Cozy Powell
Encyclopedia
Colin Flooks better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.
, Gloucestershire, England, and started playing drums at age 12 in the school orchestra, thereafter playing along in his spare time to popular singles of the day. The first band he was in, called the Corals, played each week at the youth club in Cirencester. At age 15 he had already worked out an impressive drum solo. The stage name 'Cozy' was borrowed from the jazz drummer Cozy Cole
.
drums. The Sorcerers performed in the German club scene of the 1960s. By 1968 the band had returned to England, basing themselves around Birmingham
. Powell struck up friendships with fellow musicians like Robert Plant
and John Bonham
(both at the time unknowns in Listen), future Slade
vocalist Noddy Holder
, bassist Dave Pegg
and a young guitarist called Tony Iommi
. The Sorcerers now became Youngblood, and a series of singles were released in late 1968–69. The group then linked up with the Move bassist/singer Ace Kefford
to form The Ace Kefford Stand. Powell also began session work. Powell with fellow Sorcerers Dave and Dennis Ball formed Big Bertha.
Tony Joe White
at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
. During this time the two became good friends, with White being best man at Powell's wedding. Powell then landed the then highly prestigious drumming job with Jeff Beck
's group
in April 1970. Their first project was to record an album of Motown covers in the USA. This was never finished and remains unreleased. After the recording of two albums, Rough and Ready
(October 1971) and Jeff Beck Group
(July 1972), the band fell apart.
' album Writer of Songs. By late 1972 he had joined up with the Ball brothers and singer Frank Aiello to form Bedlam, whose eponymous album was recorded for Chrysalis
and released in August 1973. Eventually Powell abandoned Bedlam to record two singles including "Dance with the Devil" which reached #3 in the UK singles chart during January 1974. The song is the only hit for the United States, peaking at #49. The track featured Suzi Quatro
on bass. Powell's second hit during 1974 was with "The Man In Black", which reached a respectable #18. Beck's studio producer was Mickie Most
and Powell soon found himself drafted into sessions for artists signed to Most's RAK label, including Julie Felix
, Hot Chocolate, Donovan
and Suzi Quatro
. To cash in on his chart success the drummer formed Cozy Powell's Hammer in April 1974. The line-up included Bernie Marsden
(guitar), Clive Chamen (bass), Don Airey
(keyboards) and Frank Aiello (Bedlam) on vocals. 'Na Na Na' was a UK #10 hit, and another single 'Le Souk' was recorded but never released.
. Powell and Ritchie Blackmore
were the only constants in the band's line-up over the next five years, as Blackmore evolved the sound of the band from a neo-classical hard rock to a more commercial AOR
sound. Rainbow's 1979 Down to Earth
LP (from which singles "Since You Been Gone
" and "All Night Long" are taken) proved to be the band's most successful album thus far; however, Powell was concerned over the overtly commercial sound. Powell decided to leave Rainbow, although not before they headlined the first ever Monsters of Rock
show at Castle Donington
, England on 16 August 1980. The festival was Powell's last show with the band.
(he too an ex-Rainbow member) on Bonnet's new project called Graham Bonnet & The Hooligans, their most notable single being the UK top 10 single "Night Games" (1981), also on Bonnet's solo Line Up album. For the rest of the 1980s, Powell assumed short-term journeyman roles with a number of major bands — Michael Schenker Group
from 1981 to 1982, and Whitesnake
from 1982 to 1985. In 1985 he started recording with Phenomena
for their first album, which was released in 1986 when he joined up with Keith Emerson
and Greg Lake
as a member of Emerson, Lake & Powell
.
followed in 1989. His most well-known association was with Black Sabbath
from 1988 to 1991, and again in 1994–1995.
Between late 1992 and early 1993, Powell put together an occasional touring band using the old band name 'Cozy Powell's Hammer' featuring himself on drums, Neil Murray
on bass, Mario Parga
on guitar and Tony Martin on vocals and occasional rhythm guitar/synth module. The band performed throughout Europe and appeared on German television. Powell along with Neil Murray
were members of Brian May
's band, playing on the Back To The Light
and Another World
albums. Cozy played with May opening for Guns N' Roses
on the second American leg of their Use Your Illusion
tour in 1993. The duo also served a spell with blues guitarist Peter Green
in the mid-nineties. Cozy's last recording session was for Colin Blunstone
's The Light Inside, alongside Don Airey
, which was released shortly after Cozy's death. Prior to his death in 1998, Cozy had pulled out of a tour with Yngwie Malmsteen due to an injury and was preparing to tour with Brian May. The final solo album by Cozy Powell Especially For You was released in 1998 after his death, and featured American vocalist John West, Neil Murray, Lonnie Park, Michael Casswell and others.
