Like Jon Lord once said, "playing with Cozy
Powell is like a kick in the ass for every musician". He has played
in almost every hard rock veteran band!! He was one of my earliest influences
(along with Ginger Baker) in choosing drums as my favourite instrument.
Cozy was born Colin Powell in Cirencester, on December 29, 1947. Be prepared to read his bio and his sessions list. It's endless, and I'm sure I miss LOTS of his albums (especially his work as sessionman for Mickie Most's Rak label)! But he deserved to spend time (literally months, I swear it!) in researching about him. I would have loved that Cozy had watched these pages I had written devoted to him, but it couldn't happen. :(
I must note that apart from his love for music, he had another hobby, speed. He was a Formula Three racer, and we can read in his Tilt album inner sleeve the following sentence: "Forza Ferrari!".
His first known band was The Sorcerers. They formed around 1965, based in his hometown, Cirencester, and they lasted until April 1968, commanded by Pete Ball (he has two other brothers musicians: bassist Denny Ball & guitarist Dave Ball, both will covered here too). Don't know the first lineups, but it was Pete who had met up with Cozy Powell in Germany in 1967, and hired him to play in the Sorcerors.
During two months, from February 1968 to April 1968, Cozy joined this band.
A couple of months later, Cozy was back in The Sorcerors. Soon after, they changed their name to Youngblood.
This was the rehearsal band for things to come.
This is how it happened: The Ball brothers were all in Germany, in different bands. Dave was in “The Madding Crowd” in the north, and Pete was in “The Sorcerors” playing the same circuit as Denny in “The Mayfair Set”. Denny first met Cozy Powell on stage at a Sorcerors gig in Frankfurt. That close friendship between Cozy and the Ball family gave birth to Ideal Milk.Dave Ball (lead guitar)
Denny Ball (bass)
Cozy Powell (drums)
There are some early recordings by this trio including a BBC session, and some rehearsal tapes of the music which later formed the basis of the Bedlam album.
This was the merge of “Ideal Milk” with the ex Move star Ace Kefford.
Cozy handed his notice in to Youngblood. An interesting situation in which the Ball brothers and Cozy were all sharing the same house. Cozy was quitting Pete Ball’s band to join forces with the other Ball brothers. Fortunately, Pete Ball was very philosophical about the whole thing, and realised that Cozy was heading for a different style of playing, and that he was much more interested in a rock band.Ace Kefford (vocals)
Dave Ball (guitar)
Denny Ball (bass)
Cozy Powell (drums)
The Ace Kefford Stand started rehearsals on September 2nd 1968. The first gig by this band was at the Belfry (home of the famous golf club) on September 21st 1968. Amongst the sell out crowd were members of The Move. Robert Plant and John Bonham also gave their support.
The Stand played some college and university gigs as they waited to secure a record deal which finally came from Atlantic Records.
From early recording sessions at Polydor in London, they released a single, 'For your love / Gravy booby jamm' (Atlantic, Apr 69), being the A-side a cover of The Yardbirds. This song can also be found in 'The perfumed garden, vol.2' sampler compilation.
A second single called “This World’s an Apple” (Oct 69, Atlantic) was released under the name of “Big Bertha featuring Ace Kefford”. This was after the band had split up. This record is now a rare collector’s item!
In mid 69, Ace Kefford quits, and the rest formed a new band, Big Bertha. But meanwhile, Cozy Powell tried to form a power trio with Clem Clempson.
After Bakerloo's breakup in Summer 1969, Powell and Clempson tried to form another trio, with Dave Pegg and Cozy Powell. They played only one gig in September 1969.
In October 1969, Big Bertha emerges:
Sometime later, the singer changes:Pete French (vocals)
Dave Ball (guitar)
Denny Ball (bass)
Pete Ball (keyboards)
Cozy Powell (drums)
The band signed to United Artists and recorded four tracks. “Munich City” was released in Germany and sold well. But after weeks of inactivity, and just a handful of gigs, Cozy was approached by Jeff Beck’s management company to meet with the legendary guitarist in London.Dave McTavish (vocals)
Dave Ball (guitar)
Denny Ball (bass)
Pete Ball (keyboards)
Cozy Powell (drums)
Cozy suggested that Denny went with him to meet up with Jeff Beck. They met at the United Artists offices, and with a very eager record company managing director in tow, went on to play together as a trio at a rehearsal venue in north London.Jeff Beck (guitar)
Denny Ball (bass)
Cozy Powell (drums)
Being well rehearsed, Denny and Cozy presented a “showcase” of just bass and drums at the start of that session, after which Jeff took up the guitar and jammed for about an hour with them.
