|
BIOGRAPHY
Cozy Powell was one of the most prolific drummers in the business.
His CV runs like a Who's Who of rock, with stints as a fully paid
up member of Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Whitesnake, M.S.G. and the
ELP spinoff Emerson, Lake and Powell. Then there are those legendary
guest appearances with everyone from Donovan to Roger Daltry,
Jack Bruce to Jeff Beck and Gary Moore to Brian May. His career
not only spanned three decades, it's also one of the most diverse
in rock.
>He got his start in the music business in the mid- sixties
with the Sorcerers, (and was also a member of the Ace Kefford
Stand) but soon broke out to form his own band, Bedlam. After
Bedlam folded in the 70's, Cozy embarked on a successful solo
career as a session drummer under the guidance of producer Mickey
Most, recording such hits as "Dance With the Devil"
and "The Man in Black" on Most's RAK label. The single,
"Dance With the Devil" made Cozy a household name. Then
Cozy was in Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio from autumn 1975 to
November 1978 when Dio left. He continued with Rainbow for a couple
of years.
In 1991 Cozy Powell turned up on Comic Relief's No 1 single,
"The Stonk", and supported the legendary Peter Green
on his comeback. Most recently, sessions with Glenn Tipton (Judas
Priest), Brian May (new album) and Yngwie Malmsteen, the last
two with tours, have seen Cozy Powell back to his busiest and
perhaps his best.
The always cheerful Powell was also one of the best liked
performers on the curcuit. "He was a nice guy making his
living out of music and having a good time," his publicist
told the London Times. "Musically, he was one of the best
drummers we've ever had in the country," producer Mickey
Most told the paper. "He was a great guy and always had a
perfect disposition. We had a lot of laughs and he was great fun."
Cozy Powell, dead at 50, after crashing his car into a center
divide near Bristol, England. An ironic twist of fate for someone
who had once briefly quit the music business to go full time into
auto racing.
|