on the UK saloon car circuit for a few months. He made headlines when he appeared on the BBC
children's programme Record Breakers
where he set a world record for the most drums played in under one minute, live on television.
at 104 mph (167.4 km/h) in bad weather on the M4 motorway
near Bristol. According to the BBC report, at the time of the crash, Powell's blood-alcohol reading was over the legal limit, he was not wearing a seatbelt, and he was talking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone. The official investigation also found evidence of a slow puncture in a rear tyre. It was suggested that this could well have caused a sudden collapse of the tyre with a consequent loss of control of the car.
He was living at Lambourn
in Berkshire
at the time and had returned to the studio shortly before his death to record with Fleetwood Mac
co-founder Peter Green
. By that time, he had been the drummer on at least 66 albums with minor contributions on many other recordings. Many rock drummers have cited him as a major influence.
vocalist Tony Martin
released a studio album (Scream), and on it is a track named "Raising Hell". This was a track that Powell had recorded the drum track for back when he and Tony were in Hammer in 1992, and gave to Tony for "future use". There are apparently as many as 19 additional drum tracks also recorded that could turn up in the future. Judas Priest
guitarist Glenn Tipton
has also released material recorded during the 1997 Baptizm Of Fire
sessions; this 2006 collection, entitled Edge of the World
, was released under the moniker of Tipton, Entwistle & Powell, in memory of John Entwistle
and Powell.
New York Drummer Ken Serio
played a tribute to Cozy Powell on his highly acclaimed Through The Gate CD covering several songs from Cozy's instrumental solo albums including the Bernie Marsden
penned "El Sid" from Cozy's Over The Top album.
Early history
Cozy Powell was born in CirencesterCirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
, Gloucestershire, England, and started playing drums at age 12 in the school orchestra, thereafter playing along in his spare time to popular singles of the day. The first band he was in, called the Corals, played each week at the youth club in Cirencester. At age 15 he had already worked out an impressive drum solo. The stage name 'Cozy' was borrowed from the jazz drummer Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole was an American jazz drummer who scored a #1 Cashbox magazine hit with the record "Topsy Part 2". "Topsy" peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The track peaked at #29 in the UK...
.
Semi-professional
The semi-professional circuit was next, with semi-pro outfit The Sorcerers, a vocal harmony pop band. The late nights and usual on-the-road exploits began to affect his education, and Powell left to take an office job in order to finance the purchase of his first set of PremierPremier Percussion
Premier Percussion Limited is an English manufacturer of drums and percussion instruments.The company was founded in 1922 as the Premier Drum Company by London drummer Albert Della Porta and drum builder George Smith...
drums. The Sorcerers performed in the German club scene of the 1960s. By 1968 the band had returned to England, basing themselves around Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Powell struck up friendships with fellow musicians like Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
and John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
(both at the time unknowns in Listen), future Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
vocalist Noddy Holder
Noddy Holder
Neville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....
, bassist Dave Pegg
Dave Pegg
Dave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
and a young guitarist called Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
. The Sorcerers now became Youngblood, and a series of singles were released in late 1968–69. The group then linked up with the Move bassist/singer Ace Kefford
Ace Kefford
Christopher John "Ace" Kefford is a bassist and was the co-founder of The Move in October 1965 with Trevor Burton, after meeting David Bowie at Birmingham's Cedar Club, following a performance by Bowie's band Davy Jones and the Lower Third...
to form The Ace Kefford Stand. Powell also began session work. Powell with fellow Sorcerers Dave and Dennis Ball formed Big Bertha.
Isle of Wight 1970 and Jeff Beck
Powell also played with swamp rockerSwamp pop
Swamp rock is a musical genre indigenous to the Acadiana region of south Louisiana and an adjoining section of southeast Texas. Created in the 1950s and early 1960s by teenaged Cajuns and black Creoles, it combines New Orleans-style rhythm and blues, country and western, and traditional French...
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
Isle of Wight Festival 1970
The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of...
. During this time the two became good friends, with White being best man at Powell's wedding. Powell then landed the then highly prestigious drumming job with Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
's group
The Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group were an English rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Their innovative approach to heavy sounding blues and R&B was a major influence on popular music.- The first Jeff Beck Group :...
in April 1970. Their first project was to record an album of Motown covers in the USA. This was never finished and remains unreleased. After the recording of two albums, Rough and Ready
Rough and Ready (album)
For other uses see Rough and Ready Rough and Ready is the third album by The Jeff Beck Group and the first of two by the second Jeff Beck Group. Released in 1971, it featured more of a jazz, soul and R&B edge to counter Beck's lead guitar. Beck contributed more tracks on Rough and Ready than he...
