Biography:

Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Arthur Hines, 29 October 1944 – 5 December 2023) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1971 to 1981. Laine worked with a variety of artists and groups over a six-decade career, and continued to record and perform as a solo artist. In 2018, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.^[1]

Early years

Brian Frederick Hines was born on 29 October 1944 to Herbert Edward Arthur Hines and Eva Lillian Hines (née Bassett)^[2][3] in the Channel Islands,^[4] and grew up in Tyseley, Birmingham, England, where he attended Yardley Grammar School.^[5] He took up the guitar as a boy, inspired by gypsy jazz musician Django Reinhardt. He gave his first solo performance as a musician at age 12, and began his career as a professional musician, fronting Denny Laine and the Diplomats,^[2] which also included Bev Bevan, future drummer with the Move and Electric Light Orchestra.^[6] Laine changed his name because he felt “Brian Frederick Hines and the Diplomats… wouldn’t work”, instead taking the surname of his sister’s idol, the singer Frankie Laine. The first name Denny came from the fact that at the time “everyone had a backyard, and a den to hang out. I think I got that nickname there.”^[7]

Career

The Moody Blues

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.^[8] He sang lead vocal on the group’s first big hit, “Go Now“;^[2] other early highlights included another UK hit, “I Don’t Want To Go on Without You”, and the two minor UK chart hits “From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You)” and “Everyday”, both written by Laine and Pinder. Laine also sang on “Can’t Nobody Love You” and “Bye Bye Bird”, the latter of which was a hit in France. A self-titled EP and the album The Magnificent Moodies followed, on Decca Records. Laine and Pinder wrote most of the band’s B-sides during the period 1965–66, such as “You Don’t (All the Time)”, “And My Baby’s Gone” and “This Is My House”. However, Laine’s tenure with the Moody Blues was relatively short-lived, and after a number of comparative chart failures, Laine quit in October 1966.^[9] He was replaced by Justin Hayward. The last record issued by the Moody Blues that featured Laine was the single “Life’s Not Life” b/w “He Can Win”, in January 1967.^[10]

A compilation album of singles and album tracks of the early Moody Blues, led by Denny Laine, was released in 2006 under the title An Introduction to The Moody Blues.^[11]

Electric String Band and early solo career

In December 1966, after leaving The Moody Blues, Laine formed the Electric String Band,^[2] featuring himself on guitar and vocals, Trevor Burton (of the Move) on guitar, Viv Prince (formerly of Pretty Things) on drums, Binky McKenzie on bass guitar, and electrified strings in a format not dissimilar to that of Electric Light Orchestra in later years. In June 1967 the Electric String Band shared a bill with The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Procol Harum at the Saville Theatre in London. However, they did not achieve national attention, and soon broke up.^[2]

At the same time, Laine recorded two singles as a solo artist, both released on the Deram label: “Say You Don’t Mind” b/w “Ask the People” (April 1967) and “Too Much in Love” b/w “Catherine’s Wheel” (January 1968). Both failed to chart, although “Say You Don’t Mind” became a Top 20 hit in 1972, when recorded by former Zombies front-man Colin Blunstone.^[2]

Balls and Ginger Baker’s Air Force

Laine and Burton then went on to join the band Balls, from February 1969 until their break-up in 1971,^[2] with both also taking time to play in Ginger Baker’s Air Force in 1970.^[12] Only one single was issued by Balls, on UK Wizard Records: “Fight for My Country” b/w “Janie, Slow Down”.^[12] The top side was re-edited and reissued on UK Wizard, and in the United States on Epic, under the name of Trevor Burton; he and Laine shared lead vocals on the B-side. The single was reissued again as B.L & G. (Burton, Laine & Gibbons) as Live in the Mountains for ‘Birdsnest’, a small label distributed by Pye Records. Twelve tracks were recorded for a Balls album, but it has never been released.^[12]

Credits: