- Gary Driscoll
Gary Driscoll (1946 to June 1987) was an American
R&B style rock drummer who performed in a number of successful bands from the 1960s until his violent death in June 1987.He first entered the music scene when he joined The
Electric Elves in 1967, fronted byRonnie James Dio . The band transformed intoThe Elves , and then Elf in 1969, releasing a few singles along the way. They were eventually discovered byDeep Purple bassistRoger Glover who went on to produce at least two of Elf's three studio albums.Elf disbanded in 1975 when Driscoll, Dio,
Mickey Lee Soule (Elf's keyboardist) and Craig Gruber (their bassist) were recruited by Deep Purple guitaristRitchie Blackmore to form Rainbow.Driscoll was sacked from Rainbow shortly after their debut album was recorded. It is said that his firing was simply due to his R&B style of drumming, which did not sit well with Blackmore. Driscoll was replaced with veteran hard rocker
Cozy Powell .After his departure from Rainbow, Driscoll played in the bands Dakota and Star Castle, before starting Bible Black with Craig Gruber, future
Blue Cheer guitaristDuck McDonald and singerJeff Fenholt . This band released the albums "Ground Zero" and, with a few other musicians, "Thrasher", neither of which sold well. Driscoll found a day job, and made a little extra money on the side as a session musician.He was discovered murdered in his home in
Ithaca, New York in June 1987 at the age of 41. His brutal murder remains unsolved with no apparent motive, although it is rumored to have been drug related.
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