logo
‘Touched us all': Rock legend dies peacefully after battling a long illness at 85

‘Touched us all': Rock legend dies peacefully after battling a long illness at 85

News.com.au16-07-2025
British 70s rock legend, Dave Cousins, has died at the age of 85.
The founder, guitarist, and singer of the English folk and progressive rock band, The Strawbs reportedly passed away yesterday.
News of his death was announced via Cousins' official Facebook page, citing his 'long illness'.
The statement read: 'It is with profound sadness that we have to announce the passing of David Joseph Cousins at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury, peacefully following a long illness, today, Sunday 13 July 2025.
'We will all wish to celebrate the life of this incredible singer-songwriter, relation, colleague and / or special friend at this time.'
Fans have been encouraged to listen to their favourite songs by the rock legend, as well as what Cousins would refer to as a 'glass of vino collapso' (wine).
It added: 'We ask you to join in remembering a wonderful, talented man, whose life has touched us all.'
Cousins was born in 1940, and founded the band originally known as the Strawberry Hill Boys in 1964.
An obituary dedicated to the accomplished songwriter, band frontman and independent local radio entrepreneur read: 'Born into a working-class family in West London, David had a unique, varied and distinguished career.
'He was one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters to emerge from the British scene in the 1960s before becoming a pioneer of independent local radio in the 1980s and 1990s.'
Cousins first met fellow Strawbs member, Tony Hooper, on his first day attending the Thames Valley Grammar School in Twickenham.
After school, he created a skiffle group with Hooper and two other friends call the Gin Bottle Four, before going off to the University of Leicester.
There, Cousins majored in Mathematics and Statistics, while being heavily involved in the student music scene.
Cousins then founded the University Folk Society, as well as being president of the Jazz Club that ran in the basement of the Students' Union's building.
The Gin Bottle Four eventually developed into the Strawberry Hill Boys, as cousins became renowned for his fast banjo-picking, inimitable vocal style, and haunting compositions.
The Strawbs moved from folk into progressive rock after first being signed to A & M records and releasing album All Our Own Work which was recorded in 1967.
The have since released 23 studio albums, with the latest in 2023.
Their best-known single was Part of the Union which reached number two in the UK Singles Charts in February 1973.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Snow White star Rachel Zegler quits Evita mid-show in London
Snow White star Rachel Zegler quits Evita mid-show in London

News.com.au

time5 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Snow White star Rachel Zegler quits Evita mid-show in London

Rachel Zegler left Evita mid-performance on Thursday due to a mystery illness and did not return. The actress's departure was announced during intermission, per a People reporter who was present. Zegler — who plays the lead, former Argentinian politician and activist Evita Perón, in the play — has yet to address why she suddenly exited or provided a health update. Page Six has reached out to her reps for comment but has not immediately heard back. It's also unclear whether Zegler will return to the stage for Friday's show. The play's official Instagram has not released a statement and reps for The London Palladium theatre could not immediately be reached. Despite Zegler's absence, Thursday's audience still got a full show as her understudy stepped in. Bella Brown reportedly began Act 2 with Don't Cry for Me Argentina, one of the most famous songs from the play by renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The actress received a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes, per People, and she and the rest of the cast bowed 10 times as a result. Brown continued to relish the praise via social media on Friday by reposting some of the compliments, including one that called her a 'superstar.' She also added via her Instagram Story, 'Today really showed just how important swings and covers are within the industry!! They are the pillars of a show!! A proud day to be at @officialevita.' In March, it was revealed that Zegler had been chosen to play Perón in the West End's Evita. 'Evita has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing Don't Cry for Me Argentina together on my back patio,' the West Side Story star told Deadline. 'The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd's singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honour unlike any other.' She continued, 'The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can't wait to make my West End debut in such great company.' The casting came after Zegler's live-action version of Snow White bombed at the box office following a series of controversial remarks and rumours of a feud between her and co-star Gal Gadot. Her final performance at the London Palladium is scheduled for September 6th.

Ozzy Osbourne death: Kelly Osbourne shares heartbreaking post after father's passing, saying ‘I am so sad'
Ozzy Osbourne death: Kelly Osbourne shares heartbreaking post after father's passing, saying ‘I am so sad'

West Australian

timea day ago

  • West Australian

Ozzy Osbourne death: Kelly Osbourne shares heartbreaking post after father's passing, saying ‘I am so sad'

Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Black Sabbath frontman and the godfather of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne, has shared an update on the emotional toll of losing her dad. The beloved singer passed away, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, aged 76, with his contribution to music and pop culture celebrated by the world. Making her first solo statement since Ozzy's death, Kelly said she was sad and unhappy. 'I feel unhappy,' Kelly wrote on Instagram, sharing an update with her 3.4 million followers. 'I am so sad. 'I lost the best friend I ever had.' Kelly finished her Instagram story update with a broken-heart emoji. Her statement comes after the family shared a joint statement on Tuesday, which confirmed the music legend's death. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' the statement from Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis read. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. 'We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' Born John Michael 'Ozzy' Osbourne, the heavy-metal and reality TV star had a decades-long career in the spotlight. As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene - a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock. His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show The Osbournes. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Osbourne was twice inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - once with Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo artist. The original Sabbath line-up reunited for the first time in 20 years in July 2025 in the United Kingdom for what Osborne said would be his final concert. 'Let the madness begin!' he told 42,000 fans before giving a performance that will go down in the music history books. - with Reuters, AAP

Final video of Ozzy Osbourne emerges, taken just 2 days before his death at 76
Final video of Ozzy Osbourne emerges, taken just 2 days before his death at 76

News.com.au

time2 days ago

  • News.com.au

Final video of Ozzy Osbourne emerges, taken just 2 days before his death at 76

IN LONDON The final video taken of Ozzy Osbourne, where he's seen having breakfast with his family two days before his death, has emerged. The legendary musician, 76, passed away on Tuesday at his home in Buckinghamshire, UK, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Shortly before his death, his daughter Kelly shared a sweet video of him on her Instagram Story. In it, Ozzy is sitting at a table, wearing a pair of headphones and using a tablet, with his daughter and her two-year-old son, Sidney. Kelly, 40, is seen saying 'good morning' into the camera before panning it to her father, prompting him: 'Dadda, say good morning', which he obliges. It comes after new details emerged of Ozzy's death, with the Daily Mail reporting that paramedics 'worked for hours' to save his life, after rushing to his mansion via helicopter. A Thames Valley air ambulance reportedly landed in a field near the English countryside home at 10:30am Tuesday, local time, with medics rushing inside to respond to the call for help. The outlet claimed the medics worked for two hours to try and save the rocker's life, but to no avail. 'We can confirm that our helicopter was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident near Chalfont St Giles yesterday,' a spokesman for Thames Valley air ambulance confirmed to the Daily Mail. News of Ozzy's passing was confirmed in a statement released by his loved ones on Tuesday, which confirmed he had been 'with his family and surrounded by love'. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' the statement read. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' It was signed: 'Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' Black Sabbath also paid tribute to their late lead singer on Instagram after the news broke, writing alongside an image of him onstage: 'Ozzy Forever.' Osbourne, known as the 'Prince of Darkness' for his wild on stage antics, performed his final gig with his Black Sabbath bandmates just this month on 5 July in Villa Park in Birmingham. The band – including Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward – played a short five-song set, which was touted as 'the greatest heavy metal show ever'. At the time, he made it clear it would be his final performance as a result of his deteriorating health related to Parkinson's disease, which he'd first opened up about in 2020. It was the first time he had performed with Black Sabbath for 20 years.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store