Ken Whaley was an Austrian-born bass guitar player, best known as a founding member of Help Yourself and Ducks Deluxe, and as a member of Deke Leonard's Iceberg, Man and The Tyla Gang.
15 Facts About Ken Whaley
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Ken Whaley played with The Archers and The Green Ray.
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Ken Whaley's father became a newspaper photographer, which led to him becoming a local newspaper reporter, rising to be sub-editor of the Islington Gazette in the early 1970s.
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Ken Whaley was, at the same time, playing bass in bands such as "Black Cat Bones" in the 1960s before joining "Growth".
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Ken Whaley played on Help Yourself's eponymous first album, and on the Downhome Rhythm Kings package with Ernie Graham and Brinsley Schwarz, which led to him appearing on Ernie Graham's eponymous album, before he was sacked from Help Yourself in April 1971 "a sad tale that is probably best glossed over".
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Ken Whaley moved in with former Help Yourself roadie Sean Tyla and together with ex Brinsley Schwarz roadie Martin Belmont on guitars, and Magic Michael on percussion formed Ducks Deluxe in February 1972.
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The Happy Days tour included Roger Ruskin Spear which led to Ken Whaley performing on Ruskin Spear's 1973 album Unusual.
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Later in 1973 Ken Whaley recorded with Deke Leonard's Iceberg; although he did not perform with Iceberg on that autumn's "Up for the Day" tour with Man, he joined them in November 1973.
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Also in 1974, Ken Whaley recorded the album Fish with Barry Melton, formerly of Country Joe and The Fish, which was released in 1975.
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Whilst with Man, Ken Whaley recorded Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics which became Man's highest charting album, at No24 in the UK, and toured USA on The 1999 Party tour with Hawkwind.
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Ken Whaley then recorded Slow Motion and toured the US again.
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The tour was extended but Ken Whaley had had enough, and left the band, so did not play the final concerts with John Cipollina.
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Shortly after returning to England, Ken Whaley joined The Tyla Gang, led by Sean Tyla, appearing on the albums Moonproof and Just Popped Out.
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Ken Whaley took up journalism again, and in 1982 returned to the Izlington Gazette where he was a sub-editor until 1992.
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Ken Whaley continued to play with The Green Ray until 2012, when lung cancer forced him to stand down.