Fred Coury is an American musician best known as the drummer for the glam metal band Cinderella.
The illustrious drummers In the heyday of glam metal remained an elusive breed. Swallowed by the shadows of their more ostentatious counterparts the lead singers and guitar virtuosos.
Tim Gaines, the former bassist of Stryper, bemoaned the inconspicuous fate that befell ’80s metal band bassists, relegating them to the role of mere constituents in the grand symphony.
However, one cannot deny that both the bassist and the drummer a, possessed an element of extraordinary prowess. If catapulted to the heights of popularity during that era, possessed an element of extraordinary prowess.
Figures like Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe and Lars Ulrich of Metallica. etched their indelible imprints on the melodic tapestry.
Or even Jason Bonham whose prominence, one must confess, owed much to his distinguished surname.
Oh, where have all the virtuosic drummers vanished?
Fred Coury
When the name Cinderella resounds, it is the drummer Fred Coury who readily springs to mind.
Conjuring memories of the late 1980s.
A curious phenomenon, indeed, for although his percussive talents graced only a solitary album, his name adorned the first two opuses of Cinderella, despite his absence behind the drum kit during those inaugural endeavours.
Alas, Cinderella, once the epitome of sonic enchantment, has since embarked on a vanishing act following their final tour in 2013. Tom Keifer, the band’s lead vocals and song writer, assures us that they have not formally disbanded, yet the tribulations that plague its members render collaboration an insurmountable challenge.
These trials primarily revolve around the health issues of Jeff LaBar, the band’s guitarist entangled in the throes of alcohol addiction, battling against his own personal demons, and ultimately succumbing in 2021.
Fred’s journey has been one imbued with vast experiences. He entered the scene when he joined London, assuming the role of Bobby Marks’ replacement. At that juncture, London had just unveiled their inaugural album, Non-Stop Rock (1985). However, Fred don’t hit the drums in their debut album but had name on sleeve and departed before partaking in the recording of their second opus, thus relinquishing the chance to leave his mark upon their musical canvas.
In due course, his path intersected with Ozzy Osbourne’s, stepping in for the injured Randy Castillo during their tour. It was during this juncture that Fred’s acquaintance with Kiss drummer Eric Singer paved the way for his introduction to Cinderella, who had already finished their debut album and ready to hit the road. Regrettably, he found himself bereft of an opportunity to showcase his skills.
Name without a Beat!
Alas, the moment finally arrived with the advent of Cinderella’s second album, Long Cold Winter (1988). However, Fred’s inexperience within the confines of the recording studio led to a decision made by the producer, Andy Johns.
As the band toiled within the hallowed walls of the recording studio. With discussions arose with a representative from the company, suggesting the possibility of enlisting another drummer.
Cozy Powell, a legend among drummers sit in for beats on the album. The details of who proposed the idea elude my memory. The company representatives assented with nonchalance, and thus Cozy Powell graced the album with his remarkable drumming prowess.
Cozy enchanting rhythms with rooted in blues and jazz. Reverberate through tracks like “Long Cold Winter” and “Coming Home,” breathing life into the album and imprinting it with an irrefutable allure.
It was the percussive cadence that shimmered amidst that particular endeavour, leaving an indelible impression upon our collective consciousness.
Fred finally had the opportunity to unfurl his skills in Heartbreak Station (1990). However, his tenure was brief, for upon the album’s completion, he resigned from the band to embark upon a new venture with Arcade.
It was not until 1996 that fate would circle back, leading Fred to once again re-join the ranks of Cinderella, carrying with him the wealth of experiences that had sculpted his journey.
Other than Cinderella
Fred Curie took an unexpected turn and found his fame in the realm of television. It all began when an opportunity to compose a anthem song for the LA Kings hockey team.
LA Kings previously use Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part Two” as Anthem. However, Gary’s scandalous rape of a minor led to the expulsion of his song from the Kings’ repertoire. thereby necessitating the search for a new anthem.
Fortuitously, Fred, an ardent hockey aficionado, have a connection with Luke Robitelli, a renowned former hockey player who had ascended to the position of CEO of the LA Kings. Thus, since the early ’80s, Fred seized the opportunity to present the song he had composed to the LA Kings.
Yet, the song crafted by Fred for the L.A. Kings transcended the confines of a singular composition; it manifested as an entire ensemble.
“Thunder March” and “Power Ride” resounded triumphantly during crucial scoring moments.
“A King Ransom” assumed the mantle of the team’s resolute theme song,
Win Like a King” provided respite during breaks, infusing the arena with an air of reality.
Notably, it was Gene Simmons of KISS who bestowed upon Fred the chance to contribute to the soundtrack of “The Family Jewels,” Season 3.
And thus, this marked the inception of Fred’s foray into the realm of composing music for television programs. His melodious endeavours extended to TV dramas such as “The Night Shift,” where his musical prowess continued to resonate even into Season 4.
Additionally, his compositions found a home in the game show “The Wall” on NBC, while he lent his singing talents to the basketball team, the Portland Trailblazers.
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Fred starred in The Human Race and the Jungle Yard Willy Movie: Lost In Transit.
He spends his spare time driving NASCAR races.
He currently spends time in the Double Forte Music recording studio. to make music mainly for television and sports
“L.A. Kings Black & White,” a production in association with Fox Sports West is nomination for a 2017 Emmy Award.
Fred Coury Quotes
“I honestly don’t want to see Aerosmith play any new songs, Tom Petty is an amazing live musician. Except for the time when he played songs from the new album, it became so boring that tears fell. But it’s not about the music. It’s about the memories we create when we listen to those songs. If I talk about ‘Don’t Know What You Got (Til It Gone)’, you’re going to think about the moments when you listened to the songs. Is this right? You remember where you were, who you were with, or what you were doing. This is the beauty of what we do.”
“We sell memories, new songs. You just hope people will listen to it and make memories and from that point on you can play that song without people getting bored.”
“Fans don’t want you to grow up. They want you to stop when it’s 1987. They don’t want a breakthrough in music. Most of them want to see what you do and are ready to support you 100 percent. and sometimes lose fans.”