(October 1971) and Jeff Beck Group
Jeff Beck Group (album)
Jeff Beck Group is the fourth studio album by The Jeff Beck Group and the second album with the line up of Jeff Beck, Bobby Tench, Clive Chaman, Max Middleton and Cozy Powell...
(July 1972), the band fell apart.
1972–1974
In 1972 Powell drummed for two tracks ("Hey Sandy" and "Martha") on Harvey AndrewsHarvey Andrews
Harvey John Andrews is an English singer, songwriter, and poet.-Career:From 1964, Andrews supported his nascent career as a singer/songwriter by working as a schoolteacher, before becoming a full-time professional musician in 1966.Harvey Andrews has produced 17 successful albums singing his own...
' album Writer of Songs. By late 1972 he had joined up with the Ball brothers and singer Frank Aiello to form Bedlam, whose eponymous album was recorded for Chrysalis
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
and released in August 1973. Eventually Powell abandoned Bedlam to record two singles including "Dance with the Devil" which reached #3 in the UK singles chart during January 1974. The song is the only hit for the United States, peaking at #49. The track featured Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
on bass. Powell's second hit during 1974 was with "The Man In Black", which reached a respectable #18. Beck's studio producer was Mickie Most
Mickie Most
Mickie Most was an English record producer, with a string of hit singles with acts such as The Animals, Arrows, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and the Jeff Beck Group often issued on his own RAK Records label....
and Powell soon found himself drafted into sessions for artists signed to Most's RAK label, including Julie Felix
Julie Felix
Julie Ann Felix is a folk rock recording artist, who was notably produced by Mickie Most on his RAK Records label.-Career:...
, Hot Chocolate, Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
and Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
. To cash in on his chart success the drummer formed Cozy Powell's Hammer in April 1974. The line-up included Bernie Marsden
Bernie Marsden
-External links:*...
(guitar), Clive Chamen (bass), Don Airey
Don Airey
Donald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
(keyboards) and Frank Aiello (Bedlam) on vocals. 'Na Na Na' was a UK #10 hit, and another single 'Le Souk' was recorded but never released.
Rainbow
In 1975 he joined RainbowRainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
. Powell and Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
were the only constants in the band's line-up over the next five years, as Blackmore evolved the sound of the band from a neo-classical hard rock to a more commercial AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
sound. Rainbow's 1979 Down to Earth
Down to Earth (Rainbow album)
Down To Earth is the fourth studio album released by Rainbow, released in 1979. Most of the album had been already written and recorded by the time Graham Bonnet was recruited. Also recruited were ex-Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover and keyboardist Don Airey...
LP (from which singles "Since You Been Gone
Since You Been Gone
"Since You Been Gone" is a 1970s rock song written and recorded by former Argent guitarist Russ Ballard for his 1976 album Winning. It has also been recorded by numerous other artists, including all-girl group Clout, Cherie Currie and Head East...
" and "All Night Long" are taken) proved to be the band's most successful album thus far; however, Powell was concerned over the overtly commercial sound. Powell decided to leave Rainbow, although not before they headlined the first ever Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
show at Castle Donington
Castle Donington
Castle Donington is a village, with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, part of the Derby postcode area and on the edge of the National Forest. It is the closest town to East Midlands Airport.-Transport and housing:...
, England on 16 August 1980. The festival was Powell's last show with the band.
1980–1989
After Powell left Rainbow he worked with vocalist Graham BonnetGraham Bonnet
Graham Bonnet is an English rock vocalist, and songwriter. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist, and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri.-Early days:Bonnet was born in Skegness in 1947...
(he too an ex-Rainbow member) on Bonnet's new project called Graham Bonnet & The Hooligans, their most notable single being the UK top 10 single "Night Games" (1981), also on Bonnet's solo Line Up album. For the rest of the 1980s, Powell assumed short-term journeyman roles with a number of major bands — Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker Group
The Michael Schenker Group is a guitar-oriented hard rock band formed in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist, Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1992. After that, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed.The...
from 1981 to 1982, and Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
from 1982 to 1985. In 1985 he started recording with Phenomena
Phenomena (band)
Phenomena is a rock concept around a supergroup formed by record producer Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Tony Martin and John Wetton amongst...
for their first album, which was released in 1986 when he joined up with Keith Emerson
Keith Emerson
Keith Noel Emerson is an English keyboard player and composer. Formerly a member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown's Bodies, The T-Bones, V.I.P.s, P.P. Arnold's backing band, and The Nice , he was a founder of Emerson, Lake & Palmer , one of the early supergroups, in 1970...
and Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
as a member of Emerson, Lake & Powell
Emerson, Lake & Powell
Emerson, Lake & Powell, sometimes abbreviated as ELPowell, were an English rock band, an offshoot or variant lineup of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, that released one official studio album in 1986....
