RIP Ken Hensley
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Topic: RIP Ken Hensley
Posted By: mbzr48
Subject: RIP Ken Hensley
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 07:46
Uriah Heep's keyboardist Ken Hensley dies aged 75 after short illness R.I.P.
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Replies:
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 07:47
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Yes, another sad loss in 2020. RIP Ken. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 07:48
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Aside from playing keys, he also wrote a lot of UH's music.
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 07:49
| https://www.loudersound.com/news/ken-hensley-ex-uriah-heep-dead-at-75" rel="nofollow - https://www.loudersound.com/news/ken-hensley-ex-uriah-heep-dead-at-75 |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 07:57
shocking news 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 08:13
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Rip Ken a rock legend and a friend of Norway, he played 100s of concerts here and almost become a regular. -------------  
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 08:17
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Damn, we're loosing all the keyboard greats ! Keith, Jon and now Ken. I hope Rick is doing ok, other than his obvious distended abdomen. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 08:43
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Loved Ken's bone-crushing Hammond.... ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 08:48
I'm so sorry to hear the sad news of losing another one of the Demons & Wizards of keyboard prog.. By pure coincidence, I've been listening to and rating all of Uriah Heep's albums over the last three days, and in my opinion, Uriah Heep were never as good after Ken Hensley left the band in 1980. 
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 09:01
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One of the most dynamic players of the rock organ, one of the standardbearers of that phat sound. Its Jon Lord, Rod Argent, Graham Bond, Vincent Crane, Matthew Fisher and Ken Hensley. One whomnyou sought after in your search for that sound, the particularity of hammond sound, the raw power and edge. -------------
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Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 11:21
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A true wizard, 'eavy and 'umble. He has now found his sweet freedom. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 11:37
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From http://www.ken-hensley.com/" rel="nofollow - Ken's website : "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. Ken 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'. A very spiritual person, Ken became an inspiration to many and known for encouraging talented artists. "I am in deep shock at the news Ken Hensley has passed away, and my sincere condolences go to his family and wife Monica. Ken wrote some amazing songs in his tenure with the band, and they will remain a musical legacy that will be in people’s hearts forever. RIP Ken" Mick Box – Uriah Heep Ken had recently finished work on a new project My Book of Answers which is due for release end of February 2021. He leaves behind a wife Monica and 2 brothers Trevor, Mark and sister Dawn and his close friend and manager Steve Weltman. We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Ken's family, friends and many associates from his musical career at this time. The family ask fans for some space and time to come to terms with the tragic and unexpected loss." For me, personally, it's one of the biggest losses in the whole rock'n'roll history and in my life - it would go another way if one day a friend of mine hadn't give me a Uriah Heep album. There are famous bands, bands who are founders of the genres (sub-genres) and bands, who created their own worlds. Uriah Heep, due to Mr Hensley, were the band, who created their own Wonderworld, for all of us. Ken will be missed till the end of my time. I'm not a fan of religious music, but this Ken's song is so strong and sincere: Rest in peace, dear Magician. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 11:48
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Past members of Uriah Heep who are no longer with us, but will live on forever in our memories and in our hearts. Trevor Bolder (1950-2013) David Byron (1947-1985) Ken Hensley (1945-2020) Lee Kerslake (1947-2020) Gary Thain (1948-1975) John Wetton (1949-2017)
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 12:06
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^ They are with us actually - in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 12:41
You're right!
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NotAProghead wrote:Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 13:45
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In 2015 a one-evening reuinion of UH with Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake took place in Moscow. Not of the best quality (but not the worst either) video exists. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 13:50
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RIP ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: November 05 2020 at 23:40
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Damn 2020!! RIP, Ken....you are a wizard. ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 01:49
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Very sad news. Salisbury by Uriah Heep was a wonderful album and really showed off his instrumental and compositional talents. RIP Ken. ------------- "And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!" "He's up the pub" |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 09:10
| One of the greatest hard rock composers, keyboardist, singer and guitarist. A true genious. May he rest in peace. |
Posted By: Domsk
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 11:17
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I don't understand: I thought Ken was immortal. Were we misleaded ? RIP dear Ken. Tonight I will listen to "Sympathy" endlessly.
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Posted By: Domsk
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 11:27
And in our loudspeakers, forever.
