Uriah Heep band member Ken Hensley has died aged 75, it has been confirmed.
Working on an album before he died, the keyboard player’s death was said to be “sudden,” with the musician passing away “peacefully”.
His brother Trevor confirmed his death in a Facebook post shared on Thursday, revealing his wife had been by Hensley’s side when he died.
The post said: “I am writing this with a heavy heart to let you know that my brother Ken Hensley passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening.
“His beautiful wife Monica was at his side and comforted Ken in his last few minutes with us.
Uriah Heep band member Ken Hensley has died aged 75 (Image: Getty Images)
“We are all devastated by this tragic and incredibly unexpected loss and ask that you please give us some space and time to come to terms with it.
“Ken will be cremated in a private ceremony in Spain so please don’t ask for information about a funeral.
“Ken has gone but he will never be forgotten and will always be in our hearts.
“Stay safe out there.”
The news will come as a blow to fans of Uriah Heep’s music, with the London group as major players in the progressive rock scene in the 70s and 80s.
Hensley played the keyboard for progressive rock group Uriah Heep (Image: Getty Images)
Getting his first taste of music aged 12 when he learned to play the guitar, Hensley played the keyboard for the group for a decade, joining the band in 1970.
Striking out by himself, Hensley left the group when he felt unhappy with the musical direction they had taken, and spent the following years touring the US.
At the time of his death, the Londoner was said to be working on a solo album while living in Spain with his beloved wife Monica.
His Uriah Heep bandmate Lee Kerslake, who played the drums, sadly died earlier this year after his battle with prostate cancer came to a tragic end.
Hensley had been working on a solo album at the time of his death (Image: Getty Images)
Paying tribute to Lee at the time, Hensley wrote: “It’s with the heaviest of hearts that I share with you that Lee Kerslake, my friend of 55 years and the best drummer I ever played with, lost his battle with cancer at 3.30 this morning,” Hensley wrote in a statement to Louder.
“He died peacefully, praise the Lord, but he will be terribly missed.
“I know many of you were praying for him not to suffer and I thank you for that and, now that Lee is at peace, our thoughts and prayers should turn to his wife Sue who will need all the support she can get at this time.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
