Uriah Heep co-founder Ken Hensley has passed away

“Lady In Black”, “Easy Livin ‘”: Ken Hensley had a worldwide career with the rock band Uriah Heep. He followed his path and remained faithful to his motto until his death: “Don’t let yourself be bent.”

British rock legend Ken Hensley has passed away at the age of 75. Band co-founder Uriah Heep (“Lady in Black”) fell asleep peacefully last Wednesday after a brief illness, has announced his direction. “Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the last half century.”

The guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter will be buried in Spain, where he lived on a farm with his wife Monica. He was also on his deathbed, as reported by Hensley’s brother Trevor on Facebook. Hensley wrote wonderful songs, according to Uriah Heep musician Mick Box. The hard rock band is named after a character in Charles Dickens’ novel “David Copperfield”. Hensley’s latest project, “My Book Of Answers”, will be out in February.

The London-based musician played with Uriah Heep between 1970 and 1980. But he had also worked with bands such as Blackfoot, WASP and Cinderella and had a successful solo career, as his management pointed out on Friday.

Escape the drug swamp

However, he was unable to take advantage of his previous hits, and not everything in the rock star’s life went smoothly. After a 20-year hiatus and drug abstinence, he returned to the stage as a faithful Christian at the age of 62. He had drawn clear conclusions from his negative experiences, he said at the time in an interview with the German news agency. “I have become cautious because the following things can cloud your senses: money, fame and drugs.” He only miraculously escaped the drug swamp.

Hensley also had advice for younger musicians: “Play only what you truly love yourself. Do not let yourself be bent. “For him it is very important:” Even if you are number 1, you have not reached a goal. It is just a stop on a journey. ” says he has earned around £ 50m in royalties from ‘Lady in Black’ alone. Maybe, but I spent 51 “.

Just recently there was an interview with him in which he recalled his successful period with Uriah Heep: “Actually, it was all like a crazy dream,” he told “Eon Music”. In retrospect, did you regret breaking up with the hit rock band? No. “I’m happy with what I’m doing … I’ve had such a wonderful life,” Hensley said. He would never have believed he could achieve so much. “I can sit down and say: it was great, great.”

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