Lee Gary Kerslake was an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep and for his work with Ozzy Osbourne in the early 1980s.
22 Facts About Lee Kerslake
2.
Lee Kerslake later played with Toe Fat and National Head Band before linking up with Uriah Heep in November 1971.
3.
Lee Kerslake played on David Byron's and Ken Hensley's solo albums, among other efforts during this period.
4.
Lee Kerslake would remain with the band until January 2007, appearing on an additional six studio albums, bringing his total contribution to Uriah Heep's output to 17 studio albums, along with several live albums.
5.
In 1980, Lee Kerslake met ex-Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne by chance in an elevator at the Kings Cross Hotel in Australia.
6.
Lee Kerslake left Osbourne's band in early 1981 to care for his mother, who had fallen ill.
7.
Entertainment attorney Steven Machat, who was involved in the deal Osbourne signed with Jet Records, said in his 2011 book Gods, Gangsters and Honour: A Rock 'n' Roll Odyssey that Sharon was not happy with the level of creative input that Daisley and Lee Kerslake had in the band and wanted Ozzy to have full control.
8.
Lee Kerslake surmises this led to the split and any ill-will she has since harboured for the drummer.
9.
In 2003, Lee Kerslake became involved in 'super group' Living Loud, a hard rock project featuring bassist Bob Daisley, guitarist Steve Morse and singer Jimmy Barnes.
10.
Kerslake performed with his own band the "Lee Kerslake Band", guested with various bands and regularly joined ex-Heep members Ken Hensley and Paul Newton in "Uriah Heep Legends".
11.
In early 2007 it was announced on the Uriah Heep website that Lee Kerslake left the band 'due to ongoing health problems'.
12.
In 2015 Lee Kerslake started to record his first solo album Eleventeen which came from when he used to count as a child and couldn't understand why there wasn't an eleventeen.
13.
In 2016 Lee Kerslake teamed up with Tayla Goodman from London Bridge films, whom he met while dog-walking in Crystal Palace park and together with Pyrojunkies' Shane Cauldwell, they produced a music video for his solo album Celia Seanna.
14.
Lee Kerslake insisted that he wanted to leave a legacy for his fans and some money for his wife Sue.
15.
In December 2018, Lee Kerslake revealed that he was battling prostate cancer, saying that "the doctor gave me about eight months to live".
16.
Lee Kerslake further stated that five years previously, he had been given four years to live.
17.
Lee Kerslake revealed that it was his final wish to receive the platinum album certifications for the Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman albums that he had worked on, and Osbourne granted that wish.
18.
Lee Kerslake wrote a letter to Osbourne, informing him of his ill health and desire to receive the records.
19.
On 14 December 2018, Lee Kerslake joined Uriah Heep onstage at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, contributing percussion and vocals to "Lady in Black".
20.
On 19 September 2020, Lee Kerslake died from cancer at age 73.
21.
Lee Kerslake had completed recording a solo album before his death, titled Eleventeen, posthumously released on 26 February 2021.
22.
Lee Kerslake was survived by his wife, Susan, and 2 grown children.