Brian May posted a clip from their live performance of ‘Resurrection’ on Instagram to celebrate his late friend and collaborator Cozy Powell on his 77th birthday.
The guitarist captioned, “Cozy was unquestionably one of the pure originators of Rock Drumming. He inspired thousands of drummers with his talent. Cozy was my biggest support when I was attempting to find my balance after losing Freddie, my Dad, and my marriage. Our collaborations, like ‘Resurrection,’ are some of my proudest creative moments.”
He continued, “His tragic death in a 1998 car crash is something many of us will never get over. “Rock on, friend, forever. Thanks @iswearshesvintage for finding this vintage clip.”
Powell joined May’s solo band in the early 1990s and played drums on ‘Resurrection’ and other tracks on ‘Back to the Light’. The drummer died in a vehicle accident on the M4 in Bristol, England, in 1998 while recording May’s second album, ‘Another World.’
“I’d lost Cozy which was an absolute tragedy for me,” May told Rolling Stone UK. He and I collaborated on the 1992 single ‘Resurrection,’ which may be my favorite. We were producing the second album when I got the terrible news that Cozy had died in a road crash.”
After Powell died, Taylor Hawkins drummed on ‘Cyborg’ for May’s 1998 album, while Steve Ferrone played the title track. Powell was prominent on ‘Business,’ ‘China Belle,’ ‘Slow Down,’ and ‘All The Way From Memphis.’