Dave Ball obit

Dave Ball passed away

 

He was not on the list.

Another friend has just passed away, one day after his 65th birthday… Dave Ball was a great guitarist, mostly known for his work on PROCOL HARUM’s live album with an orchestra and his part in BEDLAM; he also was a top-notch illustrator and a writer; he was a storyteller and a funny man. And he was a great person to engage in a conversation with. Dave’s battle with cancer is well-documented, as he wanted to raise awareness for the importance of catching symptoms as early as possible. Sadly, Ball’s illness returned and, the last time we spoke, Dave said he had to move back from England to Australia where climate was better for his therapy and where his bassist brother Denny cared for him. He also wanted to add some bits to our fairly recent interview, which is going to be a tribute to the great artist. A soldier to the end, R.I.P., Dave, you’ll be sorely missed.

In April 1971, he left Big Bertha and joined Procol Harum after he saw an advertisement in Melody Maker. 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. He also played in the Nickey Barclay Band in London in the 1980s. In 1988, while working in Oman, he performed in the band Rashid Goes To Nizwa.

For a time, he joined the Army.

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.

Ball died of bowel cancer on 1 April 2015 at the age of 65.