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Posted By: Domsk
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 12:09
Same for me: my life might have been some kind of different would I have not asked my older brother, when I was 14: "I'd like to buy my first rock LP. Do you have any ideas ?". He replied "Try this, I have heard some good about it". That was Demons And Wizards. I will always remember The Wizard"s first notes on my pick-up. This dates back to September 1976. Later on, in November 1976 I bought "Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble" On December 20, 1976 I got Wonderworld In February 1977: Firefly April 1977: High and Mighty May 1977: The Magician's Birthday and Salisbury June 1977: Look at Yourself September 1977: Return To Fantasy October 1977 (for my 15th birthday): Sweet Freedom November 1977: Innocent Victim After which I had to wait until Nov 3rd, 1978 to get Fallen Angel. I stopped buying Heep albums after Raging Silence (1989), as their eighties and later outings were not my kind of stuff - although I liked Abominog, Head First and Equator. But UH without Ken was not for me... |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 13:00
^ Thanks. I wonder how it's possible to remember when you obtained one album or another.  My first "meeting" with Heep happened in 1982, it was a Soviet reissue of "Innocent Victim" LP. Then I had their albums on tapes, later on LPs and, finally, on CDs. By the way, in my opinion "Sea of Light" '95 and "Sonic Origami" '98 are infinitelly better than everything they recorded in studio without Ken Hensley (I don't talk of live albums, which are good or excellent, because Heep play each concert like there is no tomorrow). ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Domsk
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 15:21
Innocent Victim was a good starting point  Cheat'n'Lie is in my Top 10. Ken was such a good songwriter.I actually used to list all the records I bought or received as presents in a notebook, which I kept along with me for all these years - although I traveled much and relocated in about 25 different places during the course of my life. I stopped writing in my notebook around 1993. For instance, among many others, I can see I bought Physical Graffiti in December 1977. And it reminds me this day in December was a Wednesday (no school that day) and I took my bike and ride 15 kms back and forth under the rain to get my hands on this record. My notebook is like a time travel machine. And I forgot to mention UH's Live 73 in September 1977 and David Byron's Take No Prisoners in October 1977 I'll give another listen to Sea of Light and Sonic Origami  ------------- This is a thing I've never known before, it's called easy livin' |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 06 2020 at 19:29
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^ Yes, still love "Innocent Victim", though my favs are "Free'n'Easy", "Illusion", "Free Me", "The Dance" and "Choices". Western records in the USSR till the end of the 80s were available mostly on black market (too expensive). Some titles were made by licence and, if you were lucky you could buy licenced copies from Yugoslavia, East Germany, Poland or Bulgaria. Thus most of us were making tape copies. I remember that in the end of the 80s I had most of UH albums on tapes and was looking for ... "Innocent Victim", until one day a friend of mine told me "You already have it, just take it from your shelf". Soviet reissue didn't have the title on the cover and I didn't know what album I have.  First I had this one https://radikal.ru" rel="nofollow">  Later I found a better version https://radikal.ru" rel="nofollow">  It had a pretty good article about UH on the back cover. I agree, Ken was incredible songwriter and storyteller, one of the greatest melodicists in rock. During the last almost 20 years he often visited Russia, me and my wife always tried not to miss his gigs. They were amazing - Ken was so smart, intelligent, had a good sense of humour and deepest respect to the audience. And he and the band rocked! He loved his music to be played loud. Once, it was in 2009, I noticed the announcement that Ken gives autograph session in one of Moscow record stores. It was before his acoustic concert called "Past, Present & Future". I asked him to sign our copies of "The Magician's Birthday" CD and "When Too Many Dreams Come True" book. When I said "Ken, your music is more than only songs for me, it's something personal...", he replied, smiling: "For me too". A photo from that autograph session: https://radikal.ru" rel="nofollow">  If interested, there are more Ken's photos in https://vizardis.livejournal.com/339471.html" rel="nofollow - my wife's LJ (she asked Ken's permission to make photos before the concert and Ken said: no problem - photos, videos, do whatever you want). Since the day I've listened to my first Uriah Heep LP the band became very special for me. The news of Ken's passing shocked me. A personal tragedy, really. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 07 2020 at 06:08
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Uriah Heep 1970-1976 - The Ken Hensley Years documentary. |
Posted By: Domsk
Date Posted: November 07 2020 at 06:18
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@NotAProghead: nowadays it is so easy to get all the music in the world - in the 70s and the 80s I understand it was really difficult for you in the USSR to get Western recordings. So, every record you were able to get must have acquired a great importance, personally and financially. Today, so much music is produced and available, in comparison: it is almost too much Thank you for sharing your Ken's pictures. I saw him only once live: that was in London, December 7th, 2001 (The Magician's Birthday Party). A great moment
------------- This is a thing I've never known before, it's called easy livin' |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 07 2020 at 08:04
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^ Domsk, you're right, almost every record was important. Usually not financially, but to get a copy we often had to move our reel-to-reel tape recorders to friends' houses. Some friends lived in the neighbourhood, while others were in the other parts of the city. The Magician's Birthday Party 2001 was great , I have the video on DVD.------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: November 07 2020 at 09:06
I watched The Magician's Birthday Party on YouTube last night and it was great to see Ken Hensley back with Uriah Heep again.
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 07 2020 at 09:24
^ As well as John Lawton.  ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: November 19 2020 at 17:49
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