The keyboardist and songwriter for 70’s British rock band Uriah Heep Ken Hensley has sadly passed away yesterday (04/11/2020) aged 75. It is not yet known how the legendary musician died, what is known is that he passed away peacefully after a short illness. Hensley’s former bandmates from Heep are saddened and shocked by the sudden news of their fellow musician. The news comes just mere days after the release of Uriah Heep’s collector’s anthology “Fifty years in rock”.
5th November 2020: I received devastating news this morning from Ken’s manager Steve Weltman that Ken Hensley has passed away.
My sincere condolences go to his family and wife Monica and may he rest in peace.
Mick
URIAH HEEP pic.twitter.com/JGtO2AHEgw— Uriah Heep (@uriah_heep) November 5, 2020
“I am in deep shock at the news Ken Hensley has passed away, and my sincere condolences go to his family and wife Monica“. Mick Box Former bandmate of Hensley in Heep spoke of the sadness after hearing of his friend’s death saying Hensley “will be in people’s hearts forever“. Despite being with Uriah Heep for only a decade (from the 1970s to 1980s) he had a great impact on his bandmates and on the music industry as a whole.
Appearing in 14 different bands (several where incarnations of his own band) and appearing on 60 different albums there is no denying the prowess of Ken Hensley’s talent. A multi-instrumental musician and a very talented songwriter, Hensley has a lot of notable songs and achievements under his belt. “As a writer he was responsible for such classics as ‘Lady In Black’, ‘Easy Livin”, “July Morning” and ‘Look At Yourself’“.
After leaving Heep unhappy with where the band was going musically Hensley joined other notable rock bands from the era. A very influential musician of his time Hensley joined several bands that himself had actually influenced, bands such as WASP, Blackfoot, and Cinderella (not to be confused with the Disney and fairy tale Princess Classic). Although Hensley distanced himself from Heep he did return on occasions for reunion tours but never as a permanent fixture.
In his later life, Hensley focused more on his solo career. He released 16 solo albums including Blood On The Highway a rock opera. This album became a critical success and featured some very famous guest musicians. From the likes of Glenn Hughes (ex Deep Purple and Black Sabbath), former bandmate John Lawton, and Eve Gallagher to name a few.
It is also known that Hensley was in the process and finished on a new album that is due to release next year “Ken had recently finished work on a new project My Book of Answers which is due for release end of February 2021“. Ken Hensley was undoubtedly a very talented musician and his music and songs will be remembered by many. After passing away peacefully surrounded by his wife and brothers the family has asked fans to be respectful in this trying time and give them some much-needed privacy.