Jeff suggested that they both stay at his cottage in Kent for further rehearsals.
In April 1970, Cozy Powell finally decides staying with Jeff Beck, still without a real band, only them. He had been trying with other offers (Johnny Winter, for example).
Unfortunately, the original 3LP Isle of Wight / Atlanta Pop Festival (Sony) and the recent 2CD live album from that concert, Message to love: The Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (1995, Castle/Sony) don't include any track from that Tony Joe White performance.
In January 1971, a promoter in Germany wanted to book the now defunct Big Bertha. United Artists agreed to limited funding for the band to go over and perform. Cozy comes back to the band.
A series of gigs in north Germany were put together and at last the band who called themselves Ideal Milk went on the road as a trio. Denny and Dave somehow managed the vocals over a thunderous Cream/Hendrix type of music full of solos and awesome power.Dave Ball (guitar, vocals)
Denny Ball (bass, vocals)
Cozy Powell (drums)
During the tour a live recording was made. And, in June 1999, an album has been just released with these live tapes!!! Called Big Bertha, it contains energetic live performances by the trio.
At the end of the tour, the trio vowed to reform ‘at some juncture’ and ‘do it properly’.
Cozy Powell went back to the Jeff Beck Group, Denny Ball joined Long John Baldry, and Dave Ball joined superb band Procol Harum.
Images/scans available:
In April 1971, they form a real band:
Jeff Beck Group is produced by great guitarist Steve Cropper. It contains several covers: Stevie Wonder (Jeff Beck idol) and Bob Dylan, as well as a rendition of blues classic "Going down" (everybody plays this song: from Freddie King to The Who or Peter Green - see later, as well as Joe Satriani/Steve Vai/Eric Johnson trio). With incredible instrumentals, like "Definitely maybe" or "I can't give back the love I feel for you".
But Jeff Beck dissolves the band in July 1972, to make his dream: a power trio with Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert (of course, Beck Bogert & Appice was their name).
Images/scans available:
Next (brief) step for Cozy is joining Spirit band for a short stint when his drummer, Ed Cassidy, left them.
Cozy only stayed in the band during September and October 1972.
November 1972 and the core of Big Bertha/Ideal Milk reunites to form the ultimate band. Originally called The Beast, they changed the name to avoid confusion with another band in the States.
They released a self titled album, Bedlam. With help from old Cozy mate, Max Middleton (keyboards). Produced by the late Felix Pappalardi (Cream's producer, and bassist in Mountain), who also played keyboards. They also released a single, 'I believe in you / Whiskey and wine' (1973, Chrysalis).Frank Aiello (vocals)
Dave Ball (guitar)
Denny Ball (bass)
Cozy Powell (drums)
There are also some sessions of unreleased material which were scheduled for Bedlam II, but unfortunately, that never happened, as they split in April 74. (Please, someone should release this album!!!!!!)
There is also a CD of Bedlam from a live radio show recorded in 1974 when they were on tour with Black Sabbath. If someone has a copy of it, PLEASE write me an email message!
Images/scans available:
First Cozy band with his own name in it. Formed in May 1974, a powerful lineup, built with several former bandmates.
Cozy Powell's next adventure was put up with former companion Clem Clempson again, and Greg Ridley (from Humble Pie). They were called Strange Brew. It was July 1975.
Images/scans available:
And here it starts Cozy's more known period. Everybody knows that, Rainbow was the band that Ritchie Blackmore put together after leaving Deep Purple. With a superb vocalist, Ronnie James Dio, this band always had fantastic musicians in it.
In August 1975, Cozy joins the band:
In October 1975, new lineup:
Along the years, as it happens with Deep Purple, there has been released more live material from the band. In 1990, it was released Live in Germany, a double CD from the Rainbow 1976 European tour (On stage was recorded in the Japanese tour).
