Jimmy DeGrasso
Encyclopedia
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American
heavy metal
drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5
.
DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
and graduated from Liberty High School
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
in 1981.
DeGrasso has also performed with David Lee Roth
, Lita Ford
, Ozzy Osbourne
, White Lion
, Suicidal Tendencies
, and Y&T
. More recently, DeGrasso was a member of Megadeth
, a multi-platinum heavy metal band.
He was Alice Cooper
's drummer who played in Wayne's World
(at the very end of the 'Hey Stoopid' tour), South America '95, Summer '96 and '97 tours along with filling in for his good friend Eric Singer
in Summer '08. Prior to his work with Alice Cooper, he played with Talas (before they recorded), Suicidal Tendencies
and White Lion
.
in 1986, replacing their original drummer Leonard Haze. He remained with the group into the '90s
. He would go on to play on Dave Mustaine
's (Megadeth vocalist/guitarist) side project band, MD.45
in 1995. Mustaine asked him to join Megadeth in 1998 as drummer and continue the band's Cryptic Writings
Tour. He was asked to play with Megadeth five days before the next show. He walked around with a walkman
all day to memorize the songs. DeGrasso recorded and toured behind Megadeth's Risk album in 1999-2000, The World Needs A Hero
in 2000-2001 and was featured on Megadeth's first ever live CD and DVD release, Rude Awakening
in 2002.
Since Megadeth, DeGrasso has performed at the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival in 2002, Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Australia
, Drummer Live in the United Kingdom
and toured with Stone Sour
(Slipknot
vocalist Corey Taylor
’s side project) and guitar legend Ronnie Montrose
. Jimmy played with David Lee Roth Band in 2006 and joined with Ministry on their final tour in 2008. He is a highly sought after session player and drummer.
He currently resides in San Jose, California
, where he runs his own drum shop, San Jose Pro Drum.
In late August and early September DeGrasso played 11 shows with Alice Cooper to fill in for Eric Singer
while Singer played a few KISS
shows in the United States.
Today, DeGrasso is a full time drummer for heavy metal band F5
, Hail
(along with current Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5
F5 (band)
F5 is a heavy metal band which features Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and ex-drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. F5 is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.- Former Megadeth Members:...
.
DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
and graduated from Liberty High School
Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a public high school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the United States....
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
in 1981.
DeGrasso has also performed with David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
, Lita Ford
Lita Ford
Lita Ford is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.-Early life:...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
, Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
, and Y&T
Y&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
. More recently, DeGrasso was a member of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, a multi-platinum heavy metal band.
He was Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
's drummer who played in Wayne's World
Wayne's World (film)
Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Mike Myers in his film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of the Aurora, Illinois-based Public-access television cable TV show Wayne's World...
(at the very end of the 'Hey Stoopid' tour), South America '95, Summer '96 and '97 tours along with filling in for his good friend Eric Singer
Eric Singer
Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
in Summer '08. Prior to his work with Alice Cooper, he played with Talas (before they recorded), Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
and White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
.
Career
DeGrasso joined the veteran metal band Y&TY&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
in 1986, replacing their original drummer Leonard Haze. He remained with the group into the '90s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
. He would go on to play on Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
's (Megadeth vocalist/guitarist) side project band, MD.45
MD.45
MD.45 was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, Electric Love Hogs and future Goldfinger bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies member Jimmy DeGrasso on drums...
in 1995. Mustaine asked him to join Megadeth in 1998 as drummer and continue the band's Cryptic Writings
Cryptic Writings
Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released on June 17, 1997 and debuted at #10 on Billboard Top 200. This is the last Megadeth studio album to feature drummer Nick Menza. His departure would mark the end of the band's longest lasting lineup to...
Tour. He was asked to play with Megadeth five days before the next show. He walked around with a walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
all day to memorize the songs. DeGrasso recorded and toured behind Megadeth's Risk album in 1999-2000, The World Needs A Hero
The World Needs a Hero
-Track listing:-Personnel:-Album:-Singles:...
in 2000-2001 and was featured on Megadeth's first ever live CD and DVD release, Rude Awakening
Rude Awakening (Megadeth album)
Rude Awakening is a live album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released by Sanctuary Records in 2002, the last release before the band broke up in 2002...
in 2002.
Since Megadeth, DeGrasso has performed at the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival in 2002, Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Drummer Live in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and toured with Stone Sour
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2006, the group has been composed of Corey Taylor , Jim Root , Josh Rand, , Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga . Original drummer Joel Ekman left the group in 2006...
(Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
vocalist Corey Taylor
Corey Taylor
Corey Todd Taylor sometimes known by the number 8, is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of Slipknot and Stone Sour. Taylor was raised by his single mother. He developed a fond feeling toward classic rock after his grandmother introduced him to it...
’s side project) and guitar legend Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
. Jimmy played with David Lee Roth Band in 2006 and joined with Ministry on their final tour in 2008. He is a highly sought after session player and drummer.
He currently resides in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, where he runs his own drum shop, San Jose Pro Drum.
