Well Humoured Hard Rock Veteran Took His
Audience
by
Pertti
Pulkkanen
Ken Hensley and Live Fire
Ken Hensley shone as the headlining act at
this year's Ilovaarirock festival. He is primarily remembered as the
writer of some classic hits of Uriah Heep, one of the most influental names in
British hard rock at the early 70's. After leaving Heep in the beginning
of the 80's Hensley took a short visit to southern rock band Blackfoot for two
albums. Then after a creative pause his musical reactivation began in
the beginning of the previous decade. He formed a new band called Free
Spirit and released solo albums Running Blind and The Last Dance. On the
brand new album Blood On The Highway he had guest vocalists such as Glenn
Hughes and John Lawton but to Joensuu he arrived with this Norwegian/Icelandic
band Live Fire.
At the press conference Hensley highlighted
the charity work that has an important role in his life and also his time with
Uriah Heep. According to Hensley the real Uriah Heep was the line-up of
himself, David Byron, Mick Box, Lee Kerslake and Gary Thain. When he
perfoms the old Heep songs nowadays some songs like July Morning, Easy Livin'
and Circle Of Hands are left untouched, but other songs have been rearranged
with the new band.
The concert was started by warming up with
Out Of My Control. The first memorable moment came with the third song
July Morning, one of Heep's principal songs. It was followed by a
forgotten classic Circle Of Hands from the album Demons And Wizards from 1972.
The atmosphere was at a high point at that stage and (This Is) Just The
Beginning, the opener of Blood Of The Highway, as well as the title track of
the album fitted in with the set really well. Next we were offered a
real cavalcade of Uriah Heep hits: The Wizard, the ballad classic Rain,
jamming version of Stealin' and the compulsory Easy Livin' all sent shivers to
the spine. The newer classic The Last Dance was really epic-like and the
set was closed with the legendary Lady In Black where the audience got their
chance to participate. Gypsy, the first ever hit by Heep, was saved the
last encore.
His first-class band with the stand-out
vocalist Eirikur Hauksson - an energetic front man who was clearly enjoying
performing - and appropriately hit-oriented set guaranteed an evening with
quality music. Thank you Ken Hensley & Live Fire!
(translated from
Finnish by Tapio Minkkinen)
