I didn't know, I was just aware he wasn't well, hadn't been for while, but took it all in good stride. Sad. Drum on, Lee. I always liked his playing and what he projected.
In Europe, he's much more famous for being part of the classic Uriah Heep line up (Heep gained a popularity in Europe and especially Germany in the 70ies, it never attained in the US or at home) than for his (commercially unlucky) stint with Ozzy. He played on 16 Uriah Heep studio albums in the 70ies, 80ies and 90ies alone - along bass greats such as Gary Thain, John Wetton, Trevor Bolder and Bob Daisley. Here's some eye candy for Mark of his favorite (poster) boy group (there are now only two guys left - Hensley and Box - from this particular and most famous Heep line-up):
Did Kerslake ever perform live with Ozzy at all or was it all Aldridge from the first official gigs?
A Lee Kerslake obituary can't be complete without this song - he co-wrote it about his estranged wife, although regarded as twee, it was a huge hit in Germany, Heep's last chart entry in fact:
And although as '80ies as it gets, I always dug his playing on this song:
And my favorite Heep song is still this little three chord wonder:
Ok, those three compete too!