.
1989–1998
A stint with Gary MooreGary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
followed in 1989. His most well-known association was with Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
from 1988 to 1991, and again in 1994–1995.
Between late 1992 and early 1993, Powell put together an occasional touring band using the old band name 'Cozy Powell's Hammer' featuring himself on drums, Neil Murray
Neil Murray (British musician)
Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
on bass, Mario Parga
Mario Parga
Guitarist Mario Parga, born in Lytham, Lancashire, England on 7 August 1969, came into the spotlight during the late 1980s when he began appearing in numerous guitar and rock magazines such as Guitar Player, Metal Hammer, Kerrang, Metal Forces and played a live guitar solo on MTV's 'Metal Hammer'...
on guitar and Tony Martin on vocals and occasional rhythm guitar/synth module. The band performed throughout Europe and appeared on German television. Powell along with Neil Murray
Neil Murray (British musician)
Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
were members of Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
's band, playing on the Back To The Light
Back to the Light
Back to the Light is the first solo effort of Queen's guitarist Brian May and his second non-Queen album. It was recorded between 1988 and 1992 at the Allerton Hill Studios, mixed at the Metropolis Studios and then released on September 28, 1992 in the UK...
and Another World
Another World (Brian May album)
Another World is the second full studio album delivered by Queen guitarist, Brian May. Recorded at his home studio after the completion of the last Queen album, Made in Heaven, the album was released in the UK on 1 June 1998 and on 15 September of that year in the US. The album itself started life...
albums. Cozy played with May opening for Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
on the second American leg of their Use Your Illusion
Use Your Illusion
Use Your Illusion is a Guns N' Roses compilation album that is mixed from the Use Your Illusion I and II albums. It has only been released in the United States, consisting entirely of songs without profanity . However, not all songs without profanity were chosen to appear on this compilation...
tour in 1993. The duo also served a spell with blues guitarist Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
in the mid-nineties. Cozy's last recording session was for Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone is an English pop singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group The Zombies, and for his participation on various albums with The Alan Parsons Project.-Biography:...
's The Light Inside, alongside Don Airey
Don Airey
Donald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
, which was released shortly after Cozy's death. Prior to his death in 1998, Cozy had pulled out of a tour with Yngwie Malmsteen due to an injury and was preparing to tour with Brian May. The final solo album by Cozy Powell Especially For You was released in 1998 after his death, and featured American vocalist John West, Neil Murray, Lonnie Park, Michael Casswell and others.
Motor racing and TV appearances
Powell had a fascination with fast cars and motorbikes, and raced for HitachiHitachi, Ltd.
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies...
on the UK saloon car circuit for a few months. He made headlines when he appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's programme Record Breakers
Record Breakers
Record Breakers was a British children's TV show, themed around world records and produced by the BBC and originally presented by Roy Castle with twin brothers Norris McWhirter and Ross McWhirter. It was broadcast on BBC1 from 15 December 1972 to 21 December 2001...
where he set a world record for the most drums played in under one minute, live on television.
Death
Cozy Powell died on 5 April 1998 following a car crash while driving his Saab 9000Saab 9000
The Saab 9000 is an automobile that was produced by the Swedish company Saab from 1984 to 1997. The 9000 was replaced by the 9-5 in the late 1997....
at 104 mph (167.4 km/h) in bad weather on the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
near Bristol. According to the BBC report, at the time of the crash, Powell's blood-alcohol reading was over the legal limit, he was not wearing a seatbelt, and he was talking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone. The official investigation also found evidence of a slow puncture in a rear tyre. It was suggested that this could well have caused a sudden collapse of the tyre with a consequent loss of control of the car.
He was living at Lambourn
Lambourn
Lambourn is a large village and civil parish in the northwestern part of the ceremonial county of Berkshire in England. Its metropolitan district has a population of 4,017, and is most noted for its associations with British National Hunt racehorse training....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
at the time and had returned to the studio shortly before his death to record with Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
co-founder Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
. By that time, he had been the drummer on at least 66 albums with minor contributions on many other recordings. Many rock drummers have cited him as a major influence.
