Paul McCartney has shared a touching tribute to his former Wings bandmate Denny Laine following his death aged 79.
The late musician died after a long battle with lung disease, his wife Elizabeth Haines announced on Tuesday.
Paul, 81, wrote a long message on Instagram following the news, saying: “It was a pleasure meeting Denny.”
He shared a photo of them playing together in Wings and wrote: “Very sad to hear that my ex-bandmate Denny Laine has died.”
“I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when the Beatles toured with the Moody Blues.”
Paul McCartney, 81, (pictured in October) has shared a touching tribute to his former Wings bandmate Denny Laine after he died aged 79
The late musician died after a long battle with lung disease, his wife Elizabeth Haines announced on Tuesday (pictured in March).
He continued: “Our two bands had great respect for each other and had a lot of fun together.” Denny joined Wings from the start. He was an excellent singer and guitarist.
“His most famous performance is probably ‘Go Now,’ an old Bessie Banks song that he would sing brilliantly.”
“He and I wrote a few 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 we have managed to rebuild our friendship and memories of ours sharing time together.
“Denny was a great talent with a fine sense of humor and always ready to help other people.” He will be missed by all his fans and will be fondly remembered by his friends.
I send my condolences and best wishes to his wife Elizabeth and his family. Peace and love, Denny. It was a pleasure meeting you. We will all miss you. Love, Paul.’
Denny, the lead singer of the rock band The Moody Blues, died on Tuesday. His wife, Elizabeth, said in a statement: “I was at his side, holding his hand while playing him his favorite Christmas songs.”
Denny sang on the Moody Blues’ million-selling single Go Now in 1965 and co-wrote the Wings hit Mull of Kintyre.
In 2018 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.
“Denny was a great talent with a keen sense of humor and was always willing to help other people,” Paul wrote
Paul, 81, wrote a long message on Instagram following the news, saying: “It was a pleasure meeting Denny” (Denny, Linda McCartney and Paul of Wings in 1978).
Denny’s wife Elizabeth said in a statement: “I was by his side and held his hand while playing him his favorite Christmas songs” (pictured in 2016)
(clockwise from left) Ray Thomas, Michael Pinde, Denny Laine, Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick of the Moody Blues are pictured in 1967
The singer-songwriter, real name Brian Hines, was born in Birmingham in October 1944 and grew up there.
He began playing guitar after being inspired by the late jazz guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt.
The artist founded the band Denny and the Dilpomats in the 1960s, which also included Wizzard singer Roy Wood.
When they split up, he formed The Moody Blues, playing with the group from 1964 to 1966 and finding success with their hit Go Now as well as a number of R&B-influenced singles such as From The Bottom of My Heart (I Love You) and Bye Bird .
In 1965 they released their first studio album, The Magnificent Moodies, entitled Go Now: The Moody Blues #1 in the United States.
However, when they found it difficult to achieve further commercial success, Denny left the band in 1966 before reinventing themselves as a progressive rock group.
He then founded the group Electric String Ban, where he worked as a singer and guitarist. However, they disbanded after they failed to achieve national success.
Trevor Burton, who performed with the Electric String Band and was also known for his work with the band The Move, formed Balls in February 1969 before they split up in 1971 after both performed with Ginger Baker’s Air Force in 1970.
In 1971, Denny teamed up with former Beatle Paul and his wife Linda to form Wings. Denny played guitar, bass and sang (left to right: keyboardist Linda McCartney, drummer Geoff Britton, singer and bassist Paul McCartney, guitarist Denny Laine and guitarist Jimmy McCulloch, pictured in 1974)
Balls only released one record, Fight for My Country, on UK Wizard Records. They recorded 12 tracks for an album, which was never released.
In 1971, Denny founded Wings with former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda.
Denny played guitar, bass and sang on tracks like “Jet,” “Band on the Run,” and “Live and Let Die.”
He had known Sir Paul since his time with Denny and the Dilpomats in the 1960s and the Moody Blues accompanied the Beatles on tour in that decade.
He remained with the group for a decade before they went their separate ways in 1981.
Speaking about his time with Wings, he told Billboard earlier this year: “I was more in the shadows, but that didn’t bother me.”
“I traveled around the world, learned a lot and had a good time in many ways.” So it was easy for me.”
After Wings, Denny started a solo career after releasing a few albums on his own in the 1970s.
Denny is seen here backstage at the sound check of The Music Of Paul McCartney show at City Winery New York in March this year
His 1980 CD Japanese Tears featured a song he co-wrote with Sir Paul, “Send Me The Heart”, as well as some never released by Wings.
He went on to release further solo albums, including Hometown Girls, Wings On My Feet and Lonely Road, and his final release, The Blue Musician, was released in 2008, although he continued to tour regularly until recently.
In her statement, Denny’s wife Elizabeth said she had expected him to recover from his lung disease, but it had become progressively worse.
She said: “He fought every day.” He was so strong and brave, he never complained.
“All he wanted to do was be home with me and his cat Charley and play his gypsy guitar.”
Denny has released a number of solo albums and, having released his last, The Blue Musician, in 2008, continued touring regularly until recently (seen performing at The Music Of Paul McCartney in New York in March this year).
Elizabeth thanked his fans for their support and asked for “the time and privacy” her family needs “as we mourn our loss.”
Denny and Elizabeth married in July of this year and announced the news on Facebook at the time. They lived together in Florida.
He was briefly married to the late singer, model and actress Jo Jo Laine. They shared son Laine Hines and daughter Heidi Hines.
The musician had three other children – Lucianne Grant, Damian James and Ainsley Laine-Adams from other relationships.