Rod> Ken, since Casey is here today, could you clarify us if Mark Stein from Vanilla Fudge was/is one of your influences ?
Ken Hensle> Vanilla Fudge as a band was a huge influence though not Mark especially
Rod> Hammond and choirs... hot mix !
Ken Hensle> Rod, Unusual anyway...in The Gods, we opened our set with a version of Vanilla Fudge's "You keep me hanging on" and therein was born the heavy vibrato vocals!
Dave> Ken...Oct 10th...we will probably meet up on the 10th, and all do it on the 11th...is that OK for you ?
Ken Hensle> !0th or 11th is fine for me. I don't leave for Japan until the 17th now
Rod> "Looking Glass", from Gods first album, was the most "Heepish" song before Heep, agree ?
Ken Hensle> Rod, yes but the vocal version of Maria is pretty Heepish too!
BobWinward> Hey Ken, how far is St. Louis from Springfield MO?
Ken Hensle> Bob, it's about two hours...I think!
MAC> Ken...you mentioned 2 Decades in Rock that UHAS has in Russian...did you mean the Russian Heep book?
Ken Hensle> Mac, Forgive my error, I was tired...I think!<
Alex Gitli> Ken: I think I should pop THE question. How many keyboards do you currently have? Use? Of them, how many B3s? C3s? Any (more recent) XB2 or XB3 stuff? :-)
Ken Hensle> 2 B3s (one is being restored) several various sybthesizers
Rod> Ken: who is restoring it, Goff Professional ? (Al Goff I meant)
Ken Hensle> Rod, No, it's a guy named Sal up in Buffalo
Bob Dreher> Ken, if I could buy one synth with the best B-3 sounds In it, what would it be?
Ken Hensle> Bob, There is no synth with a B3 sound on it in my opinion but the Korg pedal is kind of okay
Dave> Ken...what's with the releases????
Ken Hensle> Okay, the Heep 2CD set will come out in October this year with full Polygram fanfare. The track listing is very interesting and I am certain you will enjoy it. My Best of will be delayed until Feb '98 to avoid conflict with promotion. Also, Polygram is re-releasing Proud Words in May '98
Alex Gitli> in the US??
Ken Hensle> Alex, All that info relates to the US..we are only now beginning to discuss worldwide licensing
Jesse Lowe> Ken, what Leslies are you using?
Ken Hensle> Jesse, Only 145 cabinets with 147 amplifiers
MAC> Ken....will there be anything unusual in the 2 cd Heep box....
unreleased tracks or diff versions?
Ken Hensle> Mac, yeah...Weep in Silence for one!
Plus three brand new tunes on my record
Rod> Are those brand new songs ready ?
Ken Hensle> Rod, Yes they are
Vladimir M> So we'll wait until 98 to hear your new tunes?
Ken Hensle> Weeeelll??
Ken Hensle> I suppose I could debut them in October
BobWinward> Are these 3 new KH tunes or VF tunes?
Ken Hensle> The three new tunes are not VF
Rod> Any known musician joined you ? Or just studio players ? Or maybe friends...
Ken Hensle> Planned to have some names but schedules were impossible. The players are all local and pretty good!
MAC> Why don't you give Rod a few clips for his site! :-)
Ken Hensle> Mac, I wouldn't know how to do that
Vladimir M> Maybe to send a cassette to Rod? Sure he wouldn't trade it!!! ;-)
Ken Hensle> Vladimir, The label would not allow me to do that
tim wood> Ken, is the VF c.d coming out this year
Ken Hensle> Tim, I really hope so. It's all a matter of scheduling but at least I don't have to worry about major label schedules. Unless Sparrow picks it up that is
Casey> Where are you, Ken?
Ken Hensle> I am in my study
Casey> I meant what state?
Ken Hensle> I am in Missouri
Alex Gitli> Ken, if I may ask this... are you in touch with John Lawton? E-mail or snail mail? [Wanted to get your opinion of our new Lawton page... if/when you have an opportunity...]
Ken Hensle> Alex, No I have had no contact with John but I am in regular contact with Mick
MAC> Ken...can you describe the style of your new songs to us?
Ken Hensle> Mac, the three on the Polygram set or??
MAC> Yes...on your Best of ...
Ken Hensle> Mac, I can only describe them as somewhere between July Morning and The Park
MAC> Do you do any slide work on them?
Ken Hensle> Mac, No but I do on the Visible Faith record
*Håkan Ahl> >Hokan Nice hera somone call my name rigt will you come to Sweden soon Ken???8:)
Ken Hensle> Hokan, I will be in Scandinavia next March
Vladimir M> Ken, is it possible to get John Lawton singing on some your new songs? It would be great...
Ken Hensle> Vladmir, I am impressed by your appreciation of John. He has a great voice but my solo record would not be the right forum for him to sing
Vladimir M> Ken, are you singing all 3 new "KH" songs?
Ken Hensle> Vlad, Yes I am
Vladimir M> Rod: we could ask more songs! And before '98! :-) :-)
Ken Hensle> Vladimir, perhaps the VF record will help!
*Håkan Ahl> Hokan> Ken do you remember when Uriah Heep playd in Stockholm 1975. I was ther as a young boy and I realy loved it. You played outdoors in a place named Grona Lund
Ken Hensle> Hokan, now you are asking a lot but the name of the venue does sound familiar
BobWinward> Ken, what is your favorite UH record??
Ken Hensle> Mac, Thats tough but it's probably D&W with the Live record not far behind
MAC> Ken...how soon on the VF record do you think?
Ken Hensle> The VF will come as fast as I can get it finished. Remember, this will come out on my label so I am not at the mercy of the majors. You all
Alex Gitli> Ken: May I ask another silly question - do you remember a movie called Never Too Young To Rock from 1974?
