Kent Henry

Kent Henry
Background information
Born	(1948-04-05)April 5, 1948 Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States
Died	March 18, 2009(2009-03-18) (aged 60) Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres	Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock, Rock and roll, Folk rock
Occupations	Musician Songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1967 – 2009
Associated acts	Steppenwolf Blues Image Screaming Lord Sutch Delaney, Bonnie & Friends Sludge Bros Loose Talk

Kent Henry Plischke (April 5, 1948 – March 18, 2009), known as Kent Henry, was an American guitarist and songwriter best known for his contributions to Steppenwolf and Blues Image.^[1]

Blues Image

Henry joined Blues Image during the sessions for Open after Mike Pinera agreed to join Iron Butterfly. His significant contributions to that album, although uncredited, included the tasteful clean solo and fills on "Ride Captain Ride." Mike Pinera plays the distorted solo at the end of the song. After recording Red, White, and Blues Image, producer Richard Podolor suggested to Steppenwolf that Henry would be a good replacement for departed guitarist Larry Byrom.

Steppenwolf

Henry recorded For Ladies Only and toured with the band on their farewell tour, in addition to his contributions on John Kay's first solo album, Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes. Henry was not invited to rejoin the band when it reformed to record Slow Flux and found out about it when new guitarist Bobby Cochran called him for advice, believing it was Henry's choice to not be a part of Steppenwolf. Goldy McJohn, the band's keyboardist at the time, says Henry was fired because he didn't get along well with drummer Jerry Edmonton.

Henry remained on good terms with McJohn, and played with McJohn in 1977, 1978 and 1980 versions of Steppenwolf led by McJohn, but without lead singer John Kay.^[2] At the time of Henry's death, he was planning to rejoin McJohn as part of "Goldy McJohn and Friendz", a band that McJohn had formed to play Steppenwolf songs, following the announcement that John Kay and Steppenwolf planned to substantially cease touring.^[3][4]

Later years

Henry settled in Portland, Oregon, as of the early 1980s, and would remain there for the balance of his life. He played in local bands (principally the Paul deLay Blues Band) and worked primarily as a guitar technician.^[5]

During his later years, Henry encountered increasing difficulties with seizures, which had originally appeared following a fall off the stage of the Whiskey A Go Go. He also developed the early stages of Alzheimer's disease shortly before his death. As a consequence of these challenges and given that care by family members was unavailable to him, Henry was under the constant care of friends, from 2005 until his death.^[6] He died due to lack of bowel movement. Henry was taken to the hospital by his caregiver and died on the operating table.^[5]

Discography

Studio albums

• Charity Now
  1969
  Uni Records
• Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends
  1970
  Atlantic Records
• Open (uncredited)
  1970
  Atco Records
• Red White & Blues Image
  1970
  Atco Records
• For Ladies Only
  1971
  U.S. #54
  Dunhill Records
• Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes
  1972
  Dunhill Records
• My Sportin' Life (Sing with the Children only)
  1973
  Dunhill Records

Compilations

• 16 Greatest Hits
  1973
  U.S. #152
  Gold
  Dunhill Records
• Lone Steppenwolf
  1987
  MCA Records
• Born to Be Wild - A Retrospective
  1991
  MCA Records
• All Time Greatest Hits
  1999
  MCA Records
• 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steppenwolf
  2000
  Gold
  Universal Music Group

Singles

References