Answer the following question: Facts:   - instrument: drums    - years active: 1960s -- 2004    - birth name: melvyn paul pritchard    - origin: oldham , lancashire , england    - death date: 28 january 2004    - genre: rock classic rock progressive rock      - birth date: 20 january 1948    - name: mel pritchard    - background: non_vocal_instrumentalist    - label: harvest , polydor    - death place: greenfield , greater manchester    - associated acts: barclay james harvest    - occupation: musician , drummer   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of mel pritchard .
Answer:
mel pritchard -lrb- 20 january 1948 -- 28 january 2004 -rrb- was the former drummer with the british progressive rock band , barclay james harvest .