Lee Kerslake was born in Winton, Bournemouth, Dorset, England in 1947.
In 1980, Kerslake met ex-Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne by chance in an elevator at the Kings Cross Hotel in Australia. “He was in one corner with his bodyguard and his manager, and I was in the other corner with mine. Rather funny”. They would soon form the band Blizzard of Ozz with bassist Bob Daisley and guitarist Randy Rhoads, though the band would soon become an Ozzy Osbourne solo project due to a management decision. Kerslake’s work can be heard on Osbourne’s first two solo albums, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, as well as the 1980 Live EP and parts of the 1987 Tribute live album.
Kerslake left Osbourne’s band in early 1981 to care for his mother, who had fallen ill. On the Diary of a Madman notes, Kerslake and bassist Bob Daisley were not credited, with drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Rudy Sarzo instead receiving credit. Aldridge has stated of the Diary of a Madman album, “I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s not my drumming on that album. I have never taken credit for that recording and have always given Lee Kerslake, whenever asked or interviewed, the credit he rightly deserves.”
Before meeting Ozzy, Kerslake was the drummer and backing vocalist in the band Uriah Heep.
This wonderful interview with Lee talks to the man about his life.
Lee Kerslake died on 19th September 2020 from prostate cancer having been given eight months to live in late 2018.
He was 73.
