munchmemory Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 Just saw this a few seconds ago. One of my rock idols from the 70s. Phenomenal songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, guitarist, slide guitarist and singer. Created Uriah Heep's unique vocal layering where most times he and lead singer, the late David Byron, overdubbed parts in four or five part harmonies. His songwriting catalog alone should have made him a household name. RIP to one of rock's legendary artists. Uriah Heep keyboardist Ken Hensley has died at the age of 75 following a short illness. The musician died "peacefully" on Wednesday evening with his wife Monica by his side. A statement from his management said: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Ken Hensley, former Uriah Heep vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist passed away peacefully on 4th November following a very short illness. “Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the past half-a-century. His work with Uriah Heep in the 1970s helped to make the band hugely influential. “He also collaborated with bands such as Blackfoot, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella, as well as building a very successful solo career. As a writer he was responsible for such classics as Lady In Black, Easy Livin’, July Morning and Look At Yourself. Read more: Tributes paid to Eddie Van Halen upon his death “A very spiritual person, Hensley became an inspiration to many and known for encouraging talented artists.” He is set to be cremated in a private ceremony in Spain, where he lived on a remote farm with his wife. In a Facebook post, his brother Trevor wrote: "I am writing this with a heavy heart to let you know that my brother Ken Hensley passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening. “His beautiful wife Monica was at his side and comforted Ken in his last few minutes with us. “We are all devastated by this tragic and incredibly unexpected loss and ask that you please give us some space and time to come to terms with it." London-born Hensley grew up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and went on to form band Spice with Uriah Heep's guitarist Mick Box and singer David Byron. They changed their name a year late to that of the character in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield. Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep playing piano at home,1977. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Hensley played in the rock band between 1970 and 1980, writing or co-writing the majority of their material. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/uriah-heep-ken-hensley-dies-75-illness-141155213.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchmemory Posted November 5, 2020 Author Share Posted November 5, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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munchmemory Posted November 5, 2020 Author Share Posted November 5, 2020 His trademark snarling Hammond tone and mad scientist solo from one of the greatest live albums from this era. Then transitioning to slide guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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peebag Posted November 5, 2020 Share Posted November 5, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqLh3OcwvyI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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munchmemory Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 Tribute to Hensley by Blackie Lawless of WASP. Ken Hensley Passing – I was 17 the first time I heard a Uriah Heep's "Salisbury". The songs were great, the vocals were killer, but there was something about those keyboards. It was a grinding noise I'd never heard before. There were other bands using Hammond B-3 organs… but not like this band. Years later I'd find out why. It was Spring of '88 when I met Ken Hensley for the first time. There had been few musicians in my life I'd had revered as much. Here was the man that wrote "Easy Living" and was the creator of "That Sound". I wasn't sure what to expect on that first meeting. Many times when people meet their idols, it can be disappointing. To my surprise and relief, he could not have been cooler! He immediately put me at ease and the thing that really struck me about him was his sense of humor. He just loved to laugh and have a good time. What we call: "just one of the guys". So much so, that it would be months until it finally hit me just "who" he was. We had been in rehearsals for weeks for what would later become the "Headless Children" album, when one day I walked in the studio. Everybody was already there. The Band were on stage playing, the crew were moving cases around and sorting out the gear. When I walked in the area where the door was it was darkened, so I could see all of them, but they couldn't see me. I stood there and just listened for what seemed like forever. We had been playing around with the idea of doing the "Who" song "The Real Me", but had not tried it yet. When I got there, they already had the song worked up and were playing it. I stood there, and the absolute ferociousness of the roar that was coming off the stage was stunning. Holmes on guitar, Johnny Rod on bass, Frankie Banali on drums and Ken Hensley on Hammond B-3. It's impossible for me to over exaggerate the power and intensity that was coming off of that stage. The crew didn't even notice me because they had stopped working, and were watching and witnessing this "monster song" being born. When you're a kid, you fantasize a lot about being in some band you had seen on TV or from some record you had bought. I was standing there thinking: "I’m 15 again and this is that band I fantasized about". Honestly, the second thought I had was: "they don't even need me, this is one of the greatest bands in the world!" It was Ken that helped us get to that next level. His experience and instinct for what was right was amazing. I said earlier: 'years later I'd find out why'. I don't know if most people will ever be able to experience what happens when you have a chance to work with someone you've admired for so long, and then you have a chance to get comfortable with them. Then it happens, that moment where you remember who this person really is and you find yourself thinking: "holy cow, this is that guy"!. About 2 months after we had been working together, Ken and I were driving down the street. Somehow we got on the subject of complaining about how hard some records are to make, and the torture they put you through. I was moaning about some record we had done and Ken said: "yeah, I know what you mean. We were making this record called "Demons and Wizards and…" I didn't hear a word he said after that! I was sitting right next to THAT GUY!!!! I just sat there… totally stunned. He was not trying to impress me, he was just talking. He might not have been trying to impress me, but he failed miserably! I never told him this story. I was too embarrassed to tell him. The next time you hear the song "Forever Free" take a good listen to the ending. That's Ken and his glorious Hammond B-3 playing us out. Farewell Mate… High in the Wind… Forever Free. Blackie Lawless 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Division Marduk Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 The Headless Children is a brilliant album (WASP's best IMO), and his work on that was just brilliant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchmemory Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 40 minutes ago, Panzer Division Marduk said: The Headless Children is a brilliant album (WASP's best IMO), and his work on that was just brilliant. Such an underrated album. Very powerful band at that point. They do the only version of The Who's "The Real Me" that I like. Going now to add it in the What Are You Listening Thread. Hensley's B-3 in the outro on "Forever Free" works so well. He always had a distinctive sound, which is why I was such a fan of his and Uriah Heep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Division Marduk Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 And Frankie Banali, who did a great job on drums on that album died back in August. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchmemory Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 9 minutes ago, Panzer Division Marduk said: And Frankie Banali, who did a great job on drums on that album died back in August. What? How did I miss him dying? Damn, another great musician gone. Brilliant, powerful drummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchmemory Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 Maybe Hensley's biggest hit. He wrote the song in 15 minutes while the rest of the band was at the pub during a break from recording in the studio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchmemory Posted November 9, 2020 Author Share Posted November 9, 2020 Extended version of a Heep classic. Music written by Ken Hensley with words by singer David Byron. Hensley's B-3 is an absolute grinding, screaming monster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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