Ken Hensle> Alex, No I don't remember that movie
Alex Gitli> Well, in it there was a bunch of really cheesy (but fun) glam bands: Mud, Rubettes and the Glitter Band. They had a song at the end on which they ALL played their instruments, together, so we could try something like this. :-) ;-)
Ken Hensle> Alex, That would be fun and I would be into that. I don't know what to expect but judging from Dave's tape you all are pretty good players. I'm just looking forward to getting together with you
Vladimir M> Ken, is there some other good quality live Heep recording somewhere in your vaults? Byron-era, Lawton-era?
Ken Hensle> Vladimir, good question, but I think they have exhausted the vaults!
Bob Dreher> Ken, I believe that the use of minor chords resolving onto majors is the strongest part of your writing ( musically). Was that a concious effort, or does it come naturally?
Ken Hensle> I love minor keys, that's why I love classical music
Alan> Ken,Who do you think was the best band to support Heep?
Ken Hensle> Alan, KISS! Ha!
MAC> Seriously Ken...Kiss?
Ken Hensle> Mac, No, perhaps Deep Purple or Buddy Miles or...man there were so many
Cannibal> Ken, which classical composers you like most?
Ken Hensle> Cannibal, Mahler, Debussey and Ravel
*Håkan Ahl> >Hokan. Ken my family and I have a Kennel Al-Medji´d´s and we breed Greyhound for races and pets and next litter we have all the dogs will be named after songs from U.H is there any special songs that you will that I give a Greyhound. Or do you not want me to named them after your songs???:-)
Ken Hensle> Hokan, you can call mine Pardise!
Ken Hensle> Hokan, sorry, that's PARADISE
Lynn> Arvid wants to know if you enjoy the music of Strauss, Ken.
Ken Hensle> Yes, I love Strauss and I adore Vienna!
Cannibal> And I like more Beethoven, Bach and Paganini, Ken
Ken Hensle> Cannibal. Yes I like Paganini too. Have you read his life story...amazing!
Jesse Lowe> Ken, what's your favorite SOLO tune?
Ken Hensle> Jesse, That's tough too but, perhaps Through The Eyes of a child
Rodrigo> That's a very meaningful song, Ken... one of my votes to your "Best Of KH" ! :-)
Bob Dreher> Ken, what did you think of Kansas as a band? Kerry Livgren is a christian too, do you know him?
Ken Hensle> Bob, Kerry and I correspond quite a bit. I believ he just moved to Atlanta
Jesse Lowe> Ken, Have you heard Kerry's "When Things Get Electric"?
Ken Hensle> Jesse, No I haven't
Bob Dreher> Not to be too nosy, Ken , could you mail me Kerry's e-mail address sometime? I would love to send him a note.
Ken Hensle> Bob, how about if I e-mail him with yours?
Bob Dreher> That would be perfect, I'll e-mail you later, THANKS!
Jesse Lowe> Kerry has a web page... search for Numavox
*Håkan Ahl> Hokan> Ken Do you now anything about Swedish music: - )
Ken Hensle> Hokan, not beyond Yngwie I'm afraid
Lynn> Ken, Arvid wants to know what David's vocal range was.
Ken Hensle> Lynn, excellent!
Lynn> We KNEW that!!! ;)
Ken Hensle> Lynn, Jolly good then!
tim wood> Ken, this is Kelly, just wondering do you have any Kids?
Ken Hensle> Kelly, No, Darlene and I have not been blessed with children
Lynn> What about your 'boys', Ken? And your pet gopher? ;)
Ken Hensle> Lynn, The "boys" are my three cats and the gopher is a pest not a pet!
Vladimir M> Who was the girl standing at the band's photo on Fallen Angel?
Ken Hensle> Vladimir, That was Julia, my daughter from a previous marriage. She live in New Jersey now and goes to school in Pennsylvania
Jesse Lowe> 'No More' is one of my all-time favorites, Ken.
Ken Hensle> Jesse, I like that one too
Alex Gitli> Oh, and the TYPICAL question, will VERTICAL SMILES and SIOGO ever see the light of day on CD? (KEN?)
Ken Hensle> Alex, No
Rodrigo> Ken: who is Tweety ?
Ken Hensle> Rodrigo, Tweety is Gary Lyons wife and she got more mentions than me!!!!!!
Rodrigo> Ha, ha !
Alex Gitli> Ken: I've asked Mick this and he doesn't seem to have it, do you have the original 5 Miles Acetates in your possession? (Just curious as a fact).
Ken Hensle> Alex, You probably know more about the five miles project than I do. Try e-mailing RCORICH
Rodrigo> Ken... your brand new songs... how long are they ? Small songs or longer songs as July Morning, for example ?
Ken Hensle> Rodrigo, They are all about 4 minutes long
Alan> Ken,Any plans for a visit to Uk in the near future,and do you miss anything about the place?
Ken Hensle> I will be in the UK in early October for a BBC TV interview
Alex Gitli> Ken: How do you feel about "Free Me"? (Lee doesn't fancy it much).
Ken Hensle> I liked Free me though I preferred my original demo. Lee doesn't like many of my songs!!
Rodrigo> Thanks for the info, Ken... how about a visit to Brazil ? :-)
Ken Hensle> Rodrigo, You know I'd love to come to Brazil and one day I will
Vladimir M> Why not to release those demos now? You promised to do second vol. of From time to time in the liner notes from "first"...
Ken Hensle> That's it folks, God bless
Ken Hensle> Vladimir, The second record was not my idea but there just isn't enough decent recording there!