Ken Kelly, one particular of the most profitable fantasy artists who is dependable for a lot of album handles for rock bands this kind of as KISS, RAINBOW and MANOWAR, has died at the age of 76.
Kelly‘s passing was verified before nowadays by his good friend Danny Stanton, president and founder of Coallier Entertainment. Stanton wrote simply just: “RIP KEN KELLY. You will generally be a legend in the KISS earth. Such a excellent person, artist, friend.”
More than Kelly‘s 50-plus-12 months job, he has focused in particular on paintings in the sword and sorcery and heroic fantasy subgenres.
Early in his career, he was ready to study the paintings of Frank Frazetta in the latter’s studio, but Frazetta hardly ever allow out his trade techniques. In the early 1970s, he did a few of protect paintings for Castle Of Frankenstein journal. All over the 1970s, he was one particular of the foremost deal with artists on Warren Publishing‘s Creepy and Eerie magazines.
Kelly has depicted Conan The Barbarian and Tarzan whilst also developing the artwork for KISS‘s “Destroyer” and “Really like Gun”, RAINBOW‘s “Growing”, many albums from MANOWAR, and Ace Frehley‘s “Area Invader” document.
His function normally portrayed unique, enchanted locales and primal battlefields. He formulated the artwork for COHEED AND CAMBRIA‘s album “Superior Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No Planet for Tomorrow”, and a painting of his was utilised as the cover artwork for ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY‘s 2007 launch “Open Hearth”. In 2012, a person of Kelly‘s paintings was used for the go over of Electric powered MAGMA‘s 12-inch vinyl release “Canadian Samurai II”.
Kelly has been a visitor at the Kiss By Monster Mini Golfing training course in Las Vegas, Nevada, undertaking autograph signings of prints for the classic KISS albums he has drawn include artwork for.
So unhappy to report the passing of our extensive time pal of Chiller, and just good friend, Ken Kelly. Your amazing art will dwell on without end sir, as will my recollections of our lots of very good situations, and laughs, together. pic.twitter.com/OSvbvniij4
— Chiller Theatre (@ChillerTheatre) June 3, 2022
RIP KEN KELLY. You will usually be a legend in the KISS entire world. These types of a terrific person, artist, mate.
Posted by Danny Stanton on Friday, June 3, 2022
Ken Kelly the artist that painted Burning Starr’s last 3 album covers has handed absent, He was a excellent artist and served…
Posted by Jack Starr on Friday, June 3, 2022
Unfortunate news this early morning KISS Military: Famous fantasy artist Ken Kelly (Destroyer, Like Gun, House Invader) has handed absent aged 76.
Posted by Australian KISS Army on Friday, June 3, 2022
June 2, 2022
I’m receiving experiences from several spots that artist Ken Kelly handed absent yesterday. He was 76 and drew…
Posted by The Rock Experience with Mike Brunn on Friday, June 3, 2022
When a photo is truly worth a thousand text.
**************** KEN KELLY *************Posted by Bill Aucoin on Friday, June 3, 2022
Unquestionably devastated,
The incredibly gifted artist Ken kelly passed away😔
If it wasnt for him there would be no…Posted by Cece Spaulding on Friday, June 3, 2022
Some pretty sad personalized information and unhappy news for the fantasy art earth. My good friend Ken Kelly passed absent. I did a ton of do the job…
Posted by Mark Aronowitz on Friday, June 3, 2022