In January 1977, Jimmy Bain is fired, and Mark Clarke enters the band. Mark Clarke had a great curriculum, and has played with several other members of my Olympus (Colosseum - with Clem Clempson and Jon Hiseman, Tempest - with Allan Holdsworth, Paul Williams, Ollie Halsall and Jon Hiseman, Uriah Heep - with Ken Hensley...).
I don't know exactly when, but Daisley leaves the band (he was later in Uriah Heep), and Roger Glover enters. So, two Deep Purple members in the band now:
There is a Rainbow later release, called Finyl vinyl, which includes several live tracks. There are several lineups in the album, and Cozy Powell appears in some of the tracks.
There is an album credited to Ritchie Blackmore, called Rock Profile, volume two (Apr 1991, Connoisseur), where there are included 3 live tracks from Rainbow, when Cozy was in the band.
There's a collective album that contains live tracks
recorded in the Monsters of Rock festival from August 1980 at Castle Donington.
It includes two tracks by the Rainbow lineup with Graham Bonnet, 'Stargazer'
and 'All night long'. As far as I know, this album has never been
released on CD. Other artists appearing there: Scorpions (2 tracks), plus
1 track from April Wine, Saxon, Riot and Touch.
Images/scans available:
Around 1979, Gary Moore called Cozy to play on a TV appearance at the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' program, promoting Gary's album Back on the streets. This was the very interesting lineup:
In January 1980, Cozy asks some of his friends to back him in some BBC broadcasts. What a lineup!!!
Michael Schenker gained his reputation as the guitarist in UFO, although he was before in another great band, Scorpions. When he left UFO, he tried to form his own band (more details in my page about Denny Carmassi), but his first solo album is recorded with session musicians. After that album, he forms his live band in August 1980.
Images/scans available:
Oh, more Deep Purple links!
David Coverdale assembles a new lineup in September 1982.
There is a video from this lineup: Whitesnake commandos - Donington 1983 (1983, EMI). They played in Spain, with Meat Loaf opening the concert.
They only released an album, Slide it in. But there are two different editions of the album. The European one (released on EMI) was recorded with this lineup, but the American edition (released on Geffen) contains all the guitar parts re-released by new guitar axe John Sykes, and it seems that Colin parts were re-recorded by his replacement, Neil Murray.
In September 1983, Moody and Hodgkinson leave the band, being replaced in December 1983 by known guy Neil Murray (he was Colin's predecessor), and the guitar axe John Sykes, coming from Thin Lizzy.
Greatest hits is a compilation including some song only available as a single. The list of musicians from my Olympus appearing there is very long. Let's see: David Coverdale (vocals), Micky Moody (guitar), John Sykes (guitar), Steve Vai (guitar), Dann Huff (guitar), Neil Murray (bass), Rudy Sarzo (bass), Don Airey (keyboards), Alan Pasqua (keyboards), Cozy Powell (drums), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Denny Carmassi (drums), Tommy Aldridge (drums).
Images/scans available:
This was a strange project, assembled by Jonathan King. He tried to make the definitive heavy metal band, and contacted with several great musicians. His first choice for drums was Clive Burr (from Iron Maiden), but as he wasn't available, they contacted Cozy Powell, who had just left Whitesnake.
Yes, they are! They still were ELP, but the 'P' letter was no more Carl Palmer, but Cozy Powell!!
Greg Lake started selling an album directly from his official website. It's called From the underground: the official bootleg. It contains unreleased material (studio and live). It contains tracks with The Shame (1967), Shy Limbs (1968), King Crimson (1969), Greg Lake solo (1973), Greg Lake Band (1981, with Tommy Eyre), Asia (1983), Emerson Lake & Powell (1986), Greg Lake solo (1986), Emerson Lake & Palmer (1992 & 1993), Greg Lake Band (1994). Regarding Cozy Powell, he appears in the two tracks by Emerson Lake & Powell ('The score' and 'Learning to fly'), both recorded live at Lakeland, Florida, in 1986.
