I opened for Denny a few times. My observation of him these days, is of a guy that loves to play, he loves to tell stories, and he really loves meeting people and hanging out after the show. He was really gracious to me. Even invited me up to play some songs with him. I treasure the opportunity.

Paul says more about Pete Best in the Beatles Anthology documentary than he does about Denny in all of Wingspan.

I met Denny last week and exchanged phone numbers. His business card has him playing bass in his Wings shirt from back in the day and he said that Paul is the best bassist ever. I didn’t ask him about Paul- he brought it up himself. He’s very low key and has a boat named Holly after Buddy Holly.

This video was like meeting a guy in the pub who's got a bunch of stories. Great listening, James.

Excellent video, James! I think Denny is fairly underrated as far as the history books are concerned and that’s a shame. He deserves better than that. I missed seeing him the last two times he came to Chicago. If he ever comes back, I’ll be sure to see him. I enjoyed his contributions to Wings. It would have been a different band without him.

It just breaks my heart...as a fan of everything Beatles, that Paul and Denny ended cross with each other. As a fan...one has this romantic impression, that your heroes are all best friends. Used to break my heart about George and Paul's sort of falling out. Goes to show...in reality...in the real world...famous people...are just like us in the end. Just people.

Nice job, just saw him in Chicago at a Winery and he has blossomed doing so gs AND lots if stories . The small audience seems to be his thing!

All the Beatle folks out here in the VC doing numerous videos on their channels and no one has explored Denny's career in this manner until now...hard to believe. But you nailed it James! Great job! I met Denny at The Fest for Beatles Fans a couple of years ago and he was very accomodating and gracious. I always loved his presence in Wings and was sad to see he and Paul go their separate ways. I wish Paul would have him on stage some time before it's too late. Have a bit of a reconciliation. That would be nice.....thanks James....Matt

Really enjoyed this James, glad someone has identified the wonderful sound of Macca, Linda and Denny as one of the great harmonies of the 70s without anyone really noticing. I love the haunting Note you never wrote it's sung with so much feel despite the nonsense words. Again again and again is indeed a classic pop tune and rivals No Words as his best piece of writing in Wings. Essentially Denny was a true hippy believing in music love and drugs and as you said spend it when you have it and drift about with Spanish gypsies when you don't! If you listen to his first interview on Take It Away podcast his music memory is excellent despite his apparent flakiness, so I'm sure he can write a book, but I thin specific dates and places is where he comes unstuck. Maybe he knows too much. I think he is a great musician and singer and wish a retrospective would surface to showcase his career with dignity as he deserves far more recognition, well done for getting the ball rolling

Permanent sideman status, I was just thinking that phrase a heartbeat before you said it. How ironic to crave your place in the spotlight yet continually end up in this journeyman role - and what a combination of talent, work ethic, and many other factors it takes to actually be the star of the show as it were. Lack of a recognizable or projectable image or persona is often a problem as well. Still if the choice is that or getting some 9 to 5 job to pay the bills surely the choice must be clear! Cheers for this spotlight James, makes a nice companion to your last video on the early Wings gig! Carrying on the story as it were. Take care, have a nice weekend!

James, you need a condenser mic. This is a fantastic vid! Denny Laine is so overlooked by a clueless music "inteligencia". I've always adored his work. I love the way his voice blends with Paul and Linda. Paul is the renaissance man of our time. The only thing that could possibly make me love him more, would be if he would write million dollar checks to the denny Laines in his life..... Frieda Felly, Geoff Emerick, etc, etc. I believe he can afford it.

Hi James, nice job doing this video. It's not often that we get a feature on Denny, so well done. I learned a number of things here that I didn't know. Up until only fairly recently I've pretty much only reckoned him as that other guy in Wings, though I knew about his association with The Moody Blues. Thanks!

Hi James - Wow, this was terrific to watch. Denny's presence certainly contributed a lot to some of the best Wings music, not least as you say for the distinctive backing vocals he provided. And a few of my favorite Wings moments are ones where he and Paul wrote and sang together ("No Words," "Deliver Your Children"). I never knew there was a video for "Again and Again and Again" (which I agree was another real high point). It was cool to see that clip here.

