Former Black Sabbath Roadie Eddie Norton Dies from Bike Crash in Pattaya

Eddie ‘The Rocker’ Norton died when his bike smashed into a sign-post at the resort of Pattaya during a holiday with friends.

PATTAYA – Eddie ‘The Rocker’ Norton a former Drum and guitar technician of Birmingham’s Black Sabbath rock band has died after a bike collision in Pattaya during a holiday with friends.

A technician for former Sabbath drummer Cozy Powell in the late 80s and early 90s, Eddie, 62, was the man behind the famous compressed air jet streams used during gigs.

With the roadie said to be friends with guitar legend Tony Iommi and UB40 saxophonist Brian Travers, a memorial ceremony next Saturday at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Quinton, is expected to draw members of the Birmingham rock fraternity.

Dave Postle, a former club owner in Birmingham, who knew Eddie for 30 years and organised the Thailand trip after his friend recovered from a long-standing drink problem.

“I was proud of him,” said Dave, 72, “I paid for him to go to Thailand as a treat as he’d recovered from an alcohol problem.

“I said I was really proud and wanted to take him to Thailand.

“He was out riding a bike and hit a post and killed himself outright.

“There were no other vehicles involved. Eddie had been riding bikes since he was 15.

“He might have had a stroke or a heart attack and fallen off.

“The first I knew of it was when a police man knocked on my door. I went to see him and he was in the back of an ambulance wrapped up in a blanket.”

Dave Postle, spent three weeks arranging for Eddie’s body to be returned to the UK.

“We had him cremated in Thailand and brought his ashes back.

“He was having a great time,” Dave said, “He met up with an old girlfriend in Thailand. She was married now but we got together for drinks one night,

“He got up to sing in a karaoke bar, it was a ladyboy bar and he sang with a Tina Turner tribute act.

“I never realised he was such a brilliant singer.

“Everyone loved him. He’s well known around Birmingham and a lot of people will want to know what’s happened.”

Eddie also leaves behind ex-wife Christine.