[Heeplist] Lee Kerslake: Eleventeen

[Tapio Minkkinen]

Finally!

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/artist/lee-kerslake/


Released February 26, 2021.

Standing down from drumming full-time for Uriah Heep in 2007 due to 
ill-health, Lee Kerslake commenced his debut solo album in 2015 with 
Jake Libretto, completing the album in 2019. According to Lee’s notes 
from the album, “WOW, I have to say now the album is finished there is a 
great sense of achievement. It’s been a little over three years to 
record and finish it, it took so long because I could only manage two 
days a week and sometimes nothing for a period of time as the 
chemotherapy without my permission kept me away. Never mind it’s done 
and I am very proud of the songs.”

“ELEVENTEEN” is a collection of eight songs, seven of them written or 
co-written by Lee.


• With a career that goes back to the 1960s, Lee Kerslake’s first step 
into the rock limelight was with The Gods, recording “Genesis” in 1968 
and “To Samuel A Son” in 1969. Joining Toe Fat for their self-titled 
debut in 1970, via 1970’s “Orgasm” by Head Machine, so far Lee had 
shared his musical journey with multi-instrumentalist and song writer 
Ken Hensley. This musical connection and friendship would be further 
cemented in 1972 when Lee joined Ken in Uriah Heep for the classic 
“Demons & Wizards” LP, remaining behind Heep’s drum kit for the best 
part of 30 plus years. Lee also found time to make cameos drumming for 
Ken Hensley and David Byron solo records along the way, and most notably 
as a founder member of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band, drumming on the 
multi-platinum “Blizzard Of Ozz” in 1980 and “Diary Of A Madman in 1981. 
He also appeared with super group Living Loud, a band featuring bassist 
Bob Daisley, guitarist Steve Morse, singer Jimmy Barnes and keyboard 
player Don Airey.

• Standing down from drumming full-time for Uriah Heep in 2007 due to 
ill-health, Lee commenced his debut solo album in 2015 with Jake 
Libretto, completing the album in 2019. According to Lee’s notes from 
the album, “WOW, I have to say now the album is finished there is a 
great sense of achievement. It’s been a little over three years to 
record and finish it, it took so long because I could only manage two 
days a week and sometimes nothing for a period of time as the 
chemotherapy without my permission kept me away. Never mind it’s done 
and I am very proud of the songs.”

• “ELEVENTEEN” is a collection of eight songs, seven of them written or 
co-written by Lee, and starts with CELIA SIENNA. Lee offers notes and 
insights for each track, and TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED “is based around 
my wife and then some,” evidently with tongue firmly in cheek. WHERE DO 
WE GO FROM HERE, which according to Lee, “It’s all to late to realise… 
where do we go from here? I’ve had to many argumentative girls in my 
life!!!” YOU MAY BE BY YOURSELF (BUT YOU’RE NEVER ALONE), “This song was 
written when Bob Daisley gave such a loving look to squish his daughter 
it moved me all those years ago.” PORT AND A BRANDY, according to Mick 
Box’s dedication on the album, “The song ‘Port And A Brandy’ made me 
smile as we have shared many of them together over the years.” Next up 
is a heartfelt rendition of Carole King’s timeless YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND, 
which Lee dedicates to, “all of my friends past and present who I have 
loved through music.” “ELEVENTEEN” concludes with the instrumental MOM, 
which Lee wrote for, “all the mums in the world who we should never take 
for granted.”

• Lee sadly passed away in September 2020 at the age of 73. Leaving the 
last word to his friend and long-time Uriah Heep bandmate: “It fills me 
with great pride that he achieved this as his last final musical 
legacy.”
MICK BOX, 2020

Track Listing:

1. CELIA SIENNA
2. TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED
3. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
4. YOU MAY BE BY YOURSELF (BUT YOU’RE NEVER ALONE)
5. PORT AND A BRANDY
6. YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND
7. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
8. MOM (INSTRUMENTAL)

Produced by Lee Kerslake


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TapioM.
Email tapio at heepfiles.net
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