Legendary drummer Lee Kerslake was a man who hit his kit with real power and who enjoyed life to the fullest, earning himself the nickname of ‘The Bear’ in a career that was rich and varied.
Born in Dorset in 1947, Kerslake began playing drums at the age of 11 and joined assorted bands before landing a gig with London-based outfit The Gods in 1968. During his time with that band, he cut two albums and formed a firm friendship with keyboard player Ken Hensley who he would re-join first in Toe Fat, and then in Uriah Heep in 1972.
By then, alongside Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, Heep were one of the pre-eminent heavy bands in the UK and three albums into their career. Kerslake joined in time to record their fourth, Demons And Wizards, which propelled the band further onto the world stage, selling six million copies in the process and providing them with their first US hit with the single Easy Livin’.