Watch Cozy Powell and Bedlam “Dance With The Devil” in the “Midnight Special”
After stints with the Jeff Beck Group and session work for Mickie Most’s RAK label, legendary drummer Cozy Powell founded his own band Bedlam in 1973. They immediately started with Dance with the devila drum-led instrumental piece based on Jimi Hendrix’ Third Stone from the Sun.
“The idea for Dance… was all Mickie’s – he gave us a rough drum riff,” said Cozy. “It lasted about 20 minutes and I didn’t think about it again until a month later when I was asked to Top of the Popsand it became this huge thing.”
An unlikely UK hit in late 1973, Dance with the devil – which originally featured RAK labelmate Suzi Quatro on bass – was performed on The tip of the tips alongside guitarist Bernie Marsden, keyboardist Don Airey and bassist Neil Murray, all of whom would play important roles in Cozy’s future.
The song also made it into the top 100 in the USA and in February 1974, Powell – now accompanied by brothers Dave and Denny Ball on guitar and bass and singer Frankie Aiello – set off across the Atlantic to tour as the opening act for Black Sabbath.
During their stay in the USA, the band visited the studios of The Midnight Special and filmed two songs – Dance with the devil And Set me free – for an episode that aired in early May, and footage from the former is the latest clip to find its way into the show’s ever-growing YouTube archive.
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Bedlam disbanded later that year due to differences of opinion over their musical direction, but for Powell this was just the beginning.
He formed Cozy Powell’s Hammer (along with Bernie Marsden) before becoming a member of Rainbow (where he played briefly with Don Airey) and then Black Sabbath (including two appearances with Neil Murray). Murray also joined Powell in a new version of Cozy Powell’s Hammer, and the two played together in Brian May’s band.
Powell eventually played on more than 60 albums, recorded with everyone from Robert Plant to Cinderella, and became one of rock’s most beloved drummers. But those who don’t even know his name will surely remember those clanking, chart-topping drums Dance with the devil.
