Jimmy DeGrasso | |
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Jimmy DeGrasso performs in 2004
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Background information | |
Born |
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States |
March 16, 1963
Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal, speed metal, funk metal, crossover thrash, hardcore punk |
Occupation(s) | Drummer |
Instruments | Drums |
Years active | 1984–present |
Associated acts | Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne, Y&T, White Lion, Fiona, Suicidal Tendencies, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, MD.45, David Lee Roth, Ministry, F5, Mama's Boys, Hail!, Dokken, Black Star Riders, Ratt |
Website | www.jimmydegrasso.com |
Jimmy DeGrasso (born March 16, 1963) is an American heavy metal drummer.
DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981 where he was a member of the world-renowned Grenadier Band.
DeGrasso has also performed with the Argentine band A.N.I.M.A.L., David Lee Roth, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne, F5, Dokken, White Lion,Suicidal Tendencies, and Y&T. More recently, DeGrasso was a member of Megadeth, and spent five years with Black Star Riders until March 2017.
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.
DeGrasso originally auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne and played on the demos of The Ultimate Sin before Ozzy and Bob Daisley had a fallout and Ozzy chose to replace the entire band except for Jake E Lee. DeGrasso then joined the veteran metal band Y&T in 1986, replacing their original drummer Leonard Haze. He remained with the group into the '90s. In 1991, he briefly filled in as White Lion's touring drummer when Greg D'Angelo left the band. 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.