Cozy Powell | |
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Cozy Powell in 1990, as a member of Black Sabbath.
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Background information | |
Birth name | Colin Trevor Powell |
Born |
Cirencester, England, UK |
29 December 1947
Died | 5 April 1998 Bristol, England, UK |
(aged 50)
Genres | Hard rock, blues-rock, progressive rock, instrumental rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
Instruments | Drums, percussion |
Years active | 1968–1998 |
Labels | Polydor |
Associated acts | Bedlam, Cozy Powell's Hammer, The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, MSG, Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake & Powell, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, The Brian May Band, Robert Plant, Suzi Quatro, Peter Green Splinter Group, Thin Lizzy, various others |
Website | www |
Colin Trevor "Cozy" Powell (29 December 1947 – 5 April 1998) was an English rock drummer, who made his name with many major rock bands and artists like The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Robert Plant, Brian May, Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake, and Powell, and Black Sabbath.
Powell had appeared on at least 66 albums, with contributions on many other recordings. Many rock drummers have cited him as a major influence.
Cozy Powell was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and was adopted. He never met his birth parents. He 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 Powell 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.
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 to finance the purchase of his first set of Premier 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 Tony Iommi. The Sorcerers now became Young Blood, and a series of singles were released in late 1968–69. The group then linked up with The Move's bassist/singer Ace Kefford to form The Ace Kefford Stand. Five recorded tracks are available on the Ace Kefford album 'Ace The Face' released by Sanctuary Records in 2003. Powell also began session work. Powell with fellow Sorcerers Dave and Denny Ball formed Big Bertha.