Ric Lee
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Richard 'Ric' Lee (born 20 October 1945) is an English drummer best known as a founding member of the blues rock band Ten Years After. He has been the group's drummer since its formation in 1966 and performed at major festivals including Woodstock in 1969 and the Isle of Wight Festival on 29 August 1970.
Lee has played on all of the band's records, including their best-known tracks 'Love Like a Man' (1970) and 'I'd Love to Change the World' (1971). As of 2023, he still toured with the band alongside original keyboardist Chick Churchill and newer members Marcus Bonfanti and Colin Hodgkinson. In September 2024, it was announced that this lineup had split, but Lee intended to premiere a new lineup in early 2025.
Ten Years After
Lee was a founding member of his first band, The Falcons, and also drummed for Ricky Storm and The Mansfields, which he was persuaded to leave in August 1965. He soon took over drumming duties for The Jaybirds, with guitarist Alvin Lee (no relation) and bassist Leo Lyons. In 1966 they arrived in London, where keyboardist Chick Churchill joined. In 1967, Churchill got the band an audition at the Marquee Club under the name The Blues Yard, but they quickly became the successful outfit Ten Years After.
He also played at the Isle of Wight Festival on 29 August 1970, as well as appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Miami, Atlanta, and Texas Pop Festivals. After Alvin Lee's death on 6 March 2013, Ten Years After continued touring. Lee has been in the band since it was formed in 1966 and has played on all their records. As of 2023, he still toured with original keyboardist Chick Churchill and two new members: guitarist/vocalist Marcus Bonfanti (British Blues Awards winner) and bassist Colin Hodgkinson.
This incarnation released its first studio album, A Sting in the Tale, in 2017. In September 2024, it was announced that this lineup had split but that Lee intended to premiere a new lineup in early 2025.
Other works
When Ten Years After disbanded in 1976, Lee formed March Music/Fast Western Productions, undertaking music publishing, management and record production, and signed acts such as the Incredible Kidda Band. He was rumored to be a potential replacement in 1980 for the deceased John Bonham in Led Zeppelin, but the band decided to disband in honor of their bandmate. Instead, in 1980 Lee became the drummer for Chicken Shack, leaving the following year. In 1994, Lee formed 'The Breakers' with Ian Ellis (ex-Clouds), and together they wrote and produced their first studio album MILAN, released in July 1995.
The Breakers toured the UK and Europe and were guests with Bryan Adams and Bonnie Raitt on NBC Super Channel's 'Talking Blues' programme that aired in Europe in March 1996. In 2000, Lee joined Kim Simmonds and Nathaniel Perterson in Savoy Brown for a European tour. In 2011, Lee formed the 'Ric Lee Blues Project', later renamed 'Ric Lee's Natural Born Swingers' for their 2012 album release Put a Record On. The band featured Bob Hall of Savoy Brown, Danny Handley from the Animals, and British session bassist Scott Whitley.
Handley and Whitley later left, and John Idan, known for his work with the reformed Yardbirds, joined on guitar and vocals. Lee's autobiography From Headstocks To Woodstock was published by Grafika in May 2019.
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Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Ric Lee (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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