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Ken Hensley

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Ken Hensley
Ken Hensley at the Tavastia Club, Helsinki, in 2019
Ken Hensley at the Tavastia Club, Helsinki, in 2019
Background information
Birth nameKenneth William David Hensley
Born (1945-08-24) 24 August 1945 (age 79)
Plumstead (south east London), England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • guitar
Years active1960–present
Labels
secret records limitedsecret records
Websiteken-hensley.com
Hensley at the Creativity World Forum 2009 in Ludwigsburg, Germany
Hensley performing with Uriah Heep in 1977
Ken Hensley bronze portrait by sculptor Giennadij Jerszow 2014

Kenneth William David Hensley (born 24 August 1945) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s.[1]

He wrote or co-wrote the majority of Uriah Heep's songs during this period, including the hit singles "Lady in Black" (on which he sang lead vocals), "Easy Livin'" and "Stealin'", as well as "Look at Yourself", on which he also sang lead vocals, and "Free Me".

Biography

Born in Plumstead, south-east London, Hensley moved with his parents, three brothers and sister to Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1945. He learned how to play guitar at the age of 12 from a Bert Weedon manual. His first gig was at The Mentmore Pen Factory, in Stevenage (September 1960). After that, he played with The Blue Notes, Ken and the Cousins and Kit and the Saracens (1962). In 1963, this band evolved into The Jimmy Brown Sound, and they recorded some now lost songs. At this time, Hensley's first "professional" opportunity almost came about: they were to back Ben E. King on a British visit, but it never happened.[citation needed]

In early 1965, Hensley formed a band called The Gods, with the young guitarist Mick Taylor, well known later for his work with John Mayall and The Rolling Stones. Hensley wrote most of the material, sang and played the Hammond B3 organ as the band already had the talented Mick Taylor on guitar. The Gods' line-up included, at one time or another, vocalist and guitar/bass player Greg Lake (later of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer), bass player Paul Newton (later the first Uriah Heep bassist), drummer Lee Kerslake (later also of Heep), bassist John Glascock (later of Jethro Tull), and guitarist Joe Konas. In early 1968 they signed with Columbia Records and recorded two LPs and several singles. After that, Newton left the band to join Spice, an Essex-based band. Hensley also played on a one-album side project of The Gods initially planned to become their 3rd album, but was recorded and eventually released in 1969/1970 under the moniker Head Machine's "Orgasm". The album was produced by David Paramor (producer of "The Gods") and both Hensley and Kerslake featured, along with John Glascock on bass, Brian Glascock on drums, and David Paramor on vocals, all under pseudonyms. Hensley played mostly guitar again, as in the beginning of his career. Although Paramor was credited as composer, the songs bear many of Hensley's influences. The album was released before Hensley joined Toe Fat and might almost be considered a prototype for the harder side of his future work in Uriah Heep.

The band eventually split but Cliff Bennett, from the Rebel Rousers, decided to move in a more "progressive" direction and asked The Gods to join him. Under the name Toe Fat they released two LPs, but only the first featured Hensley.

Paul Newton asked Hensley (Christmas 1969) to join forces in Spice, as they were looking for a keyboard player to make their sound less bluesy and more progressive, in keeping with the current trend. In January 1970, Spice changed its name into Uriah Heep. Also in the line-up were guitarist Mick Box and vocalist David Byron. With Uriah Heep, Hensley found a place to develop and showcase his songwriting and lyrical abilities as well as his keyboard and guitar playing. The band's "classic" line-up featured Hensley, Byron, Box, Kerslake and bassist Gary Thain, plus the management provided by Gerry Bron (Bronze Records). During his time with Heep (1970–1980), they recorded 13 studio albums, and the live album Uriah Heep Live – January 1973 along with many compilations and singles. Hensley also recorded his first two solo albums, Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf (1973) and Eager To Please (1975) during this time. He was supported mainly by Mark Clarke and Bugs Pemberton.

After the departure of bassist Gary Thain (who died in 1975) and vocalist David Byron, other musicians were brought into the Heep family: John Wetton (Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music, later of U.K. and Asia), Trevor Bolder (from Spiders From Mars, later of Wishbone Ash) and John Lawton (Lucifer's Friend), among others.

In 1980 Hensley left the band, unhappy with the musical direction they had chosen. After trying to put a new band together in the UK (Shotgun), he later moved to the USA and played a few gigs in North America as The Ken Hensley Band. Around this time he released his third solo LP, Free Spirit (1980).

