David 'Duck' Dowle (born 20 October 1953 in London, England) is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

drummer A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums. Most contemporary western music ensemble, bands that play Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, or Contemporary R&B, R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeepi ...

who has played with the bands Brian Auger's Oblivion Express,

Streetwalkers Streetwalkers were an English rock band formed in late 1973 by two former members of rock band Family, vocalist Roger Chapman and guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney. They were a five piece band which evolved from the Chapman Whitney Band. The b ...

Whitesnake Whitesnake are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1978. The group were originally put together as the backing band for singer David Coverdale, who had recently left Deep Purple. Though the band quickly developed into their ow ...

, Runner, Midnight Flyer,

Bernie Marsden Bernard John Marsden (7 May 1951 – 24 August 2023) was an English rock and blues guitarist. He is primarily known for his work with Whitesnake, having written or co-written with David Coverdale many of the group's hit songs, such as " Fool f ...

Biography

Dave Dowle started his career when he was 13: he joined his first band, Canterbury Glass, playing alongside future

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Religion * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...

guitarist

Steve Hackett Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English guitarist who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis (band), Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three l ...

. According to Dowle, the band recorded a Radio One session after meeting the late

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...

DJing at a gig. Following Canterbury Glass, he worked with a variety of artists including

Doris Troy Doris Troy (born Doris Elaine Higginsen; January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, known to her fans as "Mama Soul". Her biggest hit was " Just One Look", a top 10 hit in 1963. Life and career She was ...

and PP Arnold before forming a band called Curly who also recorded a

session in November 1973. Steve Farr and Stewart Blandameer from Curly both ended up in the Q-Tips with

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. H ...

, with Blandameer also working with

Status Quo is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, economic, legal, environmental, political, religious, scientific or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the curren ...

. Dowle next worked with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, touring the US and appearing on the

Reinforcements Military organization (American English , AE) or military organisation (British English , BE) is the structuring of the armed forces of a State (polity), state so as to offer such military capability as a military policy, national defense pol ...

album in 1975. In September 1976, Dowle joined the

replacing

Nicko McBrain Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain (born 5 June 1952) is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1982. He is the third-longest serving member of the band, having appeared on each Iron Maiden album sin ...

, and this line-up of Dowle, Brian Johnston,

Roger Chapman Roger Maxwell Chapman (born 8 April 1942 in Leicester), also known as Chappo, is an English Rock music, rock vocalist. He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family (band), Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney ...

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and Micky Feat released a studio album, 'Vicious But Fair' in January 1977. By the end of '77, however, the band had run out of steam, and a live album, released in December 1977, proved to be their final release. In January 1978, Dowle joined ex-

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

singer

David Coverdale David Coverdale (born 22 September 1951) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Whitesnake. Coverdale was also the lead singer of Deep Purple from 1973 to 1976; he has had a solo car ...

in his new band

. Joining David Dowle in the band was another ex-member of the Streetwalkers, keyboard player, Brian Johnston, although he would be replaced within a couple of months by

Pete Solley Peter Solley (19 October 1948 – 16 November 2023) was an English musician and record producer. He recorded with Eric Clapton, Al Stewart and Whitesnake, as well as producing records for Ted Nugent, Oingo Boingo, Motörhead, The Romantics, Jo ...

. The rest of the band was Coverdale on vocals,

Micky Moody Michael Joseph Moody (born 30 August 1950) is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founde ...

and

on guitars and Neil Murray on bass. This line-up recorded the '

Snakebite A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from the bite may ...

' EP, which was released in June 1978. By June 1978, another change of keyboard player was announced with Coverdale's old Purple buddy

Jon Lord John Douglas "Jon" Lord (9 June 194116 July 2012) was an English keyboardist and composer. In 1968, Lord co-founded the hard rock band Deep Purple. Lord performed on most of the band's most popular songs; he and drummer Ian Paice were the only ...

adding his considerable experience to the band. This line-up undertook a major UK tour in October and November 1978 and released an album

Trouble Trouble may refer to: Film and television * ''Trouble'' (1922 film), an American silent comedy-drama film directed by Albert Austin * ''Trouble'' (1933 film), a British comedy film * ''Trouble'' (1977 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Trouble'' ...

in October of that year. Whitesnake then undertook a world tour, which served notice of a major new band on the scene. Another album, ''

Lovehunter ''Lovehunter'' is the second studio album by British band Whitesnake, released on 21 September 1979. It was the bands first UK Top 30 album, charting at No. 29 on the UK Albums Chart. " Long Way from Home", the leading track on the album reached ...

'', was recorded, but in August 1979, even before the album was released, Dowle was replaced by

Ian Paice Ian Anderson Paice (born 29 June 1948) is an English musician who is the drummer and last remaining original member of the rock band Deep Purple. He remains the only member of Deep Purple who has served in every line-up since the band's incep ...

, yet another ex-member of Deep Purple. Dowle's final appearance on a Whitesnake recording was on two sides of '' Live... in the Heart of the City'' released in November 1980. After departure from Whitesnake, Dowle continued to play on sessions. "I was really a session player. With any band I was working with I'd always carry on doing sessions."

Discography

With Brian Auger's Oblivion Express

*''Reinforcements'' (1975)

With Streetwalkers

*''Vicious But Fair'' (1977)

With Whitesnake

*''

'' (1978) *''

'' (1979) *'' Live at Hammersmith'' (1980)

With Runner

*'' Runner'' (1979)

With Mark Zed

* ''My Calculator's Right'' (1980)

With Midnight Flyer

* ''Midnight Flyer'' (1981) * ''Rock 'n' Roll Party'' (1981)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dowle, Dave 1953 births Living people English male drummers English rock drummers Whitesnake members Musicians from London Streetwalkers members