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Cozy Powell A Tribute to Cozy Powell 29 December 1947 - 5 April 1998 Introduction - Death Reports - In Memorian - Interviews - Quotes - Photos - Links More Vintage Interviews CRASH, BANG, WALLOP, POWell - Over The Rainbow With Cozy Powell Interviews Joe: Ritchie Blackmore was very desperate for a drummer when you auditioned. Cozy: Yes, I was number 80, or 77 or something like that I've heard some funny stories about Ritchie being difficult with drummers Apparently this one guy came along, set the drum kit up, looked the part, got his suitcase out and changed next to the kit with this all black kind of outfit and black gloves Eventually gets up and says he's ready and Ritchie says 'Get rid of him' This poor guy doesn't even play a note I remember that audition I got a phonecall on the Wednesday night from my tour manager and got the plane to L.A in the morning Off the plane, check into the hotel and straight down to the audition, no time no nothing and a kit I've never even seen before There were about 100 people in this sound stage looking at me like a golden boy they've just flown over from England at great expense The first thing he said to me was 'Can you play a shuffle?' How about this and BANG! started playing this shuffle and 20 minutes later 'You've got the job'. Joe: Rainbow Rising is considered by fans a classic rock album. Cozy: I think it's probably one of the best albums I've done, in retrospect There were 2 or 3 tracks on there that were really outstanding which summed up the music at the time, just when heavy rock was really coming into its own It featured the drums fairly heavily I had to work out all these little things that have been copied to death since and I'm very proud of it We did it every quickly, in Munich Most of those tracks were done in 2 or 3 takes 'A Light In The Black' was done in one take, you could not simply play that track again It was done in the days before you started editing We worked out how to do it and went into rehearsals and I said to Ritchie I'm going for this, so don't worry about the guitar we can put that on afterwards but let's get the track right. Joe: Have you kept in touch with the musicians like Tony Carey? Cozy: No The last time I saw Tony was when he and his suitcases were walking out of the chateau after we tried to brick him in his room Tony was unfortunately part of the darker side of Rainbow which if Ritchie didn't like anyone in the band he would do terrible practical jokes to and he hated keyboard players We did some awful things to Tony Carey There's a track called 'L.A Connection' (from Long Live Rock'n'Roll), if you listen to the lyrics, it's about Tony Carey leaving the chateau where we were recording We made his life a misery to be honest Last time we saw him he was getting a cab to go to the airport to get back to L.A He was a very good keyboard player and liked him up to a point, he was a little bit cocky If you get like that with Ritchie that was it, you were shot down in flames. Joe: Your last gig with Rainbow was Donnington 1980. Cozy: I think I blew up Judas Priest's gear I was running tests on explosions I wanted to be felt by the people at the back and we used gelignite It blew the P.A up Then Graham Bonnet forgot the lyrics to 'Stargazer', and most of the other tracks, most of the time actually Joe: You've been in a lot of bands Have you ever left any after a massive argument? Cozy: No I left Rainbow after 5 years, it'd kind of run its course I didn't think that Ritchie was believing in the band any more Although they had success after I left, I didn't think Ritchie was playing any way like he could of done. Joe: Is there anyone you specifically would or would not work with given an offer? Cozy: Of course, I would look at any offer, being a drummer you have to I personally don't have a problem with anyone I've ever worked with, except perhaps Ronnie Dio, but Blackmore, Coverdale, we had a lot of fun, a lot of good times together Maybe something could happen again I would never rule it out I'm an optimist, I always feel I can improve a situation if I join it You never know It's maybe quite good in a way to not know what your future is Sometimes in this business it's all a bit too predictable. Interview by Joe Geesin in 1996 - To read the full interview click here  |