In 1982 Hensley joined Blackfoot, a hard rock Florida-based band. With them, he recorded two albums (1983's Siogo and 1984's Vertical Smiles). Although the group achieved some success, Hensley left after Bron informed him of Heep vocalist David Byron's death in 1985.

After 1985, Hensley lived in semi-retirement in St Louis, Missouri (USA), making a few appearances with W.A.S.P., Cinderella and others. W.A.S.P.'s frontman Blackie Lawless stated that "Ken Hensley wrote the rule book for heavy metal keyboards as far as I'm concerned."[2]

In 1994, From Time To Time, a collection of lost recordings, was released featuring rare songs recorded by Hensley between 1971 and 1982, as well as some early versions of Heep's classic songs, played by Hensley and his roommates at that time, namely guitarist Paul Kossoff and drummer Simon Kirke (both of Free). Other musicians on the songs were bassist Boz Burrell (King Crimson and Bad Company), guitarist Mick Ralphs (Bad Company), drummers Ian Paice (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) and Kenney Jones (The Who), amongst others.

In 1999, Hensley's musical activities began to increase, besides his work with St Louis Music. He recorded an album, A Glimpse of Glory, together with his band Visible Faith.

During the fourth Uriah Heep Annual Convention in London, May 2000, plans were made for a one-off concert by the so-called "Hensley/Lawton Band". Hensley was joined by former Uriah Heep singer John Lawton, their first public collaboration since the latter's departure from Uriah Heep in 1979. With them were Paul Newton (the band's original bassist) and two members of Lawton's band, Reuben Kane on lead guitar and Justin Shefford on drums. They played a set of old Uriah Heep classics and some of Hensley's solo songs, and the concert was recorded for a CD release, followed by a tour in Europe culminating with a concert in Hamburg, Germany, featuring a full orchestra and a new rendition of Heep's old song "Salisbury".

Running Blind, his first effort in 21 years, was released worldwide in 2002 and followed by a world tour with his band called "Free Spirit", that included Dave Kilminster (guitar), Andy Pyle (bass) and Pete Riley (drums).

After moving to Spain, Hensley released The Last Dance (with new songs), The Wizard's Diary (Uriah Heep classics re-recorded in 2004) and Cold Autumn Sunday (Hensley's solo songs re-recorded in 2005).

Featuring a number of special guests, the rock opera Blood on the Highway was released in May 2007. The story portrays the rise and fall of a rock'n'roll star. Lead vocals role were split between Hensley and Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), Jørn Lande (ex-The Snakes, Masterplan), John Lawton and Eve Gallagher.

In September 2008, Hensley went on stage again with former Heep bandmates Lawton, Kerslake and Newton along with ex-Focus guitarist Jan Dumée, for the "Heepvention 2008" fans meeting.

Hensely continued to write and record a series of new albums, beginning with a collection of songs under the title of Love & Other Mysteries, recorded near his home in Spain and followed in 2011 by Faster, his first studio recording of new songs with his live band, Live Fire. A CD of one of his solo concerts was released by Cherry Red Records in 2013, shortly followed by a live CD recorded with Live Fire during a September/October tour. Trouble, an album of 10 new songs recorded with a revised Live Fire line-up was released, again by Cherry Red, in September the same year. A quick look at the discography shows the amazing recorded output, solo and with Live Fire, that followed and in 2019 Ken recorded a new solo album with Richard Evans and Dean Brodrick which features a totally different view of Ken, including new songs amongst the semi-symphonic, progressive treatment of some of his best-known classics. Release plans are on hold due to the imminent release of the Heep 50th Anniversary boxed set and the Coronavirus which has forced everyone to change their plans! Undaunted and, as if that wasn't enough, in 2018 Ken partnered with Vladimir Emelin, a poet from the southern part of Siberia, to create an album of completely new songs which will be released on January 31st by Cherry Red Records, preceded by the single and video "STAND (CHASE THE BEAST AWAY)" in the second week of January. Ken is also compiling his first book of poetry, some of which dates back to his early childhood (!) as well as working in his second auto-biography, title "Who Am I". Obviously Ken remains a very busy boy and he will tell you that the restrictions that the virus has placed on him and just about everyone else, have actually enabled him to focus on these writing projects. Finally, Ken expects to open his teaching centre later this year where by sponsored appointment only, he will be ready to help apsiring writers to fine-tune their skills and even learn some of the secrets that have helped him to be so productive and so successful over so many years. WATCH THIS SPACE!!!


