Denny Laine, the singer-songwriter who co-founded The Moody Blues and Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles band, Wings, has passed away at the age of 79. His wife posted that he died from lung disease complications following a bout with Covid on December 5, 2023.

Laine, born Brian Hines on October 29, 1944, played with the Moody Blues from 1964 to 1966 and sang their first hit, a cover of the blues classic “Go Now.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of the group.

In 1971, he joined Paul and Linda McCartney in Wings. He was a multi-instrument musician, known chiefly for playing guitar and contributing vocals. He occasionally wrote songs for the band and co-wrote several with McCartney. After the dissolution of Wings, he contributed to a few of McCartney’s solo projects.

His post-Wings career saw him team with a wide variety of musicians, both as a member of groups and as the leader of his own band.