Ken Hensley. An excerpt from Bronze Artistes Management press release

An excerpt from Bron Artistes Management press release (1972).

Ken Hensley

“My first active interest in music developed when I was eleven. I heard Lonnie Donegan and I wanted a guitar. My mother got me one as a reward for going to the dentist and I learnt from books and records. The first live show was a factory concert with a friend; we did Buddy Holly’s ‘Maybe Baby’ and I began to realise I really dug it. It was a toss between training for Luton Town Football Team or going into music. Football would’ve meant leaving school early and wasting all that work, so I stayed and took an interest in music on the side.

After school was over, I became an unpaid pro musician and ‘The Jimmy Brown Sound’ was my first pro band. Later, I was offered the chance to form ‘The Gods’ with Mick Taylor and others. I had already switched to keyboards earlier, because I found all the local groups sewn up with friends who played guitar — I took up a less common instrument. It was either keyboards or shake maracas. The Gods lasted through Flower Power, then I left and joined Toe Fat. They eventually picked up Lee Kerslake and another guy from the old Gods and I went back on guitar.

“I began to miss the keyboards a lot, so when an offer came from Paul Newton who was then with Spice, as URIAH HEEP was then called, I immediately took it up. I got instant respect for Gerry, so I joined and I haven’t looked back since! I simply can’t ask for more. URIAH is a simple framework that audiences can relate to. It doesn’t go over their heads and we stay within our limits. We’re loud, powerful, intense and aimed at the audience. We’re honest with them and we appreciate that they’re sensitive”.

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