STANHOPE — Over the course of the last 40 years, Denny Laine has found success with two bands as well as performing on his own. After first bursting onto the American music scene with Moody Blues at the height of the British Invasion, he eventually went on to perform in "Wings," founded by Sir Paul McCartney himself. And today he performs both on his own and as a guest.
Laine will be performing at Salt Gastropub on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Though the world has evolved over the last four decades, the music industry is still a lot like it was when Laine first got his start.
"I think that it has really come full circle," he explained. "Bands are playing again live. It went through a phase when everything was electronic but now it is back to people playing live again like when I was with 'Wings' and 'Moody Blues.' For a while there weren't many musicians getting a lot of work because of the nonmusicians playing with electronics. I'm not knocking it though. Now it is just financially better as well. It is much more of an efficient machine and the modern stuff is new territory. It has just come all the way around full circle."
Laine has experience touring with both bands and as a solo artist. The biggest difference in the two types of performances, is that the solo tours seem to have a more intimate feel.
"The difference is the size of the audience," he said. "The smaller theaters and venues lend to more of a singer/songwriter type of show. I have been doing guesting on the 'Abbey Road' shows with Peter Asher's band and it has been great though I sort of like to be doing my own material. I also have a new album so I am promoting that. This tour now is an extension of what I started last year."
Laine also recalls his last appearance at Salt Gastropub.
"I remember that it is a great club with a great atmosphere," he said. "Last time was the Abbey Road Memories show so this time will be the "Band on the Run" show which will be the same sort of thing just with a different album. It will be the same solo material and some Wings material so it is really a mixture of the bands and solo."
In addition to the older material that longtime fans will be familiar with, Laine is also hoping to promote his new material at the show.
"I have a new album coming out called 'Valley of Dreams' which will be all original material," he explained. "It is really an album of American music in the way it has influenced me in my original material."
More information about Denny Laine can be found at dennylaine.com or on his Facebook page.