City's Tone Interview with Denny Laine Hey, this is a VERY good interview! Published in City's Tone Volume 1 Issue 1, January 2001

Denny Laine and others honor Harrison

CHICAGO (AP) - In the 60s, Denny Laine and his Moody Blues band opened for the Beatles. On Saturday he was onstage again, this time with former Beatles drummer Pete Best paying tribute to George Harrison.
Two days after hearing Harrison, 58, had died of cancer, Laine, Best, Spencer Davis, and more than a dozen other musicians remembered the "quiet Beatle" at the House of Blues.
"It was an uncanny feeling," said Laine, who also played in Paul McCartney's post-Beatles group, Wings. "George was a very close friend. It's comforting to play like this."
As many as 16 musicians -- including the members of American English, a costumed Beatles cover band -- packed the stage to play a range of Beatles songs, from "Norwegian Wood" to "Let it Be".
A crowd of several hundred, often recognizing the music after a single guitar riff, applauded wildly, flickering their lighters, and pumping their fists.
"It's kind of eerie," said Ruth Membiela, 31. "But it's very good to be here."
The segues between songs were often somber.
"George was a very special person," Laine said. "I know you all loved him. I loved him. God bless you George."
At one point, Davis reminded the crowd that John Lennon, shot by a deranged fan in 1980, had also died young.
"This is something for John and George," Davis said before launching into a rendition of "Got to Get You Into My Life".
Best, who embarked on his own solo career, was silent through most of the show. His most animated display came late in the concert when a chant of "Best, Best, Best" moved the drummer to stand and bow.

Published on Saturday 01 December 2001

House of Blues Event Raises Money to Let kids Access Technology

For a lot of people attending Windows World April 20-23, Tuesday evening's Equal Access shindig at the House of Blues in Chicago provided a welcome opportunity to cut loose and benefit a good cause at the same time. The event was a benefit to help Big Brothers and Big Sisters chapters in Chicago and Seattle provide technology access to youngsters from disadvantaged communities.
In the process the party-goers got a rare opportunity to join in honoring Linda McCartney, who passed away Friday after succumbing to breast cancer. One of her former bandmates in the group Wings--Denny Laine--paid tribute to the late Mrs. McCartney, leading the crowd in a spirited sing-along of "Band On the Run."
Laine sang at the event as part of the World Classic Rockers, which also included former members of the Eagles, Toto, and Steppenwolf.
Before the band took the stage, Frank Zirille of the Chicago chapter of Big Brothers and Big Sisters thanked the crowd for their support. The funds will help his organization match volunteer mentors with needy kids, he explained, noting that the organization hopes to hit the 1,000 mark in mentor-child matches. That's up from some 500 today.
"We really don't lack adult volunteers now and there's certainly a lot of kids who want to join the program," Zirille said. "What we're lacking right now is the finances to support a staff to screen volunteers and then follow up to make sure these are healthy relationships."
Participating kids learn about technology through their mentors, who are encouraged to show how to use computers in school and at work, he said.
"We've seen a major decrease in violence and alcohol and drug abuse among the young people in this program," Zerille said. "The major factor is helping them build higher self-esteem. That comes directly from the one-on-one relationship with a mentor."
People who want to help should contact their local Big Brothers and Big Sisters chapter, he said. Similar programs are in progress at many of the 500 chapters around the country, and all can use both volunteer and financial support.
Microsoft's Stafford Mays noted that previous Equal Access events have benefited the United Negro College Fund to help bolster computer science curriculums at historically black colleges. Equal Access aims to help "level the playing field," providing to members of under-served communities the chance to put technology to work in their careers, education, and personal lives. It is in addition to the Libraries Online program that Microsoft also funds to help provide technology access to all.
Microsoft thanks ZD Comdex and Forums for their support of Tuesday's Equal Access event.

Published on April 23, 1998

Wings man

POP pioneer Denny Laine will be playing a gig in his adopted East Lancashire this week.
Denny, former frontman with the Moody Blues and one-time mainstay of Paul McCartney's Wings, calls in at the Civic Theatre, Oswaldtwistle, on Friday.
The former tax exile, who played on McCartney's record-breaking hit Mull Of Kintyre, has now set up home in Whalley and is currently putting the finishing touches to a top-secret recording studio in the area.
Close friend Peter Barton, a member of Lieutenant Pigeon, said: "The studio is very hush-hush and will be called Ribble Records."

