British drummer Cosie Powell: biography, creativity and interesting facts

Kozi Powell (real name - Colin Trevor Flux) is a British musician-drummer. He was born in a small town called Cirencester (Gloucestershire) in 1947, on December 29th.

early years

Biography of Cosie Powell as a musician began in the school orchestra. There he played drums. His first band was called Corals. She performed on the stage of the youth club every week. Already at the age of 15 our hero could play fantastic drum solos. The nickname "Kozi" he received because of analogies with the famous jazz drummer.

Then the musician was a member of the semiprofessional vocal group The Sorcerers. Moves, however, adversely affected the progress of the young man, and he was expelled from college. Took up office work. He wanted to earn money from the Premier drum kit.

Creation

The Sorcerers played in the 60s in German clubs. In 1968 they returned to Britain. They settled in Birmingham. Cozy Powell made friends with musicians: Tony Iommi - guitarist, Dave Pegg - bass player, Noddy Holder - Slade vocalist, John Bonham, Robert Plant. The Sorcerers were renamed Youngblood and recorded several singles between 1968 and 1969. Then the band contacted the vocalist and bassist Ace Keford. Together with him was formed the group Ace Kefford Band.

Powell took up the session work. Then, with the members of The Sorcerers Dennis and Dave Ball, the Big Bertha band was created. Kozi Powell is a drummer who since 1970 has worked with the band The Jeff Beck Group. After the two albums were created, the band broke up. In 1972, he again began to play with the Boll brothers, and in collaboration with Frank Ayello the Bedlam was created. The self-titled album was recorded at a studio called Chrysalis Records. I was also engaged in additional work.

Soon Powell began collaborating with many artists who recorded on RAK. At this time, the owner of the company convinced the musician to create a solo single. The song called Dance With the Devil turned into a hit and reached the third place in the English chart. The track prompted a lot of teenagers to take up the drums. In 1974, our hero created the project Cozy Powell's Hammer. It included, in particular, Barney Marsden, Don Airy.

The musician was also fond of high-speed cars and motorcycles. For several months he was a participant in the race for Hitachi. In 1975, Blackmore of Rainbow sacked Gary Driscoll, so he was looking for a replacement. He wanted to find not just a musician, literate technically, but a true master. Of the 13 candidates heard, Blackmore did not host any. Already almost desperate to find a worthy candidate, he remembered about our hero, whom he saw at the last concert with Jeff Beck Group in 1972. Powell was invited to audition. Immediately it was accepted.

In 1980, when the drummer of the band Led Zeppelin John Bonham died, Kozi was seen as a possible replacement. However, he himself declined the offer, noting that the place of John Bonem can belong only to him and no one else. For Powell, a positive response to this proposal would mean betrayal of the mentor and friend's memory. 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 who plays live on television.

In 1980, August 16, Rainbow became the headliner of the Monsters of Rock festival for the first time, which was held in Castle Donington. On a wave of success, Colin Trevor Flux left the band with Graeme Bonnet to start Graham Bonnet & the Hooligans. The most notable single of this project was Night Games. Then our hero performed with a number of bands. It is noteworthy that Greg Lake and Keith Emerson originally planned to record the album. After trying a lot of drummers, they stopped their choice at Kozi.

The work went so well that it was decided to form a trio, and then go on 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 is creativity in a group called Black Sabbath. In 1992-1993, the musician performed with a band that used the name Cozy Powell's Hammer.

Death

Cosie Powell died in a car accident on the M4 highway in 1998, on April 5. The catastrophe occurred near Bristol. He ran the Saab 9000. The weather was bad, and the musician was simultaneously talking on his mobile phone with his girlfriend. The alcohol level in his blood exceeded the permitted norm. An eyewitness of the accident of the policeman Ian Carter noted that the SAAB 9000 Turbo lost control, ran into the barrier, was on the oncoming lane, turned over several times and fell to the side of the road, standing on the roof.

During the investigation it was revealed that Powell's car was defective. It is assumed that during the trip the wheel burst, making an attempt to steer the car off the road, the driver was distracted, which cost him his life. After the accident the musician was taken to Frenchay - Bristol hospital. There he died 4 hours later, without regaining consciousness. Kozi lived in Lambourne at that time and was heading to the studio to record a composition with Peter Green, the creator of the Fleetwood Mac group. By the time he worked on the release of at least 66 albums!

The solo plate of the musician originally had to get the name Twin Oak. She came out posthumously. The album was finalized and compiled by Powell's colleagues, he was named Especially For You. The farewell ceremony was held in the town of Wiltshire, in the crematorium in 1998, on April 18. The priest performed psalms. Sang along to Frank Aiello, Colin Trevor Flux's colleague on Bedlam. The service ended with the song Let It Be by The Beatles. On the fact of the tragic death of the musician, an investigation began. In August 1998, Bristol Judge Paul Forrest closed the case and found the accident an accident and its terrible consequences.

Participation in teams

Kozi Powell from 1967 to 1968 played in the band The Sorcerers. From 1968 to 1969 he took part in Youngblood. In 1969, the musician joined The Ace Kefford Stand. Between 1969 and 1970, he worked with Big Bertha. In the years 1970-1972. He worked in The Jeff Beck Group. In the years 1972-1973. Played in Bedlam. In 1973-1974 he worked on the project Cozy Powell.

Equipment

Kozi Powell in 1977-1978, during the collaboration with Rainbow, used the Ludwig drum set . It was complemented by the design of red sparks. Also at his disposal were two 26-inch bass drums. He used the plates from Paiste. He played on a metal symphonic small drum. Managed chopsticks Ludwig 35.

Selected discography

Kozi Powell in 1971 took part in recording 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 the plates Cosmic Wheels, Bedlam, You and Me, Nigel Lived. In 1974, the album First of the Big Bands was released . In 1975, our hero participated in recording 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 had no right to work there.
• All his life this man was the initiator of a huge number of unusual rallies.