# Lee Kerslake
**Lee Kerslake** (full name Lee Gary Kerslake; 1947 – 19 September 2020) was an English rock drummer and backing vocalist, best known as the longtime drummer of Uriah Heep and for playing on [Ozzy Osbourne](https://www.edgepedia.org/ozzy-osbourne)'s first two solo albums, *Blizzard of Ozz* (1980) and *Diary of a Madman* (1981).[1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) • [2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) He spent roughly 35 years with Uriah Heep across two spells, from late 1971 to 1979 and from 1982 until ill health forced his retirement in early 2007.[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) • [3](https://www.heepfiles.net/person/kerslake.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1947, Bournemouth, Dorset, England; 19 September 2020, aged 73, of prostate cancer[1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) • [4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lee-kerslake-mn0000225585) |
| Uriah Heep tenure | Joined November 1971, debuted on *Demons and Wizards* (1972); nine studio albums in the first stint; rejoined in 1982 and remained until retiring for health reasons in early 2007[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) • [1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) |
| Ozzy Osbourne | Drummer on *Blizzard of Ozz* (1980) and *Diary of a Madman* (1981); fired in 1981 along with bassist Bob Daisley and left uncredited on *Diary*[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) • [5](https://www.iheartradio.ca/en/music-news/rock-drummer-lee-kerslake-dies-at-73-1.13548083.html) |
| Royalties dispute | Sued Osbourne in 1998 seeking royalties and songwriting credits; the case was dismissed in 2003[5](https://www.iheartradio.ca/en/music-news/rock-drummer-lee-kerslake-dies-at-73-1.13548083.html) |
| Reconciliation | Osbourne sent Kerslake the platinum album certifications for both albums as his final wish[1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) |
| Other projects | The Gods, Toe Fat, Head Machine, National Head Band, Living Loud (2003–2005), Berggren Kerslake Band (2013)[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) • [6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) |
| Posthumous releases | Solo album *Eleventeen* (26 February 2021); documentary *Not On The Heep*[6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) |
## Early career
Kerslake was born in 1947 in Winton, near [Bournemouth](https://www.edgepedia.org/bournemouth).[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) He took up drums at eleven and began playing professionally at seventeen.[8](https://bobdaisley.com/interview/the-fuze-lee-kerslake) His first band of significance was The Gods, a group whose shifting line-up at one time or another included [Greg Lake](https://www.edgepedia.org/greg-lake), future Rolling Stones guitarist [Mick Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/mick-taylor), the Glascock brothers Brian and John, future Uriah Heep co-founder Paul Newton, and Ken Hensley, who became the pivotal figure in Kerslake's career.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) The Gods made three albums, including a final one called *Orgasm* recorded under the name Head Machine, and held a residency at London's Marquee club.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview)
After The Gods, Kerslake played in the Cliff Bennett Band, which evolved into Toe Fat, recording one album and touring behind it; he also took part in the Head Machine album using pseudonyms. He then formed National Head Band in 1970, which recorded one album, *Albert 1*, produced by Eddy Offord.[6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) • [9](https://dmme.net/interviews/interview-with-lee-kerslake/)
## Uriah Heep, 1971–1979
Kensley's keyboardist [Ken Hensley](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-hensley) invited Kerslake to join Uriah Heep in late 1971, replacing drummer Iain Clarke; Kerslake had earlier declined one offer to join the band.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) • [10](https://www.uriah-heep.com/newa/heepstory5.php) He debuted on the band's breakthrough album *[Demons and Wizards](https://www.edgepedia.org/demons-and-wizards-uriah-heep-album)* (1972), where his partnership with New Zealand bassist Gary Thain, who had joined three months earlier, formed what guitarist Mick Box called "a real steam engine of a rhythm section".[11](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/uriah-heep-demons-and-wizards-turned-the-british-rockers-into-superstars) Kerslake described his own approach as combining heavy drumming with "light and shade", transferring singing techniques to the kit.[9](https://dmme.net/interviews/interview-with-lee-kerslake/)
During this first stint he recorded nine studio albums with the band, from *Demons and Wizards* (1972) through *Fallen Angel* (1978), as well as the 1973 live album *Uriah Heep Live*.[1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) • [3](https://www.heepfiles.net/person/kerslake.htm) He also played on solo albums by bandmates [David Byron](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-byron) and Ken Hensley.[4](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lee-kerslake-mn0000225585) He left in October 1979 after conflicts with manager and label boss Gerry Bron, saying the orders for his dismissal came from Hensley.[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) • [7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview)
## Blizzard of Ozz and the royalties dispute
Through German promoter Ossy Hoppe, Kerslake learned that Ozzy Osbourne, newly out of [Black Sabbath](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-sabbath), had a band without a drummer. He joined the group that became [Blizzard of Ozz](https://www.edgepedia.org/blizzard-of-ozz), with bassist [Bob Daisley](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-daisley) and guitarist Randy Rhoads, and said he auditioned them as they auditioned him.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) He played on *Blizzard of Ozz* (1980), contributing drum parts and suggestions for words and music, and on *Diary of a Madman* (1981), on which he claimed a hand in most of its eight songs.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) The Metal Archives credits him with songwriting on track 7 of *Blizzard of Ozz* as well as drums, percussion, tubular bells, and timpani.[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114)