Published on Saturday 23 March 1996

A NEW jazz and blues club billed as Rossendale's answer to Ronnie Scott's opens next week - in a former railway shed!
Where bales of cotton used to arrive in the Valley by train, jazz greats like John Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Humphrey Lyttleton, George Melly and Annie Ross will be performing.
The club, Rhythm Station, is the latest project of Rossendale developer and entrepreneur John Ashworth and is located next to the East Lancashire railway at Newhallhey, Rawtenstall.
Mr Ashworth and partner Allan Greenhalgh decided to open the disused railway shed as a club after receiving several inquiries from people wanting to rent the building. One of the club's directors is ex-Wings and Moody Blues star Denny Lane who will perform at the opening evening tomorrow week.
The jazz and blues club is a new type of venture for Mr Ashworth, owner of Hurstwood Enterprises. It is next to land he plans to develop as a retail complex alongside the Edenfield by-pass.
When asked how much the club has cost, he would only say "a lot".
But the white grand piano which will be centre stage cost £16,000 alone.
Mr Ashworth said: "It will be a high-class, select jazz/blues venue with live music six nights a week aimed at the over 25s. There will be live recordings and comedy cabaret once a month."
A host of top stars, including the Animals, Lindisfarne, Mungo Jerry, Jim Bowen, George Melly and Alan Price are booked for the opening two months.
John Dankworth and Cleo Laine will appear in July, virtually 40 years to the day since they performed at Rawtenstall Astoria.
A gala night, which will include East Lancashire steam trains, is planned for August.

Published on Thursday 03 April 1997

THE world premiere of a new musical takes to the stage this week in the Ribble Valley.
"Arctic Song" has been specially written by Denny Laine, of Moody Blues and Wings fame, and will be presented by a boys' choir from St Mary's Hall, the preparatory school at Stonyhurst College, and girls from Westholme Middle School, Blackburn.
The story involves a spaceship from the future and animals of the Arctic which are threatened with extinction.
Characters Arcos and Yelena have to find the "Arctic Song" - the crystal of all knowledge whose healing power will help restore harmony and conquer the destruction of the planet.
Artistic director Mary Jones has been working with the choir for four months and has supervised the transformation of the Centenaries Theatre venue into an Arctic setting with spectacular costumes. Denny Laine, who now lives in the area, along with sponsors, Ribble Records, are hoping "Arctic Song" will be made into a professional adult production in the future.
Co-writer, Christopher Hill, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, will be staging a photographic exhibition based on a solo journey to the Arctic regions to herald the musical premiere.
The exhibition will be held tonight between 6.30pm and 9pm in the Centenaries Theatre.
"Arctic Song" opens on Friday, May 9 at 7.30pm with evening shows also on Saturday, Sunday and the following weekend on Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17.
There is one matinee performance on May 16 at 2.30pm.
Tickets at £10 for adults and £7 for students can be obtained through the theatre box office on 01254 826063.

Published on Saturday 06 May 1997

THE world premiere of a musical written by a former rock star opened in the Ribble Valley last night amid great critical acclaim.
Arctic Song, by former Wings and Moody Blues member Denny Laine, was presented in the Centenaries Theatre at Stonyhurst College by youngsters from St Mary's Hall and Westholme School in Blackburn.
Denny Laine joined civic leaders and theatre-goers at the plush venue for the top performance.
The show tells the tale of a spaceship from the future and animals of the Arctic threatened with extinction and offers an insight into the myths and legends of one of the great remote areas of the world.
Characters Arcos and Yelena take the audience on a journey to find the Arctic Song, the crystal of knowledge whose healing power will restore harmony and prevent destruction of the planet. Artistic director Mary Jones worked with the choir for four months and supervised the transformation of the Centenaries Theatre into an Arctic setting with spectacular costumes for the cast. Denny Laine, who lives in Whalley, drew upon his wealth of experience in the world of rock music to write the score for the show and he and sponsors Ribble Records hope it will eventually be taken up for a professional adult production.
Co-writer Christopher Hill, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, staged a photographic exhibition - based on a solo journey to the Arctic regions - to herald the premiere. Mr John Travis, manager of the Centenaries Theatre, described the show as incredible and said tickets were selling like hot cakes.
It will be performed tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm, with performances next Friday and Saturday at the same time and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Further details and bookings, contact the Centenaries Theatre box office on 01254 826063.

Published on Saturday 10 May 1997