Gary Driscoll
Encyclopedia
Gary Driscoll 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 by Ronnie James Dio
. The band transformed into The Elves, and then Elf
in 1969, releasing a few singles along the way. They were eventually discovered by Deep Purple
bassist Roger Glover
who went on to produce at least two of Elf's three studio albums.
Elf disbanded in 1975 when Driscoll, Dio, Micky Lee Soule
(Elf's keyboardist) and Craig Gruber
(their bassist) were recruited by Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie 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 (1978–1980, from Scranton, Pa. formally the Jerry Kelly Band), before starting Bible Black
with Craig Gruber, future Blue Cheer
guitarist Duck McDonald and singer Jeff 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 the home of a friend in Ithaca NY 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. The man initially arrested for the crime was acquitted at trial. There have been leads in the case, and the person of interest has fled the country.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 by Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
. The band transformed into The Elves, and then Elf
Elf (band)
Elf was a rock band founded in 1967 by the late singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feinstein . The band was originally called The Electric Elves, but was shortened to The Elves and finally Elf in mid-1970...
in 1969, releasing a few singles along the way. They were eventually discovered by Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
bassist Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
who went on to produce at least two of Elf's three studio albums.
Elf disbanded in 1975 when Driscoll, Dio, Micky Lee Soule
Micky Lee Soule
Mickey Lee Soule was the keyboard player for New York state hard rock band Elf and a founding member of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.Не was born on June 6, 1946 in Cortland, New York. Mickey had a band in the mid-1960s until he was drafted into the army...
(Elf's keyboardist) and Craig Gruber
Craig Gruber
Craig Gruber is an American rock bass player, best known as the original bassist in Rainbow. Along with the other members of Rainbow, except guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, he had played in the band Elf, consisting of vocalist Ronnie James Dio, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule, drummer Gary Driscoll and...
(their bassist) were recruited by Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
to form Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
.
Driscoll was sacked from Rainbow shortly after their debut album
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Note: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
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
Cozy Powell
Colin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
.
After his departure from Rainbow, Driscoll played in the bands Dakota (1978–1980, from Scranton, Pa. formally the Jerry Kelly Band), before starting Bible Black
Bible Black (band)
Bible Black was an American band, formed by two ex-Elf/Rainbow musicians: drummer Gary Driscoll and bassist Craig Gruber with guitarist Duck McDonald and singer Jeff Fenholt...
with Craig Gruber, future Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
guitarist Duck McDonald and singer Jeff Fenholt
Jeff Fenholt
Jeffrey Craig Fenholt is a singer noted for his performance as the title character in the original Broadway theatre adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar and for his appearance on the cover of "Time Magazine"...
. 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 the home of a friend in Ithaca NY 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. The man initially arrested for the crime was acquitted at trial. There have been leads in the case, and the person of interest has fled the country.