Bands and guest appearances

Ken Hensley performing in Sofia with the Bulgarian rock band Sunrize during their "Rock on the Rocks Tour 2011"
  • The Gods (1965–1969) – lead vocals, keyboards, occasional guitar
  • Head Machine (1969) – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars (This was a one-album project put together by a producer.)
  • Toe Fat (1969) – keyboards, backing vocals, occasional guitar
  • Weed (1971) – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars (A one-album side project for Hensley. The other musicians playing on the album are thought to have been from a German band called Virus.)
  • Uriah Heep (1970–1980) – keyboards, backing and occasional lead vocals, acoustic and slide guitar, primary songwriter
  • Shotgun (1981) – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars
  • Ken Hensley Band (1981) – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars
  • Blackfoot (1982–1985) – keyboards, backing vocals, slide guitar
  • W.A.S.P. (The Headless Children, 1989) – keyboards
  • Cinderella (Heartbreak Station, 1990) – hammond organ
  • Ken Hensley & Visible Faith (1999) – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars
  • Bruce Cameron (Midnight Daydream, 1999) – keyboards
  • Hensley/Lawton Band (2000–2001) – keyboards, guitars, lead and backing vocals
  • Ken Hensley/John Wetton (2001) – keyboards, guitars, lead and backing vocals
  • Ken Hensley & Free Spirit (2002) – keyboards, guitars, lead vocals
  • Ayreon (2004) – hammond solo on "Loser" from the album The Human Equation
  • Ken Hensley & The Viking All-Stars Band (2005) – keyboards, guitars, lead vocals
  • Ken Hensley & Live Fire (2006–present) – keyboards, guitars, lead vocals
  • Therion (2007) – hammond solo on "Trul" from the album Gothic Kabbalah
  • Toni Rowland (Unfolding, 2010) – keyboards, guitars, producer
  • B.T.R. (2008) – keyboards, guitars, lead and backing vocals (The Bulgarian hard rock band played with Hensley on a few occasions most of which also included John Lawton.)
  • Sunrize (2011) – Touring together with the Bulgarian rock band Sunrize during their "Rock on the Rocks tour 2011".

Discography

Solo albums

  • Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf (1973)
  • Eager to Please (1975)
  • Free Spirit (1980)
  • The Best of Ken Hensley (1990)
  • From Time to Time (1994)
  • A Glimpse of Glory (1999)
  • Ken Hensley Anthology (compilation, 2000)
  • Running Blind (2002)
  • The Last Dance (2003)
  • The Wizard's Diary Vol. 1 (compilation, CD/DVD, 2004)
  • Cold Autumn Sunday (2005)
  • Elements – Anthology 1968 To 2005 (compilation, 2006)
  • Inside the Mystery (compilation, 2006)
  • Blood on the Highway (2007)
  • Live Fire (DVD, 2007)
  • Blood on the Highway – Release Concert (DVD, 2008)
  • Love & Other Mysteries (May 2012)[3]
  • Live Tales (live, April 2013)
  • Rare & Timeless (compilation, 2018)

With Uriah Heep

With The Gods

  • Genesis (1968)
  • To Samuel A Son (1969)
  • The Gods Featuring Ken Hensley (1976)

With Head Machine

  • Orgasm (1969)

With Toe Fat

  • Toe Fat (1970)

With Weed

  • Weed...! (1971)

With Blackfoot

With John Lawton

  • The Return (live, 2001)
  • Salisbury Live (live, 2001)

With John Wetton

  • More Than Conquerors (live, 2002)
  • One Way Or Another (live, 2002)

With Ken Hensley & Live Fire

  • Faster (2011)
  • Live Fire LIVE (live, June 2013)
  • Trouble (October 2013)
  • Live In Russia (2019)

Books

  • Uriah Heep – 10 Jahre Rockmusik, Markus Ott and Ken Hensley (1980)
  • When Too Many Dreams Come True – The Ken Hensley Story (2006)

References

  1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: Ken Hensley". AMG. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  2. ^ Dave Ling. Uriah Heep – Uncensored on the Record. Books.google.com. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Cherry Red Records – Ken Hensley, Love & Other Mysteries, Antenna/Esoteric Records". Cherryred.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
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