Ken Hensley


Kenneth William David Hensley is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s.
He wrote or co-wrote the majority of Uriah Heep's songs during this period, including the hit singles "Lady in Black", "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. After that, he played with The Blue Notes, Ken and the Cousins and Kit and the Saracens. 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.
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, bass player Paul Newton, drummer Lee Kerslake, bassist John Glascock, 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 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 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. During his time with Heep, 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 and Eager To Please during this time. He was supported mainly by Mark Clarke and Bugs Pemberton.
After the departure of bassist Gary Thain and vocalist David Byron, other musicians were brought into the Heep family: John Wetton, Trevor Bolder and John Lawton, 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, 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.
In 1982 Hensley joined Blackfoot, a hard rock Florida-based band. With them, he recorded two albums. 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, 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."
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. Other musicians on the songs were bassist Boz Burrell, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummers Ian Paice and Kenney Jones, 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 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, Andy Pyle and Pete Riley.
After moving to Spain, Hensley released The Last Dance, The Wizard's Diary and Cold Autumn Sunday.
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, Jørn Lande, 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 " 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

Solo albums