BLACK SABBATH drummer BILL WARD has paid a heartfelt tribute to his late friend COZY POWELL during an appearance on LA Radio Sessions, calling the legendary drummer "an angel."
Ward spoke after playing RAINBOW's "Stargazer" — which features Powell on drums — on his April radio show. He recalled their long friendship: "Cozy Powell was somebody that I first met when we were still kids. Great drummer. Tight. I was attracted to his personality. He was a nice man — very nice man."
The 77-year-old BLACK SABBATH icon shared a particularly poignant memory: "My last phone call with Cozy was about two weeks before he passed away. I am so glad that I was able to talk to Cozy on really meaningful topics and we had a heartfelt conversation. I hadn't spoken to him for a while, and then two weeks later, he passed away. Heartbreaking."
Ward also praised Powell's technical pedigree, noting his style was rooted in the big band tradition: "His chops fitted really well into rock. It's almost like his body and the way that he played was designed for that era. He had a lot of hit records as a solo artist — drum solos that got into the charts. He was always available, always listening. I think he was a drummer's drummer."
COZY POWELL served stints with RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, WHITESNAKE, and many other iconic acts. He died on April 5, 1998, following a car crash on the M4 motorway near Bristol, England. He was 50.
Ward concluded simply: "Cozy was an angel. That's what Cozy Powell was."
This episode of LA Radio Sessions premieres April 18 on 99.1FM KLBP in Long Beach, California.