In May 1987, guitarist John Sykes starts his solo career, under the name Blue Murder. He assembles a very powerful band, reuniting his old mate Cozy from his days in Whitesnake.
In the June 1988 issue of the Spanish edition of Metal Hammer magazine, it was stated that Cozy Powell and Jack Bruce were searching for a top blues-rock guitarist in order to perform Cream-like music. What happened to the project? I don't know, as Cozy was quickly involved in his next project.
He played in the album After the war, only as a guest (along with Chris Thompson, Sam Brown, Miriam Stockley, Neil Carter, Laurence Cottle, Bob Daisley, Charlie Morgan, Don Airey, Simon Phillips as well as Ozzy Osbourne),
I don't know exactly when Cozy joined the band. When Gary's next album, After the war, was recorded, there wasn't a stable lineup, but the credits show the next lineup, who was to promote it (also appearing in the videos, such as the 'After the war' song video):
But Gary and Cozy personalities weren't easy to complement, and Cozy leaves the band after some problems between them, being substituted by another ex-Uriah Heep member, Chris Slade.
Images/scans available:
The list of great bands where Cozy stayed is incremented again. Black Sabbath is the next. He joined them around October 1988.
Images/scans available:
A great event, and it happened in Spain! I can't believe it!!!
Around 1991, there was a 5-day festival dedicated to the guitar. Every day was devoted to a certain class of music (blues, jazz, etc.). The 5th day (October 19, 1991, I think it was the date), it was called 'The night of the mad guitars', hosted by Brian May. Brian himself chose the participants, and I think this was the seed for the later Brian May band. The list of performers was just awesome: Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Walsh, etc., as well as Paul Rodgers singing some song and leading the final jam with Hendrix's anthem, 'Hey Joe'. The backing band was equally superb. I'll put the complete list as soon as I find my videotape copy of that concert. For now, these are the names I remember now:
These are some photos from that concert. Sorry, as some of them are of bad quality. Unfortunately, Cozy isn't present in these photos. :(
Images/scans available:
Cozy comes to play in first complete Brian May
solo album after the Queen forced separation, called Back to the
light, and after that, he joins Brian May band. The album contains
appearances by: Chris Thompson (vocals), Gary Tibbs (bass, from Roxy Music,
once he was in Adam and The Ants!!), John Deacon (bass, from Queen), Neil
Murray (bass), Maggie Ryder (backing vocals), Miriam Stockley (backing
vocals), Don Airey (keyboards), Mike Moran (keyboards), and Cozy Powell
(drums). There is a cover of a Small Faces
song.
So here we have that Cozy Powell reunites (again!)
at the end of 1991 with Neil Murray in this new
adventure.
There is a Japanese-only edition of a CD, called Resurrection. It includes the title song (co-written by Cozy), plus some live tracks ('Too much love will kill you', 'Back to the light'), and surprise, surprise, the whole content of the very first Brian May mini-album, under the name Star Fleet Project (with people like Eddie Van Halen), never released on CD by itself.
Brian May Band was together until 1994, until some of the members performed side projects from time to time (for example, Cozy Powell's Hammer for a brief period, as we're going to see...).
Images/scans available:
In 1992, Cozy Powell, during a brief hiatus from his then current band Black Sabbath, put together a revamped version of his old band Hammer, with this lineup:
Images/scans available:
Didn't I tell you about Black Sabbath resurrecting old lineups? OK, once again. Around October 1994, we can find the same guys together again. After new problems between Dio/Appice and Iommi/Butler, Ronnie Dio puts his own Dio band on the road again, and Tony 'The Cat' Martin comes back, along with the same musicians from 1990.
Images/scans available:
This was a project of a band with a superb lineup.
Sometime later, the Murray-Powell team joins the
great Peter Green in his comeback to
music, after almost 25 years of being wondering in and out of music. Peter,
thanks for your comeback!
Finally, Cozy Powell and Spike Edney left the band to move on to other projects.
Images/scans available:
This was a very special concert, as a part of Fender's 50th birthday celebrations. It was on 30th November 1996. The concert was dedicated to the much-missed Rory Gallagher. Peter Green played there with his Splinter Group, but I mention that here, because most of his band was 'used' as houseband for the artists to play.
