Steven William Prestwich (5 March 195416 January 2011) was an English-born Australian drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. After relocating from

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, Prestwich was the founding and long-term drummer for the band

Cold Chisel Cold Chisel are an Australian Pub rock (Australia), pub rock band, which formed in Adelaide in 1973 by mainstay members Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums, Les Kaczmarek on bass and Don Walker (musician), Don Walker on pia ...

, which formed in

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

in 1973. He wrote the Cold Chisel songs " When the War Is Over", " Flame Trees", and " Forever Now". Prestwich also had a short spell with the Little River Band in the 1980s. He released two solo albums in the 2000s. Prestwich died on 16 January 2011 following surgery to remove a brain tumour, at age 56.

Early life and education

Steven William Prestwich was born on 5 March 1954 in

, England. He was a member of a folk-rock band called Sandy in 1970. His family relocated to

Adelaide, South Australia Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

in 1971 when he was 17.

Career

Prestwich was a member of Elizabeth band Ice from 1971 to 1973. In 1973, he was the founding drummer for heavy metal group, Orange, with the line-up of

Jimmy Barnes James Dixon Barnes ( Swan; born 28 April 1956) is an Australian rock singer. His career, both as a solo performer and as the lead vocalist with the rock band Cold Chisel, has made him one of the most popular and best-selling Australian music a ...

, Ian Moss, Don Walker, and Leszek Kaczmarek. Orange evolved into

in 1974 and a year later, Kaczmarek was replaced by Phil Small. Prestwich remained a member until early 1983, and briefly rejoined the band for their Last Stand Tour from October to December 1983. During his time in Cold Chisel, Prestwich wrote " When the War Is Over" and "Forever Now". Both songs appeared on the 1982 album '' Circus Animals''. He also co-wrote with Walker the song '' Flame Trees'' from the 1984 album '' Twentieth Century''. From 1984 to 1986 Prestwich was the drummer in the Little River Band. He toured the United States and released two albums with the band. Little River Band recorded a version of "When the War is Over" with

John Farnham John Peter Farnham (born 1 July 1949) is a British-born Australian singer. Farnham was a teen pop idol from 1967 until the mid-1970s, billed as Johnny Farnham. He has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer.McFarlane (1999). Enc ...

on vocals. Prestwich rejoined Cold Chisel in later reformations. He released his first solo album, ''Since You've Been Gone'', in August 2000, which he also produced. His second album, ''Every Highway'', was released in October 2009.

Personal life, death, and legacy

Prestwich was the father of a daughter, Melody, and a son, Vaughan. Prestwich died on 16 January 2011 at the age of 56 at the

Macquarie University Hospital The Macquarie University Hospital (abbreviated MUH) is a private teaching hospital owned by Macquarie University. The hospital is located within Macquarie University and is the first private hospital to be located on a university campus in Austr ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

after not regaining consciousness following brain surgery to remove a tumour diagnosed less than two weeks before. Cold Chisel singer Jimmy Barnes later planted a flame tree in Prestwich's memory at the National Arboretum Canberra.

Discography

Albums

References

External links

Online memorial
1954 births 2011 deaths British male drummers Australian male singers Cold Chisel members Deaths from brain cancer in Australia English male singers English emigrants to Australia Little River Band members Musicians from Liverpool Deaths from cancer in New South Wales Australian rock drummers English rock drummers Australian male songwriters {{Australia-musician-stub