David 'Duck' Dowle (born 20 October 1953 in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, England) is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

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

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

Runner Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...

, Midnight Flyer,

Bernie Marsden Bernard John Marsden (born 7 May 1951) is 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 for Your Loving", ...

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: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

guitarist

Steve Hackett Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis ...

. 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), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...

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 many fans as "Mama Soul". Her biggest hit was " Just One Look", a top 10 hit in 1963. Life and career She ...

and

PP Arnold Patricia Ann Cole (born October 3, 1946), known professionally as P. P. Arnold, is an American soul singer. Arnold began her career as an Ikette with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1965. The following year she relocated to London to pursue a solo ...

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. ...

, with Blandameer also working with

Status Quo is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, political, religious or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the current state of social structure and/or values. W ...

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

Reinforcements Military organization or military organisation is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. In some countries paramilitary forces are included in a nation ...

album in 1975. In September 1976, Dowle joined the Streetwalkers 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. Having played in small pub bands since 1966 from the age of 14, McBrain paid his bills after grad ...

, 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 vocalist. He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney, in 1966 and also the rock ...

, Charlie Whitney,

Bobby Tench Robert Tench (born 21 September 1944) is a British vocalist, guitarist, sideman, songwriter and arranger. Tench is best known for his work with Freddie King and Van Morrison, as well as being a member of The Jeff Beck Group, Humble Pie, Street ...

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 music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...

singer

David Coverdale David Coverdale (born 22 September 1951) is an English singer who is best known as the lead vocalist of Whitesnake, a hard rock band he founded in 1978. Before Whitesnake, Coverdale was the lead singer of Deep Purple from 1973 to 1976, after wh ...

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 (born 19 October 1948, London) is an English musician and record producer. He has recorded with Eric Clapton, Al Stewart and Whitesnake as well as producing records for Ted Nugent, Oingo Boingo, Motörhead, The Romantics, Jo Jo Zep ...

. The rest of the band was Coverdale on vocals,

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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 occu ...

' 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 Lord (9 June 194116 July 2012) was an English orchestral and rock composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with the British rock band Deep ...

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 in 1979. It charted at No. 29 on the UK Albums Chart. " Long Way from Home", the leading track on the album reached No. 55 on the UK charts. It was the group's la ...

'', 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, best known as the drummer and last remaining original member of the rock band Deep Purple. He is often cited as one of the greatest drummers of all-time. He remains the only membe ...

, 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''

With Whitesnake

*''

'' (1978) *''

'' (1979) *'' Live At Hammersmith'' (1979)

With Runner

*''

'' (1978)

With Midnight Flyer

* ''Midnight Flyer'' * ''Rock 'n' Roll Party''

With Mark Zed

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

References

External links

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