Gregg Bissonette

Last updated
Gregg Bissonette
Gregg Bissonette, 2024 Music City Drum Show. Nashville, TN (cropped).jpg
Bissonette in 2024
Background information
Born (1959-06-09) 9 June 1959 (age 65)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • vocals
Member of
Formerly of
Website greggbissonette.co

Gregg Bissonette (born June 9, 1959[ citation needed ]) is an American jazz and rock drummer and vocalist. He is the brother of bassist Matt Bissonette, with whom he frequently collaborates. Bissonette is known for playing and recording many different styles of music. That experience led to him winning the 2023 Modern Drummer readers poll for best “All Around” drummer and also winning their 2015 category of best “Studio” drummer. He has played on albums by dozens of recording artists, including David Lee Roth's first three solo albums and has toured as part of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band since 2008.

Contents

Career

One of Bissonette's first recordings was on jazz trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson's Live from San Francisco in 1983. Brother Matt was also in the band and on the recording. He later appeared on Brandon Fields' The Other Side of the Story in 1985. It featured David Garfield on keyboards. A few years later Bissonette would start playing shows with Fields, Garfield and Steve Lukather on guitar and with John Peña on bass as Los Lobotomys. These shows took place at the Baked Potato, a jazz club and restaurant in Los Angeles, California, playing rock, Latin, and jazz.

Bissonette got his big break joining former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth. The band included guitarist Steve Vai and future Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan. During 1985–1992 Gregg appeared on all three US Billboard 200 hit albums Eat 'Em and Smile (no.4) Skyscraper (no.6) and A Little Ain't Enough (no.18) [1] and the subsequent world tours. [2]

In 1990 and 1993, Bissonette released drum videos Private Lesson [3] and Playing, Reading & Soloing with a Band, [4] [5] respectively. Private Lesson covers a variety of topics including double bass drumming, rudiments (with a backsticking technique from the snare drum solo Tornado [6] by Mitch Markovich), playing with a metronome and brushes.

From 1994 to 2004, he played on the musical interludes for every episode for the TV show Friends . [7]

In late 1995, Toto was beginning their Tambu tour when Simon Phillips developed back problems. Phillips asked Bissonette to fill in for him during the tour's first leg.

He played drums on one track on Santana's album Supernatural (1999). [8] In 2007, he recorded on the album La La Land by Daniel Glen Timms. [9]

In 2001 he was set to play on the Electric Light Orchestra's Zoom Tour Live with his brother Matt on Bass. The tour was cancelled after two televised performances: one at the CBS Television City on PBS and one on VH1 Storytellers.

Bissonette started playing double drums with Ringo Starr in 2003 in his band Ringo and The Roundheads. This band also included his brother Matt Bissonette on bass. Gregg has been a member of Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band since. (2008–present)

Bissonette in 2018 Bissonette.png
Bissonette in 2018

In 2013 Bissonette released his 3rd solo album where he plays drums and sings called Warning Will Robinson. This album also features his brother Matt on bass and backing vocals.

Bissonette played on Steve Lukather's 2021 album, I Found the Sun Again. With eight songs on the album, he played seven songs while Ringo Starr played one.

2021 was the release of The Reddcoats debut album. The album features Gregg and Matt Bissonette on drums and bass with Andy Timmons on guitar, Wally Minko on keyboards and Mike Medina on percussion.

Also in 