The Best of Cozy Powell

Cozy is such a sad loss but rarely is his music played on the airwaves now. Something should be done so we here his wonderful artwork more often. I cannot believe it is nearly 14 years since his passing.

In 1981, I nearly died as a victim of a ‘Hit-and-Run’ Road Traffic Accident, whilst riding a motorcyclewith ‘L-plates’. After coming out of hospital I decided the write to the fan-club of Cozy’s, one of my musical heros, who I knew to be a keen motorcyclist. I told him that I would never ride a motorcycle again, because of the idiots driving cars on our roads. He told me that he could not imagine giving up riding bikes, or driving cars.
I asked him who, in his opinion, was the Second Best Drummer? I have to admit that I was almost expecting his answer, when he told me “I’d like to think it was me. John Bonham was the Greatest Drummer who ever lived, I’ll never be as good as him, but I’d like to think I was second to him.” Or words to that effect, it was a long time ago – 1982, I think.
He also told me that, in his opinion, the best Guitarist he had worked with was Jeff Beck; the best BassPlayer was Neil Murray; the best Keyboard player was Don Airey and his favourite singer was Graham Bonnet, who left Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow at the same time.
I miss his talent, at the drums. Although I thought him the greatest drummer I had ever listened to, I feel I have to bough to his greater knowledge of the instrument, to say I miss him as one of the two greatest drummers I ever heard.