s passing, Hines said that it was her absolute privilege and honour to not only have been Denny Laine’s wife but to have cared for him while he was ill and vulnerable.

Laine formed The Moody Blues in Birmingham in 1964 alongside fellow vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Mike Pinder and Ray Thomas, bassist and vocalist Clint Warwick, and drummer Graeme Edge. Alongside Pinder, Laine wrote four songs on The Moody Blues’ 1965 debut album, The Magnificent Moodies: Let Me Go, Stop, Thank You Baby and True Story. He departed the band in 1966, and in 2018, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Moody Blues.

In 1971, Laine joined Paul McCartney as the former Beatle formed Wings. He remained with Wings until they broke up ten years later and co-wrote the Band On The Run number No Words with McCartney and later co-wrote the songs London Town, Deliver Your Children, Don’t Let It Get You Down, and more.

Denny Laine continued to work as a solo artist and worked with numerous musicians throughout his illustrious six-decade career.

Taking to Instagram this morning, Paul McCartney wrote that he was “very saddened” to hear of his former bandmate’s passing, writing:

I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when The Beatles toured with the Moody Blues. Our two bands had a lot of respect for each other and a lot of fun together. Denny joined Wings at the outset. He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player. His most famous performance is probably ‘Go Now’ an old Bessie Banks song which he would sing brilliantly. He and I wrote some songs together the most successful being ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ which was a big hit in the Seventies. We had drifted apart but in recent years managed to reestablish our friendship and share memories of our times together.

Denny was a great talent with a fine sense of humour and was always ready to help other people. He will be missed by all his fans and remembered with great fondness by his friends. I send my condolences and best wishes to his wife, Elizabeth and family.

Peace and love Denny. It was a pleasure to know you. We are all going to miss you.