In 1981 Kerslake and Daisley were fired, replaced by [Rudy Sarzo](https://www.edgepedia.org/rudy-sarzo) and [Tommy Aldridge](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-aldridge), and their contributions to *Diary of a Madman* went unacknowledged on the sleeve.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) Kerslake and Daisley sued Jet Records, the company behind the two albums, in 1986 and won; after the Osbourne camp bought the rights to the records, the pair sued the new owners and lost when the statute of limitations had expired.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) A 1998 lawsuit against Osbourne seeking royalties and songwriting credits was dismissed in 2003.[5](https://www.iheartradio.ca/en/music-news/rock-drummer-lee-kerslake-dies-at-73-1.13548083.html) When the albums were reissued in 2002, Osbourne's then rhythm section had overdubbed the pair's original parts; the original performances were reinstated almost a decade later.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview)
**Reconciliation.** In 2019 Kerslake wrote to Ozzy and [Sharon Osbourne](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharon-osbourne) requesting platinum discs for the two albums. Sharon Osbourne granted the request, and Osbourne sent the platinum album certifications for *Blizzard of Ozz* and *Diary of a Madman* to Kerslake as his final wish, along with a handwritten letter.[1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) • [7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview)
## Return to Uriah Heep, 1982–2007
Kerslake rejoined Uriah Heep in 1982, according to the Metal Archives, though the Heepfiles discography dates his second stint from 1981; he remained with the band until early 2007, when health problems forced his retirement.[2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114) • [3](https://www.heepfiles.net/person/kerslake.htm) In this period he recorded studio albums including *Abominog* (1982), *Head First* (1983), *Equator* (1985), *Raging Silence* (1989), *Different World* (1991), *Sea of Light* (1995), and *Sonic Origami* (1998), plus numerous live releases.[3](https://www.heepfiles.net/person/kerslake.htm) From 1986 to 2007 the line-up of Mick Box, Bernie Shaw, Kerslake, Trevor Bolder, and Phil Lanzon was the band's stable core.[12](https://www.uriah-heep.com/2020Site/band.html)
In 2003 he joined forces with Daisley in the band Living Loud, recording a studio album released in 2004 along with a live CD and DVD.[3](https://www.heepfiles.net/person/kerslake.htm) • [6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) After leaving Heep he formed the Berggren Kerslake Band with Stefan Berggren; a five-song EP, *Walk Tall*, was released digitally in 2013 and the album *The Sun Has Gone Hazy* followed on CD in January 2014.[6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) In 2017 he made a guest appearance on the album *Orkid*, co-writing the track "Ceremony Of Death" and singing lead vocals while playing drums and keyboards.[6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm)
## Illness, recognition, and death
Kerslake was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, and the disease later spread to his bones; he announced a terminal diagnosis in late 2018.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) • [13](https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/lee-kerslake/) He was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History, flying to California for the ceremony, and appears in the Metal Hall of Fame as a class of 2019 inductee.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview) • [14](https://metalhalloffame.org/inductees/lee-kerslake/) He made a final cameo with Uriah Heep at the [Shepherd's Bush Empire](https://www.edgepedia.org/shepherds-bush-empire) in December 2018, days after announcing his illness, singing backing vocals on "Lady in Black".[7](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview)
He died on 19 September 2020, aged 73. His death was announced by former bandmate Ken Hensley, who called him "my friend of 55 years and the best drummer I ever played with"; Osbourne and Mick Box also paid tribute.[15](https://www.nme.com/news/music/uriah-heep-and-ozzy-osbourne-drummer-lee-kerslake-has-died-2756808) • [1](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354) He was survived by his wife, Sue.[13](https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/lee-kerslake/) His first solo album, *Eleventeen*, made in collaboration with Jake Libretto, was released posthumously on 26 February 2021.[6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) The autobiographical documentary *Not On The Heep* was released on DVD and digital formats in April 2023 according to the Heepfiles discography, while the Metal Archives dates its release, under the title *Not On the Heep: The Heavy Metal Saga of Lee Kerslake*, to 2025.[6](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm) • [2](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114)
## References
1. [Lee Kerslake: Drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Uriah Heep dies at 73 after cancer battle, Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/lee-kerslake-drummer-for-ozzy-osbourne-and-uriah-heep-dies-at-73-after-cancer-battle-12077354)
2. [Lee Kerslake, Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Lee_Kerslake/15114)
3. [The Heepfiles – Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep discography page)](https://www.heepfiles.net/person/kerslake.htm)
4. [Lee Kerslake – Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lee-kerslake-mn0000225585)
5. [Rock Drummer Lee Kerslake Dies At 73, iHeartRadio](https://www.iheartradio.ca/en/music-news/rock-drummer-lee-kerslake-dies-at-73-1.13548083.html)
6. [WWW.HEEPFILES.NET – Lee Kerslake Story (discography)](https://www.heepfiles.net/lk/index.htm)
7. [Lee Kerslake: the last interview, Louder (Classic Rock)](https://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-kerslake-the-last-interview)
8. [The Fuze interviews Lee Kerslake, bobdaisley.com](https://bobdaisley.com/interview/the-fuze-lee-kerslake)
9. [Interview with Lee Kerslake, DMME.net](https://dmme.net/interviews/interview-with-lee-kerslake/)
10. [Uriah Heep story, uriah-heep.com](https://www.uriah-heep.com/newa/heepstory5.php)
11. [How Uriah Heep's Demons And Wizards album turned them into global superstars, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/uriah-heep-demons-and-wizards-turned-the-british-rockers-into-superstars)
12. [The Official Website Of Uriah Heep – The Band](https://www.uriah-heep.com/2020Site/band.html)
13. [Lee Kerslake – Bournemouth Beat Boom](https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/lee-kerslake/)
14. [Lee Kerslake | Metal Hall of Fame Inductee](https://metalhalloffame.org/inductees/lee-kerslake/)
15. [Uriah Heep and Ozzy Osbourne drummer Lee Kerslake has died, NME](https://www.nme.com/news/music/uriah-heep-and-ozzy-osbourne-drummer-lee-kerslake-has-died-2756808)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Hard rock and glam metal › Hard rock drummers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license