The name stands for Spike's All Stars. They started
in the summer of 1994 at the Gosport festival actually only planned as
a "one-of" but it went so well they have played numerous concerts by now.
I don't know the line-up from then, the only persons I know who performed
definately the first time were Spike Edney and Chris Thompson. I think
I've heard that most of the first gigs they played in the line-up of Spike,
Neil Murray, Cozy Powell and Jamie Moses with Chris Thompson on vocals
and some other singers as well. Later the musician line-up changed to Spike
and Jamie together with John Marter and Steve Stroud. Most of the time
they have Chris Thompson on vocals. Other vocalist who feature rather frequently
are Roger Chapman, Tony Hadley and Mark Shaw. Other vocalists and musicians
who have featured (one or more times): Madeline Bell, Catherine Porter,
Kiki Dee, Jess Roden, Stevie Vann, Graham Gouldman, Haddaway, Fish, Paul
Young, Steve Lukather, Chaka Khan, Mica Paris, Tom Robinson, Paul Rodgers,
Judy Tzuke, Mike Rutherford, Phil Manzanera, Dean Friedman, the three remaining
Queen members and some more. They play mainly covers of rock and soul songs,
always depending on the singers they have for the night. The line-up is
never stable and Cozy sometimes has joined the SAS-Band in some concert.
They released an album, SAS Band,
with help from: Chris Thompson (vocals), Roger Chapman (vocals), Madeline
Bell (vocals), Tony Hadley (vocals), Kiki Dee (vocals), Jess Roden (vocals),
Roger Taylor (vocals & drums), Alan Darby (guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar),
Peter Green (guitar on 1 track), Pete
Stroud (bass), Neil Murray (bass on 1 track),
John Deacon (bass), Richard Cottle (keyboards), John Lingwood (keyboards),
Ian Anderson (flute), Charlie Morgan (drums), Cozy Powell (drums on 2 tracks),
and John Marter (drums), plus some others.
Images/scans available:
Cozy had just left Peter Green's band. He was to join Yngwie Malmsteen, but we'll never enjoy this union. When they were preparing the forthcoming tour, Cozy injured his feet in an accident, so Yngwie had to search for another drummer. His brand new live 2CD album is dedicated to Cozy, as well as the whole tour.
After several years, Brian May records a new album with his former band, with the idea of promoting it live with the same musicians. Unfortunately, Cozy's sad death broke that dream. The album, Another world, was released on June 1st.
It was six years since Brian didn't record a studio album. He plays almost every intrument in the album (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), with help from Jaime Moses (guitar, 1 track), Neil Murray (bass, 3 tracks), Ken Taylor (bass, 1 track), Spike Edney (keyboards, 1 track), Cozy Powell (drums, 4 tracks), Steve Ferrone (drums, 1 track), Taylor Hawkins (drums), Cathy Porter & Shelley Preston (backing vocals). With some surprise guests: Ian Hunter in 1 song (a cover of a Mott the Hoople song), and the great Jeff Beck playing in 1 song dedicated to him, "The Guv'nor", together along with Cozy Powell again after so many years.
Brian has written this lovely thing about Cozy:
"This album is dedicated to my Mum and to our dear friend Cozy. Life will never be the same without you"
Images/scans available:
Cozy has been recording albums along his lenghty career. We can find many former/current Cozy bandmates in his albums. In the early 70s, he released three singles as a solo artist, for Mickie Most's Rak label.
Over the top is a killer album. The complete personnel list is:
Tilt was recorded during Spring 1981, with lots of former bandmates. The complete personnel list is:
Next album was Octopuss. The complete personnel list is:
The drums are back is his 4th solo
album, with top guest musicians (as always!): Brian May (guitar), Steve
Lukather (guitar), Jamie Page (guitar), Ray Fenwick (guitar), Steve Makin
(guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), John Deacon (bass), Laurence
Cottle (bass), Neil Murray (bass), John Sinclair,
Jon Lord (keyboards), Don Airey (keyboards), Geoff Nicholls (keyboards),
etc. Produced by Cozy himself.
Along 1998, it was announced that a new album
by Cozy was to be released. Supposedly called Twin Oaks,
it would contain 11 tracks recorded shortly before the accident. But, instead,
the album has been released under the title Especially for you.
