Denny Ball long time friend and band mate of Cozy Powell, shares a story for us from the past.

During the late 60's Cozy lived with the Ball family in a large house in a town near Birmingham called Sutton Coldfield. Endless days were spent at the house jamming, rehearsing, chasing girls and generally 'having a laugh'. This is just one of the many stories involving C.P.

Two Army Squaddies had just passed the “Boot Inn” pub and were heading down Rectory Road towards Sutton Coldfield town centre. They looked very smart in their new uniforms, with their boots gleaming in the evening sun. They swung their arms proudly as they demonstrated the skills gained from the parade-ground. They must have heard the snare drum from about 200 metres away. As they walked, the drum kept up with them. When they stopped, the drum stopped. When they tried walking forward again, the drum relentlessly marched them on.  They tried to walk slowly, but the drum slowed with them. They stopped and scoured the leafy gardens of this popular suburb. Another couple of tentative steps, more drums. Finally, and in good humour, they decided to march on, and with military precision, completed an “eyes right” as they saluted the spot where the mischievous young drummer was hiding. From the hedgerow at the front of the house, Cozy Powell  wrestled his snare drum out from amongst the holly and bracken, and with his endearing chuckle gave a luxurious bow to those of us who were giggling from behind the curtains in the living room. Cozy felt very much at home at that house.  He shared the house with me,  my folks and my two brothers. Amongst the visitors to that house were Ace Kefford, Roy Wood, Carl Wayne, Robert Plant, Tony Iommi, Geeza Butler, Clem Clempson, Dave Pegg, Tony Secunda, Steve Gibbons, John Bonham, Cozy's future wife Madeline, several other young women, Pete French, Frank Aiello and a who's who of the local Birmingham bands!  The house vibrated with a symphonic chaos during those formative years, as the Ball brothers and our “adopted” kin gave birth to our musical credentials.

Cozy lived and breathed the business of being a drummer. He had spells with The Sorcerors, Young Blood, The Ace Kefford Stand, and Big Bertha.

Eventually we moved out, (much to the relief of my long suffering parents) and went to London. 

Denny Ball