Background
Rondinelli took up drumming at the age of 11, having previously played guitar.Bobby joined a band called The Wanders at age 13, playing school dances and fraternity parties. Later in his teens, Bobby and his guitarist brother Teddy started their first band, Tusk. Bobby then spent a spell drumming with New York based band Samantha, and while with this group first came to the attention of Ritchie Blackmore, who in June 1980 asked him to join his band Rainbow, replacing long-time drummer Cozy Powell. At this time Rondinelli missed out on replacing Peter Criss of Kiss to Eric Carr due to Carr's ability on vocals.
Rondinelli played with Rainbow until 1983, featuring on studio albums "Difficult to Cure" (1981) and "Straight Between the Eyes", and on an August 1982 performance recorded live in San Antonio, TX for commercial video release as "Live Between the Eyes"; his bare-handed drum solo from this show being featured.
Rondinelli also recorded the drum parts for the Scorpions' big-selling 1984 Love at First Sting album. No confirmation exists that any of his contributions made the final album cut. Guitarist Rudolf Schenker wanted him to join the Scorpions full-time but as the first successful German rock band in America management wanted to keep the band German.
He played with Black Sabbath on the albums Cross Purposes and Cross Purposes Live and was a member in 1994-1995. He also played in the bands Rondinelli and Sun Red Sun with vocalist Ray Gillen, and also was the drummer for Gidget Gein and the Dali gaggers fearturing Gidget Gein.
Rondinelli then joined Blue Öyster Cult, remaining with the band from 1997–2004 and returning briefly in 2008.
Between 2004-2008 he played in the New York-based The Lizards, founded by ex-Cactus bassist Randy Pratt and guitarist Patrick Klein.
From 2008-2010 Rondinelli then joined other ex Rainbow musicians in the Rainbow tribute "Over the Rainbow" Band members consisted of Joe Lynn Turner, Jurgen Blackmore, Paul Morris, and Greg Smith.His most recent tour with Over the Rainbow ended in 2010 in Finland.
In mid 2010 Rondinelli joined Foghat, substituting for original drummer Roger Earl who was recovering from surgery.
Rondinelli regularly holds drum clinics and is co-author of The Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming published by Modern Drummer.
A long-time endorser of Ludwig Drums, He also uses Attack drumheads, Paiste cymbals and gongs, and he plays with Vater sticks.
For instance, with "Over the Rainbow", Rondinelli utilised a Ludwig Legacy kit 14" x 26" bass drum, 9"x 13" tom, 16" x 16" and 16" x 18" floor toms, and 6.5" x 14" Black Beauty Snare drum. Paiste Cymbals and Gongs 24 2002 Ride, 20 ,18,17, 2002 Crashes,15 Sound Edge Hi Hats 2002, 14 Sound Edge Hi Hats, 10 Micro Hats, 20, 18 18 Chinas 2002, 10 Splash 2002, 16 Trash set, 38 or 50 Symphonic Gong.
He is currently playing with the band Buttered Soul on Long Island, New York with Craig Hopping, Bobby Canovas, Rick Rosenthal, and Anthony Romano.
Read more about this topic: Bobby Rondinelli
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