Posthumous releases
In October 2005 Powell made a "new" appearance on an album. Former Black SabbathBlack Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
vocalist Tony Martin
Tony Martin (rock singer)
Anthony Martin Harford , better known by his stage name Tony Martin, is a heavy metal vocalist best known for his work with Black Sabbath from 1987 to 1991 and again from 1993 to 1997. Martin was the band's second longest serving vocalist after Ozzy Osbourne...
released a studio album (Scream), and on it is a track named "Raising Hell". This was a track that Powell had recorded the drum track for back when he and Tony were in Hammer in 1992, and gave to Tony for "future use". There are apparently as many as 19 additional drum tracks also recorded that could turn up in the future. Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
guitarist Glenn Tipton
Glenn Tipton
Glenn Tipton is one of the Grammy Award-winning guitarists for the heavy metal band Judas Priest...
has also released material recorded during the 1997 Baptizm Of Fire
Baptizm Of Fire
Baptizm of Fire is a solo album by Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton in 1997. It was recorded and mixed at Devonshire and Ocean Studios, U.S.A. and Monnow Valley, Battery, Olympic and The Gazebo Studio, U.K...
sessions; this 2006 collection, entitled Edge of the World
Edge of the World
Edge of the World is an album created by Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, The Who bassist John Entwistle, and renowned drummer Cozy Powell. Consisting of tracks that were not released on Baptizm of Fire, Tipton released the album on March 7, 2006 in memory of the late Entwistle and Powell...
, was released under the moniker of Tipton, Entwistle & Powell, in memory of John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
and Powell.
New York Drummer Ken Serio
Ken Serio
Ken Serio is a session drummer from Rhode Island. A drummer since the age of 11, he moved to New York City to pursue the craft professionally, studying with Joe Morello and Kenwood Dennard, among others...
played a tribute to Cozy Powell on his highly acclaimed Through The Gate CD covering several songs from Cozy's instrumental solo albums including the Bernie Marsden
Bernie Marsden
-External links:*...
penned "El Sid" from Cozy's Over The Top album.
Band timeline (not including session work)
Text in bold indicates solo work- The Sorcerers (1967–1968)
- Youngblood (1968–1969)
- The Ace Kefford Stand (1969)
- Big Bertha (1969–1970)
- The Jeff Beck Group (1970–1972)
- Bedlam (1972–1973)
- Cozy Powell (1973–1974)
- Cozy Powell's Hammer (1974)
- Rainbow (1975–1980)
- Cozy Powell (1979)
- Graham Bonnet & the Hooligans (1980–1981)
- Cozy Powell (1981)
- Michael Schenker Group (1981–1982)
- Cozy Powell (1982–1983)
- Whitesnake (1982–1985)
- Emerson, Lake & Powell (1985–1986)
- Pete York/Cozy Powell (1987)
- Black Sabbath (1988–1991)
- The Brian May Band (1991–1992)
- Cozy Powell (1992)
- Cozy Powell's Hammer (1992–1993)
- The Brian May Band (1993–1994)
- Black Sabbath (1994–1995)
- Peter Green Splinter Group (1997)
- Tipton, Entwistle and Powell (1997)
- Yngwie Malmsteen (1997)
- The Brian May Band (1998)
- Peter Green Splinter Group (1998)
- The Snakes (1998)
Solo
- Over the Top (1979)
- TiltTilt (Cozy Powell album)Tilt is the second solo album by English drummer Cozy Powell, released in 1981.-Side one:# "The Right Side" - 3:50# "Jekyll & Hyde" - 4:38...
(1981) - OctopussOctopussOctopuss is the third solo album by English drummer Cozy Powell, released in 1983.-Side one:#"Up on the Downs" – 3:55#"633 Squadron" – 4:13#"Octopuss" – 5:35...
(1983) - The Drums Are Back (1992)
- The Best of Cozy PowellThe Best of Cozy PowellThe Best of Cozy Powell is a collection of songs from Cozy Powell's solo works.- Track listing :# Theme# Killer# Sweet Poison# The Loner# Over The Top# Cat Moves# Sunset# Hot Rock# The Blister# Up On The Downs# Formula One# Dartmoore...
(1997) - Especially for You (1999)
With The Jeff Beck Group
- Rough & ReadyRough and Ready (album)For other uses see Rough and Ready Rough and Ready is the third album by The Jeff Beck Group and the first of two by the second Jeff Beck Group. Released in 1971, it featured more of a jazz, soul and R&B edge to counter Beck's lead guitar. Beck contributed more tracks on Rough and Ready than he...
(1971) - Jeff Beck GroupJeff Beck Group (album)Jeff Beck Group is the fourth studio album by The Jeff Beck Group and the second album with the line up of Jeff Beck, Bobby Tench, Clive Chaman, Max Middleton and Cozy Powell...
