BEDLAM is one of series of formative acts centred on one of the Rock world's greatest drummers - COZY POWELL. Previously titled BEAST, the band was created in 1972 by Powell and the Ball brothers, all previously members of BIG BERTHA and ACE KEFFORD STAND. Vocalist Francesco Aiello was previously with TRUTH. Powell's career had begun with THE SORCERORS before a short diversion to CASEY JONES & THE ENGINEERS in 1968. Powell returned to THE SORCERORS, who soon after adopted the fresh title of YOUNGBLOOD. A further shift found the drummer founding a new group titled IDEAL MILK. This unit added former MOVE star Ace Kefford to become the ACE KEFFORD STAND.

A union with COLOSSEUM guitarist Dave Clempson and bassist Dave Pegg did not get beyond rehearsals but stints with BIG BERTHA and high profile work with JEFF BECK ensued. Powell also appeared at the legendary 1970 Isle Of Wight festival backing TONY JOE WHITE.

Powell returned to BIG BERTHA before getting the call from JEFF BECK again. The drummer also had a brief spell with Californian Psychedelic Rockers SPIRIT in late 1972. Early 70's sessions included appearances on ex-FOCUS man HARVEY ANDERSON's 1972 album 'Writer Of Songs', TEN YEARS AFTER keyboard player CHICK CHURCHILL's 'You & Me', DONOVAN's 'Cosmic Wheels' and MURRAY HEAD's 'Nigel Lived'.

BEDLAM released just one, highly rated album produced by MOUNTAIN's Felix Pappalardi in 1973 and the band toured North America as support to BLACK SABBATH in early 1974. Bassist Denny Ball performed on URIAH HEEP vocalist DAVID BYRON's 'Take No Prisoners' solo album. He would also form part of a brief 1976 incarnation of URIAH HEEP before joining SHOTGUN, an act created by ex-URIAH HEEP man KEN HENSLEY. In recent years Ball played the UK club circuit with R&B band WOLFIE WITCHER & HIS BREW.

Cozy, of course, later found fame with numerous well known Rock names including MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and BLACK SABBATH, featuring on the albums 'Headless Cross', 'Tyr' and 'Forbidden', although he had worked with Aiello again in the post BEDLAM project COZY POWELL'S HAMMER.

On April 5th 1998, Cozy was killed in a car crash, his Saab going off the road at a reported 120mph plus crashing into the central reservation on the M4 near Bristol. It was reported he had been using his car phone when the accident happened. The drummer succumbed to his injuries in hospital. He was 50.