Denny Laine

06/04/2026

Excerpt from the new Wings book; Paul and Denny discuss the formation of Wings.

Denny sat for three hours in a NYC studio being interviewed for this (and documentary) in February 2023.

Denny was the first person MPL scheduled for this interview. I was there. I set up the interview with McCartney’s office, as well as with the director snd producer.

This was to be Dennys last full interview before his death in December 2023.
-Elizabeth Hines


Denny Laine

06/04/2026

On this day in 1967, Denny Laine and his Electric String Band played at the Saville Theatre in London, opening for Jimi Hendrix. Denny has credited this performance, at least in part, to the call he later received from Paul McCartney to form Wings.
Denny was also very proud that Jimi Hendrix complimented his guitar playing that night.

The Electric String Band (formed in early 1967) was a precursor to ELO. Denny was inspired by the Beatles song, Eleanor Rigby, and wanted to continue the idea of guitars with a string quartet.

At the time, the String Band were: cellists Clive Gillinson and Hafliði Hallgrímsson, violinists Angus Anderson and John Stein, bassist Andy Leigh, drummer Viv Prince, and Denny on guitar and vocals. The string players were soloists from the Royal Academy of Music.

Below are two quotes from Denny about this performance:

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“This was at a time when I had had some success in my own band, the Electric String Band. The year before, I’d played at the Jimi Hendrix show at the Saville Theatre, which was owned by Brian Epstein. John and Paul were in the audience. I know that it was a really successful night for me, because I was doing something different; Jimi Hendrix gave me his seal of approval.” - Denny Laine, 2008

“It was kind of a weird mixture… these guys had never put pickups on their violins, they were all from the Royal Academy of Music and they were all soloists, so, it was a strange connection. But, it worked. We actually played a Jimi Hendrix show about a year later, and he was blown away! The Beatles were in the audience… standing ovation, all of that. Jimi comes up to me and says ‘man, that was really cool. They won’t let me do my stuff, you know, I have to be ‘me,’ they won’t let me try new stuff… that was really cool. And I liked your guitar player!” I said, ‘that was me!’” - Denny Laine, 2023

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Pictured is a photo of Denny from a June 1967 magazine issue, along with the program from that show.

-DL Page Admin(CC)

Denny Laine

06/04/2026

Denny’s original Venus & Mars shirt, which he gave me almost 10 years ago when we began living together in Bayonne, NJ (May 2017).

I’m so happy to be able to loan this shirt to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the very special Paul McCartney and Wings exhibition in Cleveland. 👐
As Denny said to me about his items he wanted to loan to the RRHOF museum after his death: “it’s about the fans”.
-Liz

Denny Laine

06/03/2026

I’ve been sick since I returned from the Wings opening weekend in Cleveland…but I wanted to share some pictures I took with you all.
Many pictures were covering the elevator doors or on walls. Others are from the Wings exhibit itself. Plus, the opening ceremony photo.
The kitchen table from the Scotland farm was special to see, it had photos from Mull of Kintyre video along with the song lyrics.

I’m so happy to keep my promise to Denny and place his guitars and personal items on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just as he told me he wanted me to do for him. Love you sweetie.❤️
-Liz

Denny Laine 🌈🕊️❤️

06/03/2026

I’ve been sick since I returned from the Wings opening weekend in Cleveland…but I wanted to share some pictures I took with you all.

I’m so happy to keep my promise to Denny and place his guitars and personal items on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just as he told me he wanted me to do for him. Love you sweetie.❤️

Many pictures were covering the elevator doors or on walls. Others are from the Wings exhibit itself.
More to come 👐❤️
-Liz

Denny Laine 🌈🕊️❤️

06/02/2026

👐❤️🇬🇧🕊️

06/01/2026

“It’s like being a journalist… It’s based on what you are and what you see, and who you’re around. But you also turn it into something else, you know, it’s kind of more of a universal message…”

“I was pretty good with English in school, and I was very interested in art and poetry, and stuff like that… I was like fascinated by certain, you know, stories, history books, things that were educational and then I wanted to sort of do my own version of that. So, that’s how I became a writer, in a way.”

“So, once I knew… what I wanted to do, first chance I got to turn professional, that’s what I did.” — Denny Laine talking about his songwriting, from an interview published in 2020.

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Pictured: Denny from the Wings Over America tour program.

-DL Page Admin (CC)♥️

Denny Laine

05/31/2026

Denny with the Moody Blues on French TV in May 1966, performing Sonny Boy Williamson’s ‘Bye Bye Bird,’ which was released on their first album (The Magnificent Moodies). Both Denny and Ray Thomas learned to play harmonica from Sonny Boy Williamson in the early days when the Moodies toured with him, and it was still a staple on Denny’s setlists in his later career.

“Sonny Boy Williamson was a big influence on me. He was the guy that we all loved, and went on tour with in France, and Europe, and all the rest of it. And he taught me this song — it’s called ‘Bye Bye Bird.’” — Denny Laine, 2018

-DL Page Admin (CC)💙

Denny Laine

05/29/2026

❤️👐

The Anchor of Wings: Why Denny Laine Was Paul McCartney's Most Crucial Post-Beatles Ally

“Although the Beatles were big to the world, within the business, we’re all very, very equal.” – Denny Laine 🎶

Denny Laine saw Beatlemania up close—but from a unique angle.

In 1965, he was fronting The Moody Blues, riding high on their hit “Go Now.” Just a few years later, he became Paul McCartney’s right-hand man in Wings, playing alongside Paul and Linda from 1971 to 1981.

For a seasoned musician like Denny, stepping into a new band with a former Beatle meant navigating a massive wave of public expectation and harsh critical scrutiny. Yet, it was precisely his multi-instrumental versatility—effortlessly moving between stinging lead guitar lines, bass, and keyboards—and his distinct, bluesy vocal blend that provided the musical anchor Paul desperately needed during those tentative early Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway sessions.

Denny didn’t just witness history—he helped shape the next chapter of a Beatle’s career.

His finest hour undoubtedly came during the chaotic 1973 sessions for Band on the Run in Lagos, Nigeria. When drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Henry McCullough abruptly quit the band just days before departure, it was left to just Paul, Linda, and Denny to cut what would become a masterpiece.

Laine’s steady professionalism, brilliant rhythm work, and soaring backing vocals on tracks like "Jet" and the title suite cemented Wings as a formidable stadium-rock powerhouse in their own right.

Beyond his vital role as a sideman, Denny brought legitimate songwriting pedigree to the table. His co-writing credit on the 1977 mega-hit "Mull of Kintyre"—a track that famously went on to outsell any single the Beatles ever released in the UK—proved that he was far more than just a touring hand. He was an essential creative foil who helped Paul break box-office and chart records all over again.

While John, Paul, George, and Ringo take up almost all the space in rock history, do you think Wings would have reached the commercial and creative heights of the 1970s—especially during the crisis of Band on the Run—if Paul hadn't had a seasoned peer like Denny Laine by his side?

Blues

05/29/2026

❤️👐