(1972)
With Rainbow
- RisingRising (Rainbow album)Rising is the second hard rock/heavy metal album by Rainbow, released in 1976 . With bandleader Ritchie Blackmore retaining only Ronnie James Dio from the previous album, he recruited drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboard player Tony Carey to complete the new line-up...
(1976) - On StageOn Stage (Rainbow album)On Stage is a live album originally released by Rainbow in 1977 on Oyster - Polydor SPDLP6B . The album features a cover of a song from Blackmore's previous band Deep Purple: "Mistreated"....
(1977) - Long Live Rock 'n' RollLong Live Rock 'n' Roll-Personnel:*Ritchie Blackmore – guitars, bass*Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals*Cozy Powell – drums, percussion*David Stone – keyboards on "Gates of Babylon", "Kill the King", "The Shed". Piano outro on "L.A...
(1978) - Down to EarthDown to Earth (Rainbow album)Down To Earth is the fourth studio album released by Rainbow, released in 1979. Most of the album had been already written and recorded by the time Graham Bonnet was recruited. Also recruited were ex-Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover and keyboardist Don Airey...
(1979) - Finyl VinylFinyl VinylFinyl Vinyl is a collection of live recordings and B-sides by Rainbow and was released in 1986, after the band had already disbanded in 1984...
(1986) - Live in Germany (1990)
- Live in Munich 1977Live in Munich 1977Live in Munich 1977 is a live album and DVD released by Rainbow in 2006.The concert was recorded in Munich on October 20, 1977, originally filmed to air on the German Rockpalast TV show. Repeated airings have led to numerous bootleg video and audio tapes of the show being available through the 80's...
(2006)
With The Michael Schenker Group
- MSGMSG (album)MSG is the second album by the hard rock band Michael Schenker Group. The band was formed in 1979 by the former Scorpions and UFO guitarist Michael Schenker....
(1981) - One Night at BudokanOne Night at Budokan-1982 Original LP:All songs written by Michael Schenker and Gary Barden except where noted.-Side 1:# "Armed and Ready" - 6:20# "Cry for the Nations" - 5:32# "Attack of the Mad Axeman" - 4:50-Side 2:# "But I Want More" - 5:24# "Victim of Illusion" - 6:18...
(1982)
With Emerson, Lake & Powell
- Emerson, Lake & PowellEmerson, Lake & Powell (album)Emerson, Lake & Powell is the only studio album recorded by the ELP offshoot band of the same name. It was recorded in 1985 and released in 1986 on Polydor Records. However, two further albums comprising rehearsals and live material were subsequently issued in 2003...
(1986) - The Sprocket Sessions (2003)
- Live in Concert (2003)
With Forcefield
- Forcefield (1987)
- Forcefield II: The Talisman (1988)
- Forcefield III: To Oz and Back (1989)
- Forcefield IV: Let the Wild Run Free (1991)
- Forcefield: The Instrumentals (1992)
With Black Sabbath
- Headless CrossHeadless CrossHeadless Cross is the fourteenth album by heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1989.This is the band's second album to feature singer Tony Martin and the first to feature drummer Cozy Powell.-Album information:...
(1989) - TYR (1990)
- Forbidden (1995)
- The Sabbath StonesThe Sabbath Stones (album)The Sabbath Stones was the last album to be released by Black Sabbath with IRS Records.The album is a compilation of Sabbath tracks ranging from 1983's Born Again to 1995's Forbidden, and was never formally released in the US or Canada....
(1996)
With Brian May
- Back to the LightBack to the LightBack to the Light is the first solo effort of Queen's guitarist Brian May and his second non-Queen album. It was recorded between 1988 and 1992 at the Allerton Hill Studios, mixed at the Metropolis Studios and then released on September 28, 1992 in the UK...
(1993) - Live at the Brixton AcademyLive at the Brixton Academy (Brian May album)Live at the Brixton Academy is a recording of The Brian May Band's first show in London on June 15 1993. The album was released on CD, LP and VHS in 1994, and remains the group's only release as a collective....
(1994) - Another WorldAnother World (Brian May album)Another World is the second full studio album delivered by Queen guitarist, Brian May. Recorded at his home studio after the completion of the last Queen album, Made in Heaven, the album was released in the UK on 1 June 1998 and on 15 September of that year in the US. The album itself started life...
(1998) - Red SpecialRed Special (album)Red Special is a mini album released by Queen guitarist, Brian May. It contains live tracks recorded at the European part of his Another World tour, edits from tracks taken from the Another World album and B-sides...
