At age two, Jimmy DeGrasso was banging on oatmeal boxes until his parents succumbed and bought him a drum set. Eighteen years later, he moved from his hometown of Pennsylvania to Los Angeles hoping that Ozzy Osbourne would be looking for a drummer. The result? Sessions for Ozzy’s “Ultimate Sin” album. The critically acclaimed Y&T ensued in 1990, until Mike Muir snared Jimmy in ‘92 for the controlled recklessness of Suicidal Tendencies. Seattle’s Alice in Chains even enlisted the pocket dynamo for a whirlwind tour before he became a permanent fixture in shock rocker Alice Cooper’s band in 1995. DeGrasso joined the multi-platinum Megadeth on their “Cryptic Writings” tour and in the summer of ‘99, “Risk” was released. Megadeth’s, “The World Needs A Hero”, peaked in the 2001 Billboard Top 20 charts and featured DeGrasso’s consummate footwork and polyrhythmic dexterity.

DeGrasso’s versatility and musicality has earned him the title of “first call” drummer for legendary guitarists Marty Friedman and Ronnie Montrose, Lita Ford, White Lion and Stonesour and in recent times, rock’s most inimitable showman, David Lee Roth. As a clinician and educator, Jimmy has given blistering and memorable performances at every prestigious drum event in the world, including USA’s “Modern Drummer” Festival, Australia’s “Ultimate Drummers Weekend” and “Drummer Live” in the UK.

Most recently Jimmy has recorded a CD entitled ‘The Reckoning’ with the band F5 along with his old friend David Ellefson.  In 2008 Jimmy toured the world performing drum clinics in support of Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals,  Evans drum heads and Pro-Mark drumsticks.  Also introduced were Jimmy’s Signature snare drum by Pearl Drums and his signature 23” Over-Ride Cymbal by Sabian.  For 2009 Jimmy continues to perform clinics and tour with a new project called ‘Hail’ and is about to embark on another world tour with Rock Legend Alice Cooper.

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