In late August and early September DeGrasso played 11 shows with Alice Cooper to fill in for Eric Singer
Eric Singer
Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
while Singer played a few KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
shows in the United States.
Today, DeGrasso is a full time drummer for heavy metal band F5
F5 (band)
F5 is a heavy metal band which features Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and ex-drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. F5 is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.- Former Megadeth Members:...
, Hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
(along with current Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson).
Former bands as drummer
- Mama's BoysMama's BoysMama's Boys were a 1980s hard rock/heavy metal group from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland featuring the three McManus brothers Pat, a.k.a. 'The Professor", , John , Tommy . Later in their career they became a four-piece adding Rick Chase on vocals in 1985 who was later replaced by Keith Murrell...
~ 1985-1986 - Y&TY&TY&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
~ 1987-1990, 1995 - White LionWhite LionWhite Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
~ 1991 - FionaFiona (singer)Fiona is an American rock music singer and actress best known as the love interest in the 1987 Bob Dylan vehicle, Hearts of Fire.-Life and career:...
~ 1992 - Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
~ 1992-1995 - Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
~ 1994-2002, 2008 and 2009 - MegadethMegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
~ 1998-2002 - O'2L ~ 2006
- David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
- 2006 - MinistryMinistry (band)Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
~ 2008
Discography
- 1986 Ozzy Osbourne - Ultimate Sin (session drummer)
- 1987 Y&T - Contagious
- 1990 Y&T - Yesterday & Today Live
- 1990 Y&T - Ten (also featuring Stef Burns)
- 1991 Whitelion - Escape from Brooklyn - VHS
- 1992 Fiona - SqueezeSqueeze (Fiona album)-Track listing:# "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" – 3:45 # "Ain't That Just Like Love" – 3:17 # "Treat Me Right" – 3:41 # "All Over Now" – 3:43...
- 1994 Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
- Suicidal For LifeSuicidal for LifeSuicidal for Life is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1994. It is their sixth proper studio release as Still Cyco After All These Years is a re-recording of the band's early material... - 1995 Y&T - Musically Incorrect
- 1996 MD.45MD.45MD.45 was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, Electric Love Hogs and future Goldfinger bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies member Jimmy DeGrasso on drums...
- The CravingThe Craving (album)The Craving is the only album released by MD.45, which was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, along with Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies and Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy DeGrasso... - 1997 Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
- Fistful of AliceFistful of AliceA Fistful of Alice is a live album by Alice Cooper. It was released in 1997, and was recorded the previous year at Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico... - 1998 A.N.I.M.A.L.A.N.I.M.A.L.A.N.I.M.A.L. was a Groove metal band from Argentina....
- Poder Latino (session drummer) - 1998 Y&T - Endangered Species
- 1999 MegadethMegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
- Risk - 2000 Megadeth - Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth YearsCapitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years-Track listing:-Hidden track :-Bonus track :-Charts:AlbumSingles...
- 2001 Megadeth - The World Needs a HeroThe World Needs a Hero-Track listing:-Personnel:-Album:-Singles:...
- 2001 Megadeth - Behind the MusicBehind the MusicBehind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
- 2002 Megadeth - Rude AwakeningRude Awakening (Megadeth album)Rude Awakening is a live album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released by Sanctuary Records in 2002, the last release before the band broke up in 2002...
- 2002 Megadeth - Still Alive... and Well?Still Alive... And Well?Still, Alive... and Well? is a Megadeth compilation album released on September 10, 2002 and is the last Megadeth release with bassist and co-founder David Ellefson until his reunion with the band 8 years later...
- 2005 Megadeth - Greatest Hits: Back to the StartGreatest Hits: Back to the StartGreatest Hits: Back to the Start is the second greatest hits album by Megadeth. It was released in 2005 by Capitol Records. The tracklist for Back to the Start was largely the result of a poll on their official website, in which tens of thousands of fans voted for their favorite tracks from the...
- 2006 Megadeth - Arsenal of MegadethArsenal of MegadethArsenal of Megadeth is an anthology of Megadeth's first 20 years. The 2-disc DVD set contains music videos, live performances, interviews, home videos and special appearances. Arsenal of Megadeth is an EMI/Capitol release...
- 2007 Megadeth - WarchestWarchestWarchest is a box set from the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Warchest features five discs and features studio tracks, demos and live recordings of a number of the band's songs from its previous eleven studio albums and rarities EP...
- 2008 F5 - The Reckoning
- 2008 Megadeth - Anthology: Set the World AfireAnthology: Set the World Afire-Disc 1:-Disc 2:-Personnel:*Dave Mustaine - lead vocals and lead and rhythm guitar on all tracks*Marty Friedman - guitar on tracks 10–17 disc one and 1–13 and 16–18 disc two*Chris Poland - guitar on tracks 1–5 on disc one...
- 2010 Alice CooperTheatre of Death, LIve at Hammersmith 2009
- 2011 The Worshyp "Evil Abounds" (session drummer)