It contains 12 tracks recorded probably around 1995. Mostly written by
Cozy and Mike Casswell (who was in the first Brian May Band lineup, watch
above).
The personnel list is:
Some guests include: Sylvain (guitar), Mike Burns (keyboards), Viracocha (keyboards) and Ken Boley (keyboards). The 'special thanks' mentions one of his former bandmates and friend, Frank Aiello.John West (vocals) Mike Casswell (guitar)
Neil Murray (bass)
Lonnie Parks (keyboards)
Cozy Powell (drums)
Of course, The best of is a compilation. It contains tracks from the first 3 Cozy albums, Over the top (5 tracks), Tilt (4 tracks) and Octopuss (7 tracks). No unreleased material at all.
Images/scans available:
This was a studio-only project, where Cozy was involved. They released 4 albums, with different musicians, as well as a compilation with unreleased tracks. Great musicians in them: Tony Martin (vocals, from Black Sabbath), Ray Fenwick (guitar), Jan Akkerman (guitar, from Focus), Mo Foster (bass), Laurence Cottle (bass), Nick Magnus (keyboards, from Steve Hackett's band), etc.
Here, Forcefield was formed by:
Plus help from Chris Cozens (keyboards) and Neil Murray (bass in 1 song, the cover of Deep Purple's "Smoke on the water"). The album was recorded in June 1987, and it was produced by Ray Fenwick himself. It contains several covers of classic songs (two Cream tracks: "Sunshine of your love" and "White room", Led Zeppelin's "Whole lotta love", two tracks by The Kinks: "Set me free" and "You really got me", plus a song co-written by Denny Laine with Ray Fenwick and Pete Prescott, "Black cat".Mo Foster (bass) Nick Magnus (keyboards) Barry St. John (backing vocals)
The personnel in Forcefield II - The talisman is:
Tony Martin (vocals), Ray Fenwick (guitar), Jan Akkerman (guitar), Laurence Cottle (bass), Neil Murray (bass), Chris Cozens (keyboards), Barry St. John (backing vocals), Cozy Powell (drums).
The personnel in To Oz and Back is:
The personnel in Let the wild run free includes Graham Bonnet (vocals), Ray Fenwick (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), with guest musicians, such as old mate Bernie Marsden (guitar).
There's also a compilation simply called Instrumentals, so you can guess what you can find there. :) But there's a surprise: there are 5 'previously unreleased tracks' out of 9. With Jan Akkerman, Ray Fenwick, Bernie Marsden, Mario Parga, Don Airey and Cozy Powell.
Images/scans available:
Two tribute albums have been released in Japan:
Cozy Powell forever includes Rei Atsumi (keyboardist in Vow Wow) on most tracks, as well as Carmine Appice and Tony Franklin on a couple of songs. Also featuring Akira Takasaki (guitarist from Loudness).
Both albums have 'Kill The King', 'Stargazer' and 'Slide It In' on! But, they have been released only in Japan! :( :(
On May 1st, 1999, it was held a Cozy Powell Tribute Concert, at Buxton Opera House, in Buxton, Derbyshire. The evening was called "A night to remember...Cozy Powell".
This was a moving occasion with tributes paid by all the performers, and enhanced by some excellent music.
Denny Ball played with his own band, comprised of Pete French (vocals, Cactus, Atomic Rooster), John Idan (guitar, Yardbirds), Russell Gilbrook (drums, DeadLine) and Denny Ball (bass).
There were many notable performers including Neil Murray (playing with Tony Martin, Geoff Nicholls, Mike Casswell, and Bobby Rondinelli), Spike Edney (playing with a version of his own SAS Band: Chris Thompson, Clayton Moss, John Marter, Neil Murray, Susie Webb and Zoe Nicholas), Chris Farlowe, Tony Ashton, Darren Wharton, and many more. Brian May closed the concert after making a very moving tribute to Cozy.
I hope it was filmed, and someday we'll have the chance of watching that great event! For now, I've got permission for using a photo of Denny Ball during this concert.
Images/scans available:
Cozy:
Press here to read about Cozy Powell sessions
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