Cozy Powell Biography

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.

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