(1998)
Guest appearances and sessions
- Ed WelchEd WelchEdward William "Ed" Welch is an English television composer.-Career:In 1971, he recorded an album, Clowns, including songs he had co-written with Tom Paxton, and session musicians including Mike de Albuquerque and Cozy Powell. In 1972, acted as producer on a version of “I Don't Know How to Love...
– Clowns (1971) - Harvey AndrewsHarvey AndrewsHarvey John Andrews is an English singer, songwriter, and poet.-Career:From 1964, Andrews supported his nascent career as a singer/songwriter by working as a schoolteacher, before becoming a full-time professional musician in 1966.Harvey Andrews has produced 17 successful albums singing his own...
– A Writer of Songs (1972) - Julie FelixJulie FelixJulie Ann Felix is a folk rock recording artist, who was notably produced by Mickie Most on his RAK Records label.-Career:...
– Clotho's Web (1972) - DonovanDonovanDonovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
– Cosmic WheelsCosmic WheelsCosmic Wheels is the tenth studio album, and eleventh album overall, from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in both the UK and the US in March 1973.- History :...
(1973) - Chick ChurchillChick ChurchillChick Churchill is the keyboard player of the British late 1960s to 70s rock band, Ten Years After.-Career:...
– You and Me (1973) - Murray HeadMurray HeadMurray Seafield Saint-George Head is a British actor and singer, most recognised for his international hit songs "Superstar" and "One Night in Bangkok" and his album Say It Ain't So...
– Nigel LivedNigel LivedNigel Lived is the debut album by British singer and actor Murray Head. It was released in 1973 on CBS Records.-Track listing:#"Pacing On the Station" - 4:55#"Big City" - 3:29#"Bed & Breakfast" - 2:28#"The Party" - 3:13#"Ruthie" - 3:19...
(1973) - Tony AshtonTony AshtonTony Ashton was an English rock pianist, keyboardist, singer, composer, producer and artist.-Biography:...
and Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
– First of the Big BandsFirst of the Big BandsFirst of the Big Bands is a studio album by Tony Ashton of Ashton, Gardner & Dyke and Jon Lord of Deep Purple, released in April 1974 by Purple Records. The project was Ashton's and Lord's brainchild and continuation of their working relationship after Ashton Gardner & Dyke helped out on Jon Lord's...
(1974) - Bob Sargeant – The First Starring Role (1974)
- Peter SarstedtPeter SarstedtPeter Eardley Sarstedt is an Anglo-Indian singer-songwriter.-Career:Sarstedt was born in India and attended Victoria Boys' School in Kurseong, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. His family relocated to England in 1954...
– Every Word You Say (1975) - Various – Peter & The Wolf (1976)
- Hot Chocolate – Fourteen Greatest HitsFourteen Greatest HitsHank Williams Jr. Fourteen Greatest Hits is an album by American country music singer and songwriter Hank Williams, Jr.. The album was issued by Polydor Records as number MG-1-5020.-Side One:# Eleven Roses# Cajun Baby# All For the Love of Sunshine...
(1976) - Bernie MarsdenBernie Marsden-External links:*...
– And About Time Too (1979) - Bernie Marsden – Look at Me Now (1981)
- Graham BonnetGraham BonnetGraham Bonnet is an English rock vocalist, and songwriter. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist, and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri.-Early days:Bonnet was born in Skegness in 1947...
– Line-UpLine-Up (album)Line-Up is the third album released by English singer, Graham Bonnet, formerly of Rainbow.-Side one:#"Night Games" – 4:38 #"S.O.S" – 3:12 #"I'm a Lover" – 3:46...
(1981) - Jon Lord – Before I ForgetBefore I Forget (album)Before I Forget is a 1982 album by Jon Lord, featuring a largely conventional eight-song line-up, no orchestra. The bulk of the songs are either mainstream rock tracks or, specifically on Side Two, a series of very English classical piano ballads sung by mother and daughter duo, Vicki Brown and...
(1982) - Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
– Pictures at ElevenPictures at ElevenPictures at Eleven is the debut solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, released in 1982. Genesis drummer Phil Collins played drums for six of the album's eight songs...
(1982) - PhenomenaPhenomena (band)Phenomena is a rock concept around a supergroup formed by record producer Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Tony Martin and John Wetton amongst...
– Phenomena (1985) - Roger DaltreyRoger DaltreyRoger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
– Under a Raging MoonUnder a Raging MoonUnder a Raging Moon is Roger Daltrey's sixth solo album issued in September, 1985, which includes several drummers' tributes to Keith Moon, former drummer of The Who who died in 1978. The album reached number 42 on the U.S. charts, and the single "After the Fire" written by Pete Townshend reached...
