DennyLaine

Denny Laine

Me and Denny, The Cavern Club, Liverpool, 15 February 2009

The Cavern Club, Liverpool

15 February 2009

Denny Laine is a national treasure. His music career has spanned five decades. The only ever present member of Wings alongside Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny gave us so much as part of this formidable team. It can't be easy standing out if you're in a group with Paul McCartney but Denny did just that with his own compositions such as 'Again and Again and Again', 'Time to Hide' and as co-writer of 'Mull of Kintyre' and 'Deliver your Children' along with McCartney.

Denny has released some amazing solo albums which I feel haven't been given the credit they deserve, for example 'Ahh Laine', Denny's first solo outing back in 1973. I believe this album should be re-issued on cd and packaged as a Special Edition with extras. Other solo albums such as 'Hometown Girls', 'Wings on my Feet' and 'Lonely Road' also need to be dusted off and given a new lease of life.

Denny has penned so many great tracks; he is a fantastic songwriter and should be recognised as such alongside the great musicians of our time such as Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Roger Waters.

I first saw Denny play live in 1988 at the Annual Beatles Convention in Liverpool. I was 15 years old. I was hooked. I most recently saw Denny play live on 15 February 2009 at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. I'm 36 now and Denny Laine still has the power to blow me away.

The Cavern Club was packed and the atmosphere was great as Denny along with his band Jeff Allen on drums and the brilliant Alan Thompson on bass stepped onto the stage and treated us to almost 2 hours of music which consisted of old Wings, Moody Blues and solo numbers, a few of which were new tracks not yet released.

Harmonica around his neck, guitar in hand Denny began with 'Time to Hide'. The song that thrilled the fans 33 years ago when he performed it on the Wings 1976 American tour and preserved forever when the tour was released on video entitled 'Rockshow'.

Denny gave us all a night to remember as he sang hit after hit, Go Now, Say You Don't Mind (which Denny penned and was a hit for Colin Blunstone), Mull of Kintyre, Find a Way Somehow, No Words, Crusin', Red Sky to name but a few.

Denny was warm and friendly, talking in between songs and making the crowd laugh. And what a showman he is, breathtaking on guitar. I was sat right at the front of the stage and I was absolutely enthralled.

I had a wonderful evening made extra special by the fact that Denny takes time to chat to fans, sign autographs and pose for photographs after the show. It's thrilling to be up close to this fantastic musician in a venue like The Cavern Club but I just can't help thinking he should be playing at the Royal Albert Hall!

Rachel Doyle

This amazing evening at the Cavern was made even extra special for me on a personal level. A few songs into his set Denny, before he launched into 'Burnin Bridges' sat at his keyboard, saw me in the crowd and said 'Hi Rach, you alright'. I was absolutley thrilled and it made my evening that extra bit special. A memory I will treasure. Thank you Denny, you're a very special man!