I really enjoyed this video so much. I really agree with everything you presented. Fabulous!

Hey James. Glad you did this video. For me I always thought Denny's biggest contributions were on the London Town album. His harmonies and fine guitar playing all very strong on that album and during that time. Including the Mull of Kintyre/ Girls school. London Town's folk music elements were very much Denny's in my opinion. I always thought the folk music sounds were really strong for him. Always thought he should have done a full solo album of folk and acoustic music. Fun and interesting James. Thanks for posting. Brad in Canada.

Great clip James, your observations seem spot on about Denny, as a kid I always thought he was a pretty cool dude. I remember reading articles when he & his wife bad mouthed Paul & Linda for being very tight with their money etc, I always thought that was bad form on their part for spilling the beans on the man that gave him his fame. Cheers for making this clip as there is very little out there on Denny apart from those newish interviews with him on You Tube where he puts his own spin on things (fair enought too).

Great video James...Denny is underrated for sure...I saw him at Wimbledon Theatre Jan 87 shortly after his declared bankruptcy...and then saw him throughout 1987 on the London pub circuit....got to hang out with him which was great. Hi favourite Wings LP was Band On The Run although I was always singing the praises of London Town and Back To The Egg....shame how it all ended but yes a pivotal part of Wings and i love him 'cos of that :- )

I thought that Denny's contributions to Wings were pretty good - I always liked his vocal on "The Note You Never Wrote" in particular - but what has really impressed me are the live clips that I've seen of him, from the 1976 Wings Over America Tour, or with The Moody Blues 65' appearance at Wembley. He really shone as a live performer on par with the best of them...Excellent video James..

Denny Laine sang Penny Lane for The Beatles after JPM died in ‘66 and before William Shepherd took over the role of Paul!

Wings is the most underrated band ever...

Wings = Paul, Linda and Denny and we loved them!

Thanks so much for this fascinating piece, really enjoyed your style. Off to check out some of your other stuff now! Hope you are keeping well in this crazy year. In case you're interested I was born and brought up in Speke, Liverpool (round the corner from where Paul lived when he was young)

Thanks for posting this! I just watched a Wings documentary. Look, Denny and the Moody Blues are not even within the same universe as Paul Mccartney! This notion that Denny would be frustrated about being in Pauls shadow is funny to me! What like there would be a remote probability of anything else? More people are familiar with Wings songs than Moody Blues!? Paul is a GOD and Denny is well Denny! When someone out sells, out writes, out plays, and out sings, theres going to be a shadow! I bet Wings helped gain Moody Blues fans their fan base! Moody Blues and the Beatles dont belong together within the same sentence

Greetings James ✌ Came across this video you made on Denny Laine, Great One! Loved it 👍

Excellent insights and observations. Thank you.

But Denny did that job of being Paul's right hand man really well!

Interesting overview of Denny Laine’s work with Wings!

Hi James, I love these long videos about topics not usually covered in the VC or in general. He was certainly important to the Wings sound with his backing harmonies, but at the end of the day it was Paul's band and Denny's songs on the wings albums are usually my least favorite, exception being Again and Again and Again.

Informative stuff I need to catch up on McCratney' solo work after Wings

Interesting doc-- when looking into people like Denny and other talents and their lives and careers there are a number of reasons why things happened as they did--Denny is a good singer, musician, songwriter but Paul casts a large shadow and had a better business sense,likewise although a songwriter Denny's songs didn't seem as "commercial" as Paul s you also have to have a strong personality when colab with Paul (songs,royalties, business)it's good to see Denny now getting the recognition he deserves thanks for the post A very informative video

This is a fantastic topic James !!!! I do miss Denny on Paul lp . You know with Paul touring all over the world and having gests get up on stage . I would love to see Denny be one of them you know !!! . Unless.. Paul has some resentment ?. Well don video James I like it a lot !!. You spark me to do a video no Joe English is it ok that I would come off of you or not ? . I don't wont to take thought away from you . So let me know what you think . Great video James . Another one of your best !!!!!!!!!!!!! .

