Denny Laine Talks Being Added To Moody Blues’ Rock Hall Induction
Denny Laine‘s addition to the Moody Blues‘ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction roster came via the intervention of some friends involved with the institution.
Laine tells us that he had some famous and influential friends who intervened after his name was left off the induction list when the Class of 2018 was revealed earlier this month:
“Steven Van Zandt, Peter Asher, Cousin Brucie…they’re all on the voting board and they all kind of…Steven did for sure. It was nice from that point of view; I had sort of friends at the top who pushed for me to get back in. In fact, I think Peter said to me…he wouldn’t even vote for the Moody Blues unless I was in it, so that was kind of the most rewarding part of the whole thing, I think.”
Laine co-founded the Moodys in 1964 but was only around for one album as well as the group’s first single, “Go Now.” Nevertheless, he feels that he merits inclusion as the group enters the Rock Hall:
“It’s nice to be part of something…’cause we have a lot of memories for the early days. It was only two or three years, I suppose, in all but a lot went down in those two or three years. We went from being unknowns to top of the charts and beyond. There was a lot of stuff that went down…Obviously I’m very pleased. I’m gonna be there, because, y’know, it’s an honor, I suppose…I feel very content, really, that it’s come full circle now.”
Laine went on to work with a number of other acts, most notably Paul McCartney’s Wings. He currently records and tours as a solo act and recently released a new single, with an album he says is in the can.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
