Rock & Metal

Brian May Honors Late Friend Cozy Powell: ‘My Greatest Believer And Support’

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On what would have been Cozy Powell’s 77th birthday, Brian May paid tribute to his late friend and musical partner by sharing a clip from their iconic live performance of Resurrection on Instagram.

In the post, May wrote, “Cozy was undoubtedly one of the true pioneers of rock drumming. His commanding presence behind the kit inspired countless drummers who came after him. During a time when I was struggling to find my way after losing Freddie, my father, and my marriage, Cozy became my greatest supporter and belief. Collaborating with him, particularly on Resurrection, remains one of the most meaningful and proud moments of my life.”

May went on to reflect on Powell’s tragic death, adding, “His loss in that car accident in 1998 is something that still feels impossible to fully accept. Rock on, my dear friend, forever. Special thanks to @iswearshesvintage for bringing this rare footage back to life.”

Powell, who joined May’s solo band in the early ’90s, played drums on several tracks from Back to the Light, including Resurrection. Tragically, he passed away in a car crash on the M4 motorway near Bristol, England, during the recording of May’s second solo album, Another World.

“I lost Cozy, and that was a devastating blow,” May later shared with Rolling Stone UK. “He was my closest collaborator on Resurrection, which might be my favorite song of all time. We were in the middle of recording the second album when I received the awful news that Cozy had passed away in a crash.”

After Powell’s death, Taylor Hawkins stepped in to play drums on Cyborg, while Steve Ferrone played on the title track of Another World. Despite his absence, Powell’s influence remained throughout the album, with his drumming still heard on tracks like Business, China Belle, Slow Down, and All the Way From Memphis.

I'm Emma. I Love rock music, doing guitar reviews, and making food. I love writing works because it is the best way to provide information to people.

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