OT: RIP Lee Kerslake, Drummer for Ozzy Osbourne & Uriah Heep
Lee Kerslake passed from prostate cancer at 73 on Saturday 9/19. [Variety obit] He was a drummer and backup vocalist for Uriah Heep and played on Ozzy's albums Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman.
The opening on Over the Mountain is just nuts.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:09 PM ^
The live version of Over the Mountain with Lee Kerslake is one of my all time live Ozzy favorites. RIP my good dude. They still play it on the Bone Yard on XM from time to time. Didn't get see the band until 1986 at Pine Knob after he was replaced, but will always be grateful for Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a Madman.
September 22nd, 2020 at 2:45 AM ^
Ozzy had gained a lot of wait before that tour. I remember the fat Ozzy.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:18 PM ^
Thanks for posting this, I hadn't seen anything until now on his death. RIP, Mr. Kerslake.
And though I didn't immediately recognize his name, I still do have the vinyl LP Demons and Wizards and I used to own the 8-tracks Look At Yourself and The Magicians Birthday, so I was a bit of a fan.
That song Easy Living brings back high school memories!
September 22nd, 2020 at 3:05 AM ^
I was only in the 4th grade but remember the songs were played a lot on CKLW 800 AM and the new WRIF FM rock station.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:33 PM ^
Over the Mountain rocks.
When Ozzy goes it's going to be a big deal. He is an icon.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:35 PM ^
A couple more.
September 21st, 2020 at 6:42 PM ^
Lol, you beat me to it!
September 21st, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
I flicked my Bic for a Uriah Heep encore, and here it is:
...Stealin (When I Should Have Been Buyin')
(edit: 2nd encore, for the bird lovers):
September 21st, 2020 at 7:41 PM ^
Sad. That was a great lineup behind Ozzy.
September 21st, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
Was just listening to Easy Living yesterday on a long trip. Weird - have not thought much about Uriah Heep since the 70’s. Life is a short ride.
September 22nd, 2020 at 2:39 AM ^
If there is an upstairs he is probably jamin with Rhoads.
September 22nd, 2020 at 2:55 AM ^
My favorite song on the Blizzard of OZ was "I don't Know". Rhoads played a killer lead guitar live.
You can see Lee drumming away as well. Once again it was a fat Ozzy concert.
September 22nd, 2020 at 3:11 PM ^
Glad to see Ozzy finally acknowledged Lee's contributions to the band's first 2 albums by giving him platinum record awards before he died. Lee and bass player Bob Daisley got into a famous contract dispute with Ozzy and Sharon took offense. At one point their drum and bass parts were re-recorded by other guys and were the only versions available for a few years. Sharon can be quite nasty like her dad Don Arden was.
September 22nd, 2020 at 7:09 PM ^
That's sad news. Diary of a madman is an all time great album. It kicks ass from start to finish. RIP Lee.