Denny Laine, Wings and The Moody Blues Co-Founder, Dead at 79

Denny Laine, who was a co-founder of rock music supergroups the Moody Blues and Wings, has died at 79 years old. Elizabeth Hines, Laines wife, shared the news on social media on Tuesday. Hines helped set up a GoFundMepage for Laine in September following a battle with interstitial lung disease.

Denny Laine, who was a co-founder of rock music supergroups the Moody Blues and Wings, has died at 79 years old.

Elizabeth Hines, Laine’s wife, shared the news on social media on Tuesday. Hines helped set up a GoFundMe page for Laine in September following a battle with interstitial lung disease.

“My darling husband passed away peacefully early this morning,” Hines wrote. “I was at his bedside, holding his hand as I played his favorite 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.

“He and I both believed he would overcome his health setbacks and return to the rehabilitation center and eventually home, Hines said. “Unfortunately, his lung disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), is unpredictable and aggressive; each infection weakened and damaged his lungs. He fought every day. 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.”

Denny Laine Was Co-Founder of Moody Blues

Laine was a co-founder of the Moody Blues in 1964 and stayed with the band until 1966. He was the lead singer on the band’s first big hit, Go Now. After he left the British rock group in late 1966, Justin Hayward replaced him.

For the next few years, Laine played in the bands Electric String Band, Balls, and Ginger Baker’s Air Force. He also launched a solo career during this period, releasing a pair of singles.

In 1971, Laine joined up with Paul and Linda McCartney to form Wings, the post-Beatles group that became one of the biggest acts of the ’70s. He remained with the band until it broke up 10 years later, performing on all of their albums, including Band on the Run, the 1973 chart-topper that was released in the U.S. 50 years to the day of his death. During his time in Wings, Laine often wrote and sang lead. He also released some solo recordings in the ’70s.

Musician Resumed Solo Career After Wings Breakup

After the breakup of Wings, Laine resumed his solo career, releasing a handful of albums over the years. His last studio work, The Blue Musician, arrived in 2008.

Last September, Hines said Laine was too weak to even play his guitar. “For the past two months, he’s been in and out of the hospital concerning an illness in his lungs that developed after his short bout with COVID last year,” she wrote.

Laine’s battle with interstitial lung disease worsened over the past two months. “My world will never be the same,” Hines wrote. “Denny was an amazingly wonderful person, so loving and sweet to me. He made my days colorful, fun and full of life – just like him. Thank you, sweetie, for loving me, for all the laughter, friendship, fun and for asking me to be your wife. I will love you forever.”

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