Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Was there a big falling out between these two at the end of the Wings era? I don't think I've ever heard any mention of Denny Laine by Paul in any kind of interview since before he toured the US again in 1990(?). Has this been beat to death and I just missed it, or does it basically just get blown over?

Jeff: As far as I remember Denny left Wings in 1980 following several difficult times for Paul including the arrest in Tokyo for possession of drugs and the decision to step back from touring for a period. John Lennon's death in December 1980 probably added to Macca's hesitancy to tour for a period as well. Let the Wings' historians take over from here.

I think he realised how many people were snickering behind his back that one of his musicians had a name that sounded like a Beatles song and he just couldn't cope anymore. Or not.

I seem to recall Denny Laine having money problems and he sold his share of ? Mull of Kintyre? to McCartney to bale himself out. Could be an urban myth tho.

Don't know why these two went their separate ways. But IMO, they worked well together. I was listening to a bunch of Wings stuff yesterday while I was doing some work around the house a thought it was a shame that these two guys didn't stay together over the years.

I seem to remember that it was a money thing. DL was living the millionaire life style but didn't have the money. I think he got a large tax bill and expected Macca to pay it for him. This didn't happen hence the bust-up.

It was a shame because I think Macca did some of his best when Denny Laine was around. Trouble is now that Macca is surrounded by sycophants and nobody has the bottle (or the authority) to tell him when something is ****! IMO

Yes, it's stating the obvious, but Macca was at his best with an acidic Lennon giving feedback on songs, adding the odd line to tighten things up ("and you know what I mean..." instead of "never a beauty queen" IIRC in ISHST), and so on.

Neither Lennon or McCartney were as good solo as in the Beatles. Precisely because of this reason, IMHO.

I thought they worked great together, too. After sticking together through all of the rough Wings years and basically recording Band on the Run by themselves I thought it was strange that I never heard anything good or bad about the split and that Denny doesn't seem to have appeared on anything with Macca since.

The only thing I have ever read that McCartney has said about him was that he was a great **** artist (drunk) (I am not positive it was Laine but I think so)

Yeah, I thought I remember an interview in which McCartney said something to the effect of "Well, he was a younger guy and liked to do all those things that younger guys like to do and sometimes it interfered with the band, so we went our separate ways."

I remember reading that it was money problems too. Whether 'Paul never paid Denny enough' or 'Denny spent too much money' none of us will probably ever know(that includes Paul and Denny). Paul is known for watching his money closely. Maybe it's a little of both?

Denny also did a negative tabloid article after the split, basically saying that Paul paid him what amounted to almost a pittance over the years.

Denny Laine rejected the articles in the tabloids as rubbish. Denny Laine's former girlfriend/wife Jo Jo tells of a conversation she had with Paul telling him Denny felt really bad about the articles. I had heard that Denny had showed up for a McCartney show 1990, but missed Paul.

Denny not only sold his interest in Mull of Kintyre, but also sold the publishing right on some of his other "Wings" songs.

The split actually came in late 1981. Denny was working with Paul on an album that eventually became "Tug of War". It was going to be the next "Wings" album. I heard that either George Martin or one of the lads at MPL telephoned Denny to advise him that from that point on it was going to be a solo effort. Denny does appear in the credits.

The Wingspan documentary barely mentions Denny, or anyone else really. Too Bad. The guy deserved a better ending.

Brian, you are right. Denny Laine is in the credits for Tug of War, released in 1981. He plays on 6 of the 12 tracks; various instruments credited to Laine are guitar, guitar synthesizer, accoustic guitar, and even bass on one song, Wanderlust.

Stanley Clarke plays bass on a couple tracks, too.

Andrew, I think he also had some credits on Pipes of Peace. I'll have to check that out. I think that album was made up of songs that didn't make Tug of War. Their was a good reason they were left off Tug of War, but that's for a different post.

I remember a video of him playing a RIC with The Moody Blues, but I don't remember which model. Probably a 1996 or 1997