David J. Ball (30 March 1950 – 1 April 2015) was an English guitar player.[1]

Dave Ball
Birth nameDavid J. Ball
Born(1950-03-30)30 March 1950
Handsworth, Birmingham, England
Died1 April 2015(2015-04-01) (aged 65)
GenresRock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1971–2015

Career

edit

In April 1971, he left Big Bertha and joined Procol Harum after he saw an advertisement in Melody Maker.[1] He replaced Robin Trower, who had left the group to form his own band. He can be heard on the group's live album, Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, but left the group during the recording sessions for their 1973 album Grand Hotel, in September 1972.

He then formed the group Bedlam with his brother Dennis and drummer Cozy Powell, who released an album on Chrysalis Records, but the group disbanded after a brief period. He also recorded with Long John Baldry on Baldry's 1973 album Good to Be Alive.[2] He also played in the Nickey Barclay Band in London in the 1980s.[3] In 1988, while working in Oman, he performed in the band Rashid Goes To Nizwa.[citation needed]

For a time, he joined the Army.[1]

He last played with Gary Brooker of Procol Harum in London, in July 2007. He also sometimes played with the Procol Harum tribute band, The Palers. In 2012 he released a solo album titled Don't Forget Your Alligator.[4]

Ball died of bowel cancer on 1 April 2015 at the age of 65.[5][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Guitarist, Mr Dave Ball". Procolharum.com. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Dave Ball talks to Antonio Costa Barbé". Procolharum.com. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  3. ^ "John Conroy's Story". Tuvstarr.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Dave Ball, guitarist: review of his first solo album, 'Don't Forget your Alligator'". Procolharum.com. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  5. ^ Dave Ball: Lead guitarist who joined prog-rockers Procol Harum in time to feature on their seminal 1972 live album
  6. ^ "Dave Ball passed away". Dmme.net. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
edit