A former weekly newspaper sub-editor who went on to become a globe-trotting bass guitarist has died aged 67.
Ken Whaley, left, who had two stints with the Islington Gazette in the 1970s and 80s, passed away following a brief battle with cancer.
Brought up in east London, he started out on local newspapers, following in the footsteps of his father who was a press photographer.
In the early 1970s he worked for the Gazette as a sub-editor during a time of industrial unrest and the difficult change from hot metal to digital.
At the same time, Ken was carving out a career as a bass guitarist in a variety of rock bands.
He combined the two professions for quite some time, but eventually quit to concentrate on being a musician – soon touring and playing massive gigs in the United States with the band, Man.
Described as a “legendary” bassist by his former manager, he was a founder member of the band Ducks Deluxe, and made four albums with Man and another outfit Help Yourself – including the eponymously titled The Return of Ken Whaley.
In recent years he played with his brother Simon in a band called The Green Ray, often with American ’60s guitar legend Barry Melton.
Later, Ken went back to journalism, and in 1982 returned to the Gazette where he worked as a sub-editor for a further 10 years.
Former Gazette editor Tony Allcock said: “Ken Whaley was a very talented and creative man who was respected by all who knew him.
“He was a world-class bass player and an absolutely excellent sub-editor – one of the best I have ever worked with.
“He was also a lovely person – kind, generous, unassuming, and a loyal friend. He made a great contribution to the Islington Gazette over the years and will always be remembered fondly by all his former colleagues.”
Ken played many gigs in the famous Hope and Anchor pub, in Upper Street, Islington, in the 1970s as it became a trailblazing rock pub and breeding ground for fresh musical talent.
John Eichler who ran the pub and also managed Help Yourself, said: “Ken has been a large part of my family’s lives for the past 40 odd years. He was a great friend and an entertaining companion.
“Ken was elegant in looks, in thought and in his rich and subtle bass playing. I always felt he was a man out of time; his sensibilities were from a earlier age. He was a truly gentle man.
“We worked, lived and laughed together for many wonderful years and he leaves a bloody great hole in my heart.”
Ken is survived by three brothers and two sisters.
His funeral took place at the Islington Crematorium, in Finchley.
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A really lovely guy, and the best caption writer I’ve ever met.
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The band Ken played for was Ducks Deluxe, NOT Duluxe, which if you forget about the ‘e’ is a paint colour chart. If memory serves me right they used to serve up a powerfully infectious style of rock.
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Very sad to hear of the loss of “dancing” Ken Whaley. I knew of him as a musician, from his contributions as a bass guitarist on Man’s fine albums, “Winos, Rhinos and Lunatics” and “Slow Motion”. Clearly he was a very gifted journalist too.
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Worked with Ken in Crouch End/North London back when we used to flog review copies of the latest LPs to the nearby Spanish Moon record shop where Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox in pre-Eurythmics days manned the till in return for using the basement for Tourists rehearsals. A real sweetheart and a man with a wealth of anecdotes to enliven the picket lines that were a regular feature of working life back then. And both Ducks Deluxe and Man remain fond memories for those of us who cut their teeth on North London pub rock – Bees Make Honey, anyone? Rest in peace, Ken,
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Ducks Deluxe in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6IDGGJVnBo
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Sad to see this. Strangely enough I saw Ducks Deluxe perform at the Glasgow Apollo 40 years ago tonight, June 3, 1974. They were supporting Lou Reed. A schoolfriend was a huge Ducks fan. I asked if he was going to see Lou Reed and he said no, he was a lot of crap or words to that effect. Then I told him who the support act was. That was another concert ticket sold. Don’t know if he hung around after DD were finished.
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