Ted McKenna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ted McKenna
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McKenna performing in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edward McKenna |
| Born | 10 March 1950 Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Died | 19 January 2019 (aged 68) |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues rock, progressive rock, glam rock, heavy metal, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1966–2019 |
| Associated acts | Rare Breed (1969), Dream Police (1970), Tear Gas (1971), The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1972–1978), Rory Gallagher (1978–1981), Greg Lake, Gary Moore (1981–1983), The Michael Schenker Group (1983–1984), Womack & Womack (1988), McKenna's Gold (1988), Ian Gillan (1990), The Party Boys (1992–1993), Gwyn Ashton (2004), The Paul Rose Band (2006–2011), The Rhumboogie Orchestra (2009), Band of Friends (2011–2019), Michael Schenker Fest (2016–2019) |
Edward "Ted" McKenna was a Scottish drummer. He was born on March 10, 1950, and passed away on January 19, 2019. Ted played drums for many famous rock bands. These included The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and The Michael Schenker Group. He also toured with musicians like Rory Gallagher and Ian Gillan. Ted also taught at North Glasgow College for many years.
Contents
Ted McKenna's Early Life and Music Career
Ted McKenna was born in Lennoxtown, Scotland. He went to St Patrick's High School in Coatbridge. Ted learned to play several instruments. He took lessons for the double bass and piano. He also studied with a famous big band musician named Lester Penman.
Joining The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Ted became the drummer for The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB) in 1972. He played with them until 1978. After leaving SAHB, Ted worked with many other artists. He played with Rory Gallagher from 1978 to 1981. He also joined Greg Lake and Gary Moore in The Greg Lake Band from 1981 to 1983.
Playing with Michael Schenker Group
From 1981 to 1984, Ted was part of The Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He also played with other musicians like Ian Gillan. In 1975, he worked on a solo album for Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty.
Later Bands and Projects
After his time with MSG, Ted started his own band called McKenna's Gold. This band played together for about two years.
The Party Boys and SAHB Reunion
In 1992, Ted McKenna and Zal Cleminson formed a band called The Party Boys. They invited well-known rock singers to perform with them. Soon after, Ted reunited with his cousin, Hugh McKenna, and other former SAHB members. They reformed The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. This group released a live album called Live In Glasgow '93. They stopped playing together in 1995.
More SAHB Tours
In 2004, Ted reformed SAHB again with other original members. They brought in a new singer, Max Maxwell. Their farewell tour was very popular, so they kept touring until 2009. They played at big events like The Wickerman Festival. They also released a live album called Zalvation. This was their first official album since 1977. They performed in the UK, Europe, and Australia. In 2008, Zal Cleminson left the band, and SAHB stopped touring permanently.
Other Musical Adventures
Ted McKenna was mostly known as a rock musician. However, he also worked with many different types of artists. He played with jazz guitarist John Etheridge. He also worked with blues guitarists like Amos Garrett and Gwyn Ashton. Ted even played with the American soul duo Womack & Womack.
Band of Friends
Ted toured with Rory Gallagher's bassist, Gerry McAvoy, and guitarist Marcel Scherpenzeel. Their band was called "Band of Friends." They celebrated the music of Rory Gallagher. This band won 'Best Blues Band of 2013' at the European Blues Awards. They released a CD/DVD called Too Much Is Not Enough. Ted also won the 'Best Musician (performance)' award at the European Blues Awards in 2015. Band of Friends released more albums, including Live & Kickin' and Repeat After Me.
Michael Schenker Fest
Ted McKenna and SAHB bass player Chris Glen reunited with Michael Schenker for Michael Schenker Fest. This was a special group that included all three original MSG singers. In 2016, they recorded a concert in Tokyo. They released it as a live DVD and double CD. In 2018, they released a studio album called Resurrection.
Ted McKenna's Passing
Ted McKenna passed away on January 19, 2019. He was 68 years old. He died from bleeding during a routine operation.
See also
In Spanish: Ted McKenna para niños