(1985) - Boys Don't CryBoys Don't Cry (band)Boys Don't Cry are a British pop/rock band known for the hit single "I Wanna Be a Cowboy", which peaked at #12 on the Hot 100 in 1986 and charted around the world...
– Who the Am Dam (1987) - Sanne SalomonsenSanne SalomonsenSanne Salomonsen is a notable Danish singer. She has been performing since 1975, and various songs by her band Sneakers were on the charts continuously from 1979 to 1985...
– Sanne SalomonsenSanne SalomonsenSanne Salomonsen is a notable Danish singer. She has been performing since 1975, and various songs by her band Sneakers were on the charts continuously from 1979 to 1985...
(1987) - WarlockWarlock (band)Warlock was a German heavy metal band, assembled in 1982. The band gained some commercial success in the mid 1980s. By the end of the decade, singer Doro Pesch was the sole original member who remained in the band, and thus proceeded to form Doro, a band that was essentially a continuation of...
– Triumph and AgonyTriumph and AgonyTriumph and Agony is the fourth album by German heavy metal band Warlock, released on 5 September 1987.The album was the follow-up to the 1986 band's first successful album out of Europe, True as Steel....
(1987) - Pete YorkPete YorkPete York is a rock drummer who has been performing since the 1960s.-Early life:...
– Super Drumming (1987) - CinderellaCinderella (band)Cinderella is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. They were famous for being a glam metal band, but then shifted over towards a more hard...
– Long Cold WinterLong Cold WinterLong Cold Winter is Cinderella's second studio album, released in 1988 through Mercury Records. It reached #10 in the US and became double-platinum for shipping 2 million copies in the US by the end of the year, just as their debut album Night Songs had done earlier. It was later certified triple...
(1988) - James Darby – Southern Region Breakdown (1988)
- Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
– K2: Tales of Triumph and Tragedy (1988) - Gary MooreGary MooreRobert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
– After the War (1989) - Minute By MinuteMinute by MinuteMinute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1978. The album contains their biggest hit, the Grammy-winning "What a Fool Believes". "Depending on You" and the title track were also released as singles...
– Timewatch (1989) - Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
– The Connoisseur Collection Vol II (1991) - Various – The Music of Jimi Hendrix (1995)
- Glenn TiptonGlenn TiptonGlenn Tipton is one of the Grammy Award-winning guitarists for the heavy metal band Judas Priest...
– Baptizm of FireBaptizm Of FireBaptizm of Fire is a solo album by Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton in 1997. It was recorded and mixed at Devonshire and Ocean Studios, U.S.A. and Monnow Valley, Battery, Olympic and The Gazebo Studio, U.K...
(1997) - Peter Green Splinter GroupPeter Green Splinter GroupThe Peter Green Splinter Group were a band led by the blues guitarist and singer, Peter Green.Green was the leader of Fleetwood Mac until he suffered a mental breakdown during the 1970s. He was rehabilitated with the aid of Nigel Watson, the late Cozy Powell and other friends, and then began...
– Peter Green Splinter GroupPeter Green Splinter Group (album)Peter Green Splinter Group is an album by the British blues band of the same name, led by Peter Green. Released in 1997, this was their first album, and essentially the comeback album for Green, who had been out of the music business for around 10 years...
(1997) - S.A.S. Band – SAS Band (1997)
- Yngwie Malmsteen – Facing the AnimalFacing the AnimalFacing the Animal is the ninth studio album by guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, released in 1997 through Spitfire Records. Although credited to Malmsteen, "Air on a Theme" is an arrangement of the second movement of Antonio Vivaldi's "Piccolo Concerto in C Major ", whilst "Braveheart" contains a riff...
(1997) - Colin BlunstoneColin BlunstoneColin Blunstone is an English pop singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group The Zombies, and for his participation on various albums with The Alan Parsons Project.-Biography:...
– The Light Inside (1998) - Tony Martin – Scream (2005)
- TiptonGlenn TiptonGlenn Tipton is one of the Grammy Award-winning guitarists for the heavy metal band Judas Priest...
, EntwistleJohn EntwistleJohn Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
& Powell – Edge of the WorldEdge of the WorldEdge of the World is an album created by Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, The Who bassist John Entwistle, and renowned drummer Cozy Powell. Consisting of tracks that were not released on Baptizm of Fire, Tipton released the album on March 7, 2006 in memory of the late Entwistle and Powell...
(2006)