Wings and Moody Blues Co-Founder Denny Laine Dead of 'Aggressive' Interstitial Lung Disease at 79

Mar. 15, 2025

Denny Laine in Los Angeles in May 2016.Photo:Angela Weiss/Getty

Angela Weiss/Getty

Denny Laine, who co-founded British rock band Wings withPaul McCartney, has died. He was 79.

Laine’s wife announced the news in a lengthy post on social media Tuesday, sharing that he died of interstitial lung disease.

“I was at his bedside holdings his hand as I played his favorite Christmas songs for him," his wife Elizabeth Hines wrote in astatement posted to Facebook. “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.”

She went on to explain that his lung disease was “unpredictable” and “aggressive.” She also thanked readers for sending love and support during his “health crisis.”

“My world will never be the same. 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," she wrote. “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.”

Denny Laine in August 1967.Ivan Keeman/Redferns

Ivan Keeman/Redferns

Laine was raised in Birmingham, England and found success in 1964 when he formed Moody Blues with Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder. Months later, they recorded a cover of Bessie Banks' “Go Now” with Laine on vocals and guitar. The song hit No. 1 in England — though Laine quit shortly after the release of their 1965 debut LPThe Magnificent Moodies.

Then, in 1971, he joined forces with Paul and Linda McCartney to form Wings. Laine and Paul met when Moody Blues toured with the Beatles. Together, they releasedWild Lifeand began touring.

Throughout the ’70s, Wings released hits like “Live and Let Die,” “Jet,” “Silly Love Songs,” and “Band on the Run.” They eventually split in 1981 after Paul, now 81, was arrested in Japan for marijuana possession while on tour, perRolling Stone.

“Me and Paul, we had the same influences musically and had known each other since the ’60s,”Laine toldBillboardearlier this year. “It was just easy. It was easy to get a good groove on each other’s songs, and I think that’s what made the album popular.”

Laine went on to release various solo albums and toured. In 2018, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Moody Blues.

“I thought [the rest of the band] deserved it because of the amount of work and the popularity, and I thought that’s the way it goes,” Laine, who was initially left off the list of inducteestoldBillboard.“Obviously, I’m very pleased I’m going to be in there. It’s an honor. I think I’m at least a little part of their story, so I feel very content, really, that it’s all come full circle now.”

Denny Laine and Paul McCartney.Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns

Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns

“I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when The Beatles toured with the Moody Blues. Our two bands had a lot of respect for each other and a lot of fun together,” he wrote. “Denny joined Wings at the outset. He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player. His most famous performance is probably ‘Go Now’ an old Bessie Banks song which he would sing brilliantly.”

“He and I wrote some 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 managed to reestablish our friendship and share memories of our times together,” he added.

Axl Rose alsopaid tribute on X(formerly known as Twitter), writing, “Very sorry to hear of the passing of Denny Laine. Wings has always (on the daily) been a big part of my life. RIP.”

source: people.com