MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. Ken Hensley, former leader of British classic rock band Uriah Heep, has unveiled the title of his coming new solo album in an interview with a TASS correspondent.
"We already have the cover art for my next album Monsters and Machines," said the musician, who is now on tour in Russia.
According to Hensley, the design of his new record was created by Russian artist Ilyas Aydarov.
"He's a friend, a fan and one of my heroes. He has done some amazing work for me," the British rocker said.
Hensley did not say when exactly the new album will be released. In 2015, in an interview with TASS, the musician said that he would begin to work on the next studio album, the first one from 2013, in 2016. However the new album is still in progress. When asked to comment on the delay, the musician said: "I just got very busy with a lot of other stuff. But the songs are written and we have a plan."
Alongside with the new album the rocker is working on several other projects, in particular his first stage musical.
"I am working on part two of my auto-biography and I am also compiling a book of my poetry, which dates back to 1954. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that I am working on my first stage musical. Not sure when it will see the light of day but it sure is very exciting," he said.
In his current Russian tour Hensley is presenting his anthology "Rare & Timeless" that was released on March 30. The album contains the musician’s well-known songs re-recorded in line with the new recording standards and also some new tracks.
Shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg
In Moscow, Ken Hensley plays two concerts at the stage of the Izvestia Hall on April 12 and 13.
Ironically, the concert on April 12 happened to be an extra show, because, according to promoters, tickets for the main show on April 13 were sold out long before the date.
"The Moscow shows will be 105 minutes roughly and will cover much - but, obviously, not all - of my writing career in loud, proud and powerful rock'n'roll," the musician said.
On stage, the rock veteran is accompanied by an international band called Live Fire. Its line-up includes guitarist Ken Ingwersen and drummer Tom Arne Fossheim from Norway and a native of Italian Genoa bassist and vocalist Roberto Tiranti.
At the concert in St. Petersburg on April 15 the rockers will be joined by an orchestra and a choir.
About Ken Hensley
Ken Hensley is best known for his work with Uriah Heep in 1970 and 1980. He played keyboards and guitar, wrote and co-wrote most of the band’s hits of that period.
Hensley recorded 13 studio albums with the group. Tired of endless changes in the line-up and conflicts with other band members, he left Uriah Heep and embarked on his solo career.
Hensley first visited Russia in 2002, and since then he became a frequent visitor playing concerts for Russian fans on a regular basis.