Lee Kerslake Interview - Ozzy Osbourne Drummer (2014)

[@Plowguitarist]

A percussion god, an absolute monster drummer, and a humble appreciative man. I love this guys style completely.

[@mojopin70]

I really put Lee on the same level as John Bonham. Such a wonderful player.

[@philwright2480]

One of my favorite drummers, and an early influence, I was lucky enough to see him live a couple of times with Uriah Heep and a few times with Ozzy, over the years, sometimes in my solos I have thrown in a bit of his from the live version of Gyspsy as an homage to him. I cried when he died.

[@toddmoriarty97]

RIP Lee. You did excellent work on the Diary of a Madman album. Your playing on those songs gives me goosebumps to this day. Wow. You were an inspiration and deserve SO much credit. I'm a drummer, and your playing and drums fills are the soundtrack to my life, RIP brother....

[@ThePetet67]

i have actually play with Lee , rock cafe in lanzerote , great guy great drummer

[@Stratman962]

+peter terras Me too! I played quite a bit with him over there as he was a partner in the club I worked in. He is a great guy and a true world class drummer. He has an amazing voice too btw ..... \,,/

[@ThePetet67]

Ah cool .. which club was that mate

[@misfit2022]

Over the Mountain intro has shades of Bonham but the beautiful phrasing makes it its own fill but it’s that triplet pattern. Also when asked who his main influence was he replied John Bonham so like many of us we follow the Bonham trail. Lee played in an era of great drummers and was never out of work. That is the sign of a great drummer. He also just happened to play on 2 absolute classic rock albums and play well especially on Madman which has far more going on such as the lovely languid feel behind Flying High Again and then he steps up the tempo playing on every quarter note and ending with another beautiful triplet fill before going back into verse. There is another great fill where he plays a single stroke roll as 16th notes and rolls into 32nd notes Stunning. It is the sort of song you definitely want to have spent time learning as it has everything for a drummer and then couple this with what the other musicians are doing and you’ve got perfection and for years we were led to believe it was Tommy Aldridge. Now Tommy Aldridge is a great drummer but he didn’t play on that album. For me Madman is Lee Kerslake’s legacy but he also had a sideline fast shuffles which are no mean feat to play. Easy Livin’ will keep any drummer on their toes and if they do not have the right technique could easily get lost in that song. The first time I played it I thought hell this is faster than I expected and and is a shuffle which is a triplet not straight eighth notes. Also great list of influences and I completely agree.

[@JasonSaulnier]

Great comment.

[@misfit2022]

Jason Saulnier I approve this comment 😁

[@asmrcollections9676]

Awesome interview. Thanks

[@spark_6710]

I don't know much of him ( shame!) , but I have always appreciated his work on " you can't kill rock'nroll "(ozzy Osbourne band)! A beautiful work he did ! It stood out , especially today! I really enjoy & appreciate drummers works!

[@BigSCTVfan]

His backing vocals on the Uriah Heep songs were very unique. Has he ever sung lead on a recording?

[@mrpolitenessman3539]

Why Is it the Ozzy Osbourne band when it was the- Blizzard of Oz band-...4 equal partners according to the members.... RIP Lee