Puddle of Mudd, Rascal Flatts, Ratt, and The Bacon Brothers. All amazing band names, for sure, but trying to figure out how those very same band names came to be is utterly impossible. The same used to be said about Ten Kens until it was made known that the moniker was derived quite literally from a four-pronged, shared admiration for ten people named Ken, as impossible as that sounds. While this tale of teleKennethis is now the stuff of Canadian musical folklore, the identities of the actual ten adored Kens was never known... until now!
1. Ken Masters, character in Street Fighter
While all fans of Street Fighter, Ten Kens are even more fans of Masters’ attire, favoring to take the stage wearing the fiery red gi of Ken over Ryu’s understated vanilla gi and red headband combo. Singer Dan Workman also likes the Bret Michaels-esque mane of Ken as opposed to Ryu's chopped "Zoolander" look.
2. Ken Dryden, former Montréal Canadiens goalie, present Liberal Party of Canada stooge
Although the four band members hail from Toronto, they bleed blue, white, and red as far as hockey is concerned. They also happen to like the way Dryden, the politician, holds his caucus.
3 Ken Wahl, actor
TV’s “Wiseguy”... enough said!
4. Ken Jennings, 74-time "Jeopardy!" champion
A favorite among Ten Kens (though drummer Ryan Roantree, in a previous life, was the world's leading "Tic Tac Dough" historian).
5. Ken Kesey, counter-culture author
Because they are too young to be beatniks and too old to be hippies.
6. Ken, Barbie’s effeminate half
True confession: guitarist Dean Tzenos dressed up as Ken for Halloween in 2004, which is not that long ago, when you think about it. And for the record, he actually made his greatest candy haul that year wearing a costume of short blond bouffant, pastel v-necked sweater, and pressed trousers with visual trouser snake.
7. Ken Burns, documentary maker
Fact: Ten Kens can’t get enough of that sexy documentarian!
8. Ken Caminiti, former professional baseball player
The band admired the late slugger's hitting and steroid/cocaine intake prowess. (Ouch... too soon?)
9. Ken Follet, thriller novelist
Follet has written books centred around World War II espionage. Ten Kens are Nazi sympathizers. No brainer!
10. Ken River in India
"Best tributary ever!" claimed bassist Lee Stringle, before grabbing my living room lamp and my shoe and running out the door shouting "Free the Fairyland Two!"
Alright... so Ten Kens have nothing to do with ten Kens and everything to do with creating mighty psych rock shitstorms. Live, Ten Kens are even more devastating, displaying the power of ten of any Ken you would care to name. The Toronto quartet will look to build upon the positive atmos surrounding their recently-released self-titled debut album with a small tour of Scotland, Wales, and England, the latter being the home to its record label, FatCat. Ten Kens' British tour continues tonight with a headlining show in Edinburgh and will include a number of gigs opening for A Place to Bury Strangers. Ken you dig it?
12.01.08 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Cabaret Voltaire
12.02.08 - York, England - The Duchess
12.04.08 - Manchester, England - The Roadhouse %
12.05.08 - Leeds, England - The Cockpit %
12.06.08 - Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Beach %
12.08.08 - London, England - ICA %
12.09.08 - London, England - Blow Up Metro
12.10.08 - London, England - Club Fandango ^
% A Place to Bury Strangers
^ Stricken City
