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Ken Whaley
Birth name Kenneth John Whaley
Born (1946-11-05)5 November 1946
Vienna, Austria
Died 8 May 2013(2013-05-08) (aged 66)
London, England
Genres Rock
Rock and roll
Psychedelic rock
Progressive rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Bass guitar
Years active 1967–2012
Associated acts Help Yourself, Ducks Deluxe, Deke Leonard's Iceberg, Man, The Tyla Gang, The Archers, The Green Ray

Ken Whaley (born November 5, 1946 – died May 8, 2013) was a talented bass guitar player. He was a key member of several rock bands. Ken helped start bands like Help Yourself and Ducks Deluxe. He also played with Deke Leonard's Iceberg, Man, and The Tyla Gang. Later in his career, he joined The Archers and The Green Ray.

Ken Whaley's Early Music Career

Ken Whaley was born in Vienna, Austria. His father was a British soldier. Ken grew up in east London, England. His father became a newspaper photographer. This led Ken to work as a local newspaper reporter. He even became a sub-editor for the Islington Gazette in the early 1970s.

At the same time, Ken was playing bass guitar in bands. In the 1960s, he played with "Black Cat Bones." He then joined a band called "Growth." In January 1970, Ken met Paul Burton, a roadie. Paul knew that Malcolm Morley needed a bass player for his new band, Help Yourself. So, Paul suggested Ken for the role.

Joining Help Yourself and Other Bands

Ken played on Help Yourself's first album, which was also called Help Yourself. He also performed with the Downhome Rhythm Kings. This led him to play on Ernie Graham's album. However, Ken left Help Yourself in April 1971.

After leaving, Ken moved in with Sean Tyla, a former roadie for Help Yourself. With Martin Belmont on guitars and Magic Michael (Michael Cousins) on percussion, they formed Ducks Deluxe in February 1972. Magic Michael was soon replaced by drummer Tim Roper. Nick Garvey, a former roadie for Flamin' Groovies, also joined the band. Ducks Deluxe played energetic music. They quickly became popular in London's pub-rock scene. Ken left Ducks Deluxe before they recorded any music.

Returning to Help Yourself

In December 1972, Ken was not playing with Help Yourself or Ducks Deluxe. However, in 1973, Help Yourself planned a special tour. It was a vaudeville show called "Happy Days." They planned to perform in a circus tent. The band started recording new songs for this show in January. Their bassist, Paul Burton, did not like the idea of a theatrical tour, so he left.

Ken Whaley returned to Help Yourself. The band started recording their new album in February. They finished the Happy Days album in March. They also finished the Help Yourself album in April. After a two-month "Happy Days" tour, the fourth album, The Return of Ken Whaley, was released. The Happy Days album was given away for free with the first 5,000 copies.

The "Happy Days" tour included Roger Ruskin Spear. Ken played on Roger Ruskin Spear's 1973 album, Unusual.

Help Yourself began recording their fifth album in July 1973. Sean Tyla joined the band for this album. The album was going to be called 5. They had some ideas for songs. They recorded 8 tracks, but they stopped recording and the band broke up in August 1973. The album 5 was not released at that time.

Help Yourself reunited for "The Amazing ZigZag Concert" in April 1974. Ken Whaley was part of the main lineup. The album 5 was finally finished in 2002/2003. Ken Whaley, Malcolm Morley, and Richard Treece completed it. It was released in 2004.

Playing with Man and The Tyla Gang

Later in 1973, Ken recorded with Deke Leonard's Iceberg. He joined them for live shows in November 1973. Deke Leonard was asked to rejoin Man in January 1974. He agreed to take Ken Whaley and Malcolm Morley with him.

In 1974, Ken also recorded the album Fish with Barry Melton. Barry was formerly from the band Country Joe and The Fish. The album was released in 1975.

While with Man, Ken Whaley recorded Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics. This album became Man's highest-charting album in the UK. It reached number 24. Ken also toured the USA with Hawkwind on "The 1999 Party" tour. He then recorded Slow Motion and toured the US again. Ken decided to leave Man during this tour.

Soon after returning to England, Ken joined The Tyla Gang. He played on their albums Moonproof (1978) and Just Popped Out (1980). Ken also went back to working as a journalist. He was a sub-editor at the Islington Gazette from 1982 to 1992.

The Archers and The Green Ray Bands

In 1987, Ken Whaley formed a trio with Simon Haspeck (guitar) and Bob Bellis (drums). They supported singer Rene Miller on a UK tour. After Miller left, they continued as a trio. In 1988, Richard Treece joined them on guitar. Richard had played with Ken in Help Yourself. They named their new band The Archers.

The Archers recorded a demo. Then, Bob Bellis left the band. Ken's brother, Simon Whaley, became the new drummer. In October 1993, Nigel Cross released The Archers' music on his Shagrat label. Soon after, Simon Haspeck had a motorbike accident. This prevented the band from playing concerts to promote their album.

In 1994, Simon Burgin joined the band on guitar. He was from the band Slithy Tove. They wrote some new songs that sounded different. So, they changed their name to The Green Ray. This avoided confusion with their old band. In 1995, The Green Ray recorded the album Sighs, Whales and Trees. This name was a play on the band members' names. It was also released on the Shagrat label.

In 1995, Ken Whaley and Richard Treece also started working with Ron Sanchez. Ron was from the US band Donovans Brain.

In 1996, The Green Ray released their second album, also called The Green Ray. Many concerts followed, including shows with Man. They also performed at Terrastock 3 in 1999.

In 2000, Simon Burgin passed away. Original guitarist Simon Haspeck rejoined The Green Ray. After many concerts, they recorded Fragile World. This album was released on CD in December 2004.

Ken Whaley continued to play with The Green Ray until 2012. He had to stop playing because of lung cancer. Ken Whaley passed away in London on May 8, 2013, at the age of 66. The Green Ray band continues to perform today with Jeff Gibbs on bass guitar and vocals.

Ken Whaley's Music Albums

Here is a list of albums Ken Whaley played on:

With Help Yourself
  • Help Yourself (1971)
  • The Return of Ken Whaley (1973)
  • Happy Days (1973)
  • 5 (2004)
  • The Amazing ZigZag Concert (2010)
With Man
  • Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics (1974)
  • Slow Motion (1974)
  • 1999 Party Tour (1998)
  • Live in London 1975 (1988)
  • Rare Man (1999)
  • Man Alive (2003)
  • History of Man: Evolution of the Legendary Welsh Rock Band (2005)
  • Keep on Crinting: The Liberty/UA Years Anthology (2006)
With The Tyla Gang
  • Moonproof (1978)
  • Just Popped Out (1980)
With Donovan's Brain
  • Eclipse & Debris (1999)
  • Tiny Crustacean Light Show (2000)
With The Green Ray
  • Sighs, Wales and Trees (1995)
  • The Green Ray (1996)
  • Fragile World (2004)
With other artists
  • Ernie Graham Ernie Graham (1971)
  • Roger Ruskin Spear Unusual (1973)
  • Deke Leonard Kamikaze (1974)
  • Barry Melton Fish (1975)
  • The Flying Aces Seashell (2002)
  • Various Artists Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock (1996)
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