February 2024
Brian Frederick Hines
BY-------Graham Sclater
Brian Frederick Hines (29 October 1944 – 5 December 2023), known
professionally as Denny Laine, was an English musician who
co-founded two major rock bands: the Moody Blues and Wings. Laine
played guitar in the Moody Blues from 1964 to 1966, and he sang
their hit cover version of “Go Now”. While the Moody Blues were on
tour with The Beatles in 1965, Laine befriended Paul McCartney, who
later asked him to join his band Wings.
Laine was a constant member of Wings for their entire run from 1971
to 1981, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, singing backing and lead
vocals, and co-writing songs with McCartney including the 1977 hit “Mull of Kintyre”. Laine worked with a variety of other artists such as Ginger Baker, Trevor Burton, Bev Bevan, and more as a part of groups over a six-decade career, and in later years he participated in a number of Wings / McCartney / Beatles tribute performances and recordings. He also had an extensive solo career consisting of 10 studio albums of original music, a Wings covers album, and also wrote a musical. Laine performed as a solo artist and touring musician until his death. In 2018, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues.
In December 1966, after leaving The Moody Blues, Laine formed the Electric String Band, 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.
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. Laine and Burton then went on to join the band Balls, from February 1969 until their break-up in 1971, with both also taking time to play in Ginger Baker's Air Force in 1970. Only one single was issued by Balls, on UK Wizard Records: "Fight for My Country" b/w "Janie, Slow Down". The top side was re-edited and reissued on UK Wizard, and in the United States on Epic Records, 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.
Laine was briefly married to Jo Jo Laine, with whom he had a son Laine Hines and a daughter Heidi Jo Hines. He had three other children from other relationships. Laine married Elizabeth Mele in July 2023 and the couple announced the marriage on the singer's Facebook page.[citation needed] They resided in Florida.
Laine had COVID-19 in 2022, and he then had multiple surgeries for lung issues, including a collapsed lung. After his wife launched a GoFundMe page, Laine's musician friends and supporters organized a benefit concert at the Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood, California, on 27 November 2023.
Laine died from interstitial lung disease in Naples, Florida, on 5 December 2023, at the age of 79. His wife announced his death on his official Facebook and Instagram pages.
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