Kenneth Irving MacLean (January 9, 1956 – November 24, 2008) was a Scottish-Canadian musician, best known as a former member of the multi-platinum selling band Platinum Blonde.
MacLean was born in Glasgow. A former hairdresser, he was a member of the group The Hairdressers, and then was a founding member of The Suspects in 1979. That band changed its name to The Deserters in 1981, and released two albums, The Deserters and Siberian Nightlife.[1]
Drummer Chris Steffler, who had worked with MacLean in Toronto bands The Next and The Suspects, recruited MacLean to join Platinum Blonde.[2] MacLean was bassist and keyboardist, and songwriter for some songs, on their 1985 album Alien Shores. He was also part of the band for Contact in 1987, and for their 1990 album Yeah Yeah Yeah, when the band was re-named The Blondes.[1] MacLean then released two solo albums in the 1990s, without the backing of major-label financing. In 1990, his solo debut Don't Look Back was released on a new label, Justin,[3] and it won him a SOCAN Award for songwriting,[4] as well as a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1991.
In 2006, MacLean spent time in Saint John, New Brunswick, working as a teacher at the city's new School of Rock and Film.[5] MacLean created the music company hMh Music, and was its artistic director. An academy officially opened in Toronto on September 2, 2008, and featured programs such as audio engineering and DJ arts.[1]
MacLean was found dead on November 24, 2008 of a heart related problem.[6] His third solo CD, Completely, was released at a concert three days before his death.[7]