Cozy Powell (real name is Colin Trevor Flux) is a British drummer. He was born in a small town called Cirencester (Gloucestershire county) in 1947, on December 29.
early years
Cozy Powell's biography as a musician began as part of the school orchestra. There he played the drums. His first group was called Corals. She performed weekly on the stage of the youth club. Already at the age of 15, our hero could play fantastic drum solos. He received the nickname "Cozy" because of the analogies with the famous jazz drummer.
Then the musician was a member of the semi-professional vocal group The Sorcerers. Moving, however, adversely affected the young man's academic performance, and he was expelled from college. He took up office work. He thus wanted to make money on a drum kit from Premier.
Creation
The Sorcerers played in the 60s in German clubs. In 1968 they returned to Britain. Settled in Birmingham. Cozy Powell (Cozy Powell) made friends with musicians: Tony Iommi - guitarist, Dave Pegg - bassist, Noddy Holder - vocalist of Slade, John Bonham, Robert Plant. The Sorcerers were renamed Youngblood and recorded several singles between 1968 and 1969. The band then contacted vocalist and bassist Ace Kefford. Together with him, the Ace Kefford Band was formed.
Powell took up the session work. Then with members of The Sorcerers Dennis and Dave Ball, Big Bertha was formed. Cozy Powell is a drummer who has collaborated with The Jeff Beck Group since 1970. After creating two albums, the group broke up. In 1972, he began to play again with the Ball brothers, and the Bedlam team was created in collaboration with Frank Ayello. The self-titled album was recorded at a studio called Chrysalis Records. Also engaged in additional work.
Powell soon began collaborating with many RAK artists. At this time, the owner of the company convinced the musician to create a solo single. A song called Dance With the Devil turned into a hit and reached third place on the English chart. The track prompted many teenagers to take up the drums. In 1974, our hero created the Cozy Powell's Hammer project. In particular, it included Bernie Marsden, Don Airy.
The musician was also interested in high-speed cars and motorcycles. For several months he was a racer for Hitachi. In 1975, Rainmore Blackmore fired Gary Driscoll, so he was looking for a replacement. He wanted to find not just a technically competent musician, but a true master. Of the 13 candidates listened, Blackmore did not accept a single one. Already almost desperate to find a worthy candidate, he remembered about our hero, whom he saw at the last concert with the Jeff Beck Group in 1972. Powell was invited to audition. They accepted him right away.
In 1980, when Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham died, Cozy was considered a possible replacement. However, he refused the offer, noting that the place of John Bonham can belong only to him and to no one else. For Powell, a positive response to this proposal would mean a betrayal of the memory of the mentor and friend. Our hero took part in the Record Breakers show on the BBC. There he set a world record and was recognized as the fastest drummer playing live on television.
In 1980, on August 16, Rainbow first became the headliner of the Monsters of Rock festival, which took place in Castle Donington. In the wake of success, Colin Trevor Flux left the band with Graham Bonnet to found Graham Bonnet & the Hooligans. The most remarkable single of this project was Night Games. Then our hero performed with a number of groups. It is noteworthy that Greg Lake and Keith Emerson initially planned only to record the album. Having tried many drummers, they opted for Cozy.
The work went so well that it was decided to form a trio, and then go on a tour. The style of music for the drummer was not quite familiar, but he showed a phenomenal game and real skill.
One of his most famous projects can be considered creativity in a group called Black Sabbath. In 1992-1993, the musician performed with a group that used the name Cozy Powell's Hammer.
Death
Cozy Powell died in a car accident on the M4 highway in 1998, on April 5. The catastrophe occurred near Bristol. He controlled the Saab 9000. The weather was bad, and the musician was simultaneously talking on a cell phone with a girlfriend. The level of alcohol in his blood exceeded the permitted norm. Eyewitness to the accident, policeman Ian Carter noted that the SAAB 9000 Turbo lost control, crashed into a barrier, appeared on the oncoming lane, rolled over several times and fell on the side of the road, standing on the roof.
The investigation revealed that Powell's car was faulty. It is assumed that during the trip the wheel burst, making an attempt to take the car off the track, the driver was distracted, which cost him his life. After the accident, the musician was taken to Frenchay - Bristol hospital. He died there after 4 hours, never regaining consciousness. Cozy lived in Lambourne at that time and headed to the studio to record a composition with Peter Green, the creator of Fleetwood Mac. By that time, he was working on the release of at least 66 albums!
The solo record of the musician was originally supposed to be named Twin Oak. She went out posthumously. The album was finalized and compiled by Powell's colleagues, it was called Especially For You. The farewell ceremony took place in the town of Wiltshire, in the crematorium in 1998, on April 18. The priest performed the psalms. Frank Ayello, Colin Trevor Flux's Bedlam counterpart, sang along with him. The service ended with the performance of The Beatles' Let It Be song. An investigation has begun on the fact of the tragic death of the musician. In August 1998, Bristol judge Paul Forrest closed the case and declared the accident and its terrible consequences an accident.
Team participation
Cozy Powell from 1967 to 1968 played in the band The Sorcerers. From 1968 to 1969 he participated in Youngblood. In 1969, the musician joined The Ace Kefford Stand. Between 1969 and 1970, he collaborated with Big Bertha. In 1970-1972 worked as part of The Jeff Beck Group. In the years 1972-1973. played in bedlam. In the years 1973-1974 he worked on the Cozy Powell project.
Equipment
Cozy Powell in 1977-1978, while collaborating with Rainbow, used the Ludwig drum kit . It was complemented by a design of red sparks. He also had two 26-inch bass drums. He used plates from Paiste. He played on a metal symphonic snare drum. Managed the chopsticks Ludwig 35.
Selected Discography
Cozy Powell in 1971 participated in the recording of the albums Rough & Ready and Clowns. In 1972, the works of Jeff Beck Group, A Writer of Songs, Clotho's Web. In 1973 he took part in the recording of Cosmic Wheels, Bedlam, You and Me, Nigel Lived records. In 1974, the album First of the Big Bands was released . In 1975, our hero participated in the recording of the albums Peter & The Wolf, Every Word You Say, The First Starring Role.
Interesting Facts
- There is a version that the musician grew up in a foster family.
- As a musician, he first went to Germany at the age of 16. According to local laws, he did not have the right to work there.
- All his life this man has been the initiator of a huge number of unusual practical jokes.