Happy to see that DL finally got the Rock n Roll hall of fame induction

I always wondered why he left the moodies, great “look-in” to the life of Denny Laine...I always liked the songs he did with Wings .... great job James .... take care- Lis

Denny was great he knew what he was getting into he is a professional

Great job James. Yeah. I see Denny at his shows and he's still doing great performances at Beatlefest. He's a great funny guy and still plays great. Hey, we've all made mistakes. What can you do? Move on.

I recently visited House of Guitars in Rochester, New York where hangs on the wall a pair of Denny Laine's striped trousers. I was thrilled

Excellent, thank you.

Denny is now getting some well deserved recognition along with the other Moody Blues by being a well deserved induction into the RRHOF!! Denny said he doubts it will ever happened with wings...what a shame really some of his best work was with wings!!

Great job, very interesting.

James, excellent video video...

Hey James, Very enjoyable feature on someone I had little familiarity with. I would imagine however good one may be, if you're playing with Paul, yes one would be considered 'second fiddle' at best. Indeed, business creeping in...doesn't always make it easy. Nice you got to meet him. Had been curious as I've bee watching, is that a large windowshade behind you, a screen, or something else? Thanks for sharing this. -Carm

Cool laid back video, really enjoyed sitting back and listening, you look like Paul McCartney..a bit! - ;)

Thank you for this very well documented video, I have troubles being interested in Denny Laine. I never really understood why Paul chose him. He is vain in interviews, his songs looks like bad copies of the Beatles. The best song he co-wrote with Paul would be "No words" according to me, but it seems it was mainly Paul's doing. I did not really like the other songs, except go now, despite the negative message, and again again again. you forgot to talk about his guitar playing in the end?

Denny is up there now with the best of them!

Great Video

Enjoyed your view Thank You

Denny Laine and The Moody Blues toured with the Beatles in the early years, so they Denny and Paul became friends, mutual admiration. There are many interrelationships between the Moody Blues and The Beatles. Mike Pinder of MB was a constant presence at Abbey Road, keeping the finicky mellotron of Paul’s, up and running

Excellent video. Very interesting. If you haven't read it, I recommend Tom Doyle's Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s.

Nah, he probably was given a fair deal for his contribution - he had a gig that most guitar-players / musicians would kill for... ain’t Bill’s /McCartneys fault if he never sort solid financial advice or managed his own finances..

Denny knew Phil Ackrill (aka Billy Shears) when they were in The Diplomats together. On 9/11/66 Paul McCartney died in a car crash. Billy was his replacement so no surprise that Billy had Denny join Wings after he (Billy) broke up the Beatles.

Oh denny was amazing he helped Paul McCartney who is my favourite celebrity start a band

Excellent storytelling James, very illuminating. A great point on being a Lennon-esque 'substitute' of sorts, and the 'permanent-sideman' status anyone'd be doomed to if playing with an ex-Beatle. Also think there's a particular type of person that can be a long-time sideman to a couple in a band. A third wheel to a very close relationship in an already tight band atmosphere must be extreemly difficult to navigate at times. I can only think of James McNew from Yo La Tengo who has lasted nearly 25 years now. Regardless of financial aptitude, I feel like Laine could've only ever come second to McCartney in royalties for Mull of Kintyre - McCartney probably just did as was done to him in the Beatles - take care of No.1 first, i.e. Do or be done to! Would definitely leave a sour taste though.

Haven't finished yet James but nice work. I really wasn't familiar with Demny at all. I think a huge portion musicians start off wanting to be the star of the show but another good portion end up as side men and I bet a lot of them are happy with it and happy being able to make a living at it. Take care, have a great weekend.

Thanks James. I have a much better picture of Denny, now. Interesting that he was involved with two future members of the Move. Chris

never underestimate Denny

He wasn't the only one from the start to finish of Wings! - So was Linda!

What you need in order to make it big is being able to write great songs consistently. I don't think Denny had that, a song here and there isn't enough. And more importantly what happens behind the scenes, smooching up to the record executives and a&r men, perhaps he didn't have that either. If the money wasn't divided fairly it.must have created a rift between them, but then there's also the reality. It's easy to think that this band is making so much money,but it's not so easy to think how much money goes into keeping the band afloat. When it comes down to it,the leader, Paul, will take a larger cut and the rest will be divided among the rest.I think it's sad when people who are at the heart of commercial success like Denny end up with nothing. Like you said it's likely he didn't have that financial sense to look into the future. Pasi

Denny was literally the heartbeat of Wings. Sadly, they had some kind of falling out and they appear to have never made up.

Another great video James. Thanks for spending some time discussing an underrated artist.

I really enjoyed this. I was told and read that he did record an album late 60s when he was doing his psych solo singles. Never came out of course and a lot of speculation about it. I bought holly Days . It was pretty good of buddy holly covers. Shame he never did a project with other ex members of Wings. That might be interesting.

Playing 2nd fiddle to Paul McCartney is still a pretty good fiddle, Denny could have capitalised more on his relationship with McCartney and Wings by dishing the dirt etc but remained loyal, Beatles did the entire 60s and Wings did the entire 70s, McCartney pulled at stumps with both bands at the right time imo, RIP Denny Laine.

I heard Young Scottish Jimmy kept throwing Eggs at Maccas windows one day while Jimmy was drunk, Paul got pissed off and after many warnings asking him to quit, finaly Paul sacked him...I heard he never worked again, tho could be wrong...Then Denny sold his story to the 'News Of The World' and said a few not so nice things about Paul, and Paul never spoke to him again...I can remember reading that Newspaper article

Very sad I love Wings at the Speed of Sound and recently bought the new reissue, Denny sounds great on that. Surely he must still make one on Mull of Kintyre and from all the Wings reissues as a songwriter and contributing artist?

Denny come and stayed at one of my dads partys brought one of his old camper vans so denny could travel around as was writing a book this must of been 30 years ago now my dads Dave Brock of the space rock band HAWKWIND see little link

Seen the Denny Laine version of Say You Don't Mind on KZfaq a couple of years ago and was really impressed. Blunstone version is the business though.

RIP Denny 😢

I really like denny, he seems kinda undermined but I love some of his songs with wings deliver your children, the note you never wrote etc

I bet George Harrison...and Denny Laine both...lived on the same wave length for a while. Bet those two...understand each other better than anyone. Too bad, if they do feel as though they were only in the shadows...because both are fantastic musicians in their own right. But like I said...bet George and Denny both have a lot in common psychologically. Love George and Denny. Have all of George's solo work...and much of Denny's. (Not all of it like I have George's, but quite a bit of it, and he is a fantastic musician).

You have misunderstood totally! - we loved Linda and Denny!

just rewatching this James.....i'm sorry but i can't feel too sorry for Denny.... at least in terms of money.....the main disappointment for me is that Paul never really made it with Denny...now that really is as shame......cos they were great partners for 10 years

When did Brian Hines become Denny Laine? What year? Interesting that Denny and JoJo’s son was names Laine Hines. Was friends with the son for some years in the 80’s and early 90’s. Now his name makes more sense.

Awesome music he gave us

Very much underrated. Really do think Paul should have used his talents a lot more than he did and maybe listened to his input/ ideas a bit more...

Love the Dr. Who illustrations of your wall Patrick Throughten and Tom Baker very cool. I love it when I cam across a Paul McCartney/Wings/Beatles fan who is also a fan of Dr. Who. I don't meet many who love both. Denny and Linda's vocal harmonies were quite unique. I think he and Linda were quite fond of each other. Denny certainly held it together very well especially consider the various incarnations of Wings. I thought the Wingspan Documentary was to biased, having your own daughter interview you! In fact it was pretty crap as it was a very poor in actually focusing on the band.

Denny appears to be a reasonably talented guy with perennially poor decision-making skills. While Macca is notoriously frugal with his band mates, he also rightly knows that no one is paying $250 for a ticket to see Rusty Anderson now or Denny Laine in 1976.

Remember when Denny did the 1776 drum show on stage for the American anniversary? Let em in???

If you consider that video, "a bit of the ramble" you can investigate and fact gather for me any time👨‍🔬👨‍💻👮‍♂️ I always consider your videos as Rockumentaries any way.👍😁 Looking forward to your recent rock purchases. Can't wait to see who you dug up.😎lol

+ he is still going!

🎶 🎵 MOODY BLUES ❤⏹️ 🪕 🎼

Denny Laine was such a crucial part to Paul's development and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for helping Paul and Linda make all those great 70's (and early 80's) albums.

He helped me write a book on Paul called Blackbird

I would like him to do a musical version of Rock Show.

Denny is battling serious health problems these days and can't afford a health insurance. It would have been be a nice gesture if former Wings partner McCartney who is a billionaire would step in and pay his medical Bills. But sadly it seems that McCartney doesn't care one bit about the guy he co-wrote Mull of Kintyre with.

Isn't the intro copywrite

The more I watched this interview I started thinking that you look like McCartney. Like you could be a nephew or something. I mean that as a compliment of course.

Wrote most the Beatles songs fair play to him.

Denny working with Billy,er,Paul McCartney was no accident.After one of his solo gigs Laine and another act were drinking at a bar one night and the subject of Paul McCartney dying and being replaced by Bill Shepherd who btw was formerly in the Diplomats with Laine under the name Phil Ackrill was verifed by Denny.If youll notice it's not uncommon in showbiz to have several aliases & Bill Shepherd was a British session guy before taking on the role of McCartney.R.I.P.PAUL...Hello Billy.. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/esB2gtWAra2peXU.html

I’m sorry but to me, Laine is only a little star into the great McCartney universe.

Did you know that Denny Laine never actually wrote 'GO NOW'?!...It was written by a woman by the name of Bessie Banks, who a couple of years later he met!

Hey man was it true about his crush on Linda?

in regard to Mull Of Kintyre Paul did give Denny a writing credit, but when Denny was having money problems Paul gave him a loan with the condition that if he could not pay him back Paul would get full ownership of the song, Denny didn't pay him back and the rights went to Paul.

Denny Laine is only one character away from being Penny Laine.. coincidence? Not likely.

denny's wife once said that Paul used to hide behind the amplifiers with giant burgers!

"Denny never existed." is sadly the conclusion fact about him. "Wings" band is known... (I love them!!!!!) but was and will remain Paul McCartney's band. Paul is associated with Paul, the remain details is only known by "experts" with a good memory of the musical history of the 20th century. "Wings" in France ? _Wouingse? C'est quoi? C'est qui?_ (What is that? Who is it?). I have always been amazed that their collaboration lasted so long. Denny was very important in Wings' story_legacy just like Linda. In concert they were fantastic. Paul's band since 2002 is great but for me they are only talented extras (except the faithful Paul Wix since 1986 wow). Denny looks to me like a disappointed weird bitter man and that for at least 37 years. I find it very sad that he is not in the "Wingspan" documentary. It's unfair ... once again _(and again and again)._ Poor Denny... Strange Denny... _well maybe we should also add... Bossy Paul M._ It's not necessarily sad, but Denny often participates in many Beatles conventions around the world. It's paradoxical but you must be able to eat ... and without being so cynical, a musician needs and likes to play and if there is an audience it is even better... _and copyrights are paid to Mr. Paul once again. Haha!_ Money... Grab that ca$h with both hands and make a stash... *Ps and fun historical fact:* Paul Wix plays accordion on one track in the last Téléphone album "Un Autre Monde" 1984... _(and John Entwistle plays trombone on another track haha)_

Billy Shears Wings . . .

The Paul is Dead (PID) crowd obsess over this strange interview where a drunken fan as an interviewer asks Denny "What was it like playing with Billy Campbell instead of Paul McCartney?". Suggest fans of Denny check it out and try to help me in debunking it. His reply was basically "Oh, you mean Billy Shears?" And that's supposed to be all the "proof" the PID'ers need. Lmao.

I like this video. I like Denny Laine. But there is a little bit of victim industry in this. He went bankrupt? Well, hate to say it, but whose fault would that have been? If Denny came to my neck of the woods, I'd go see him in the blink of an eye. if I ever met him I would be close to a state of genuflection. And there are thousands like me. That he didn't make the most of all that, well that is his story.

Denny Laine e Paul McCartney são uns gênios da música Saudades do grupo Wings ok galera

It is a major shame that the McCartney lay Him to waste. Wings without Denny Laine could have been nothing. Macca and Linda got this one wrong. He was loyal to them up to the end. Its a shame.

I really Liked Denny but you have to feel bad for him when he tries to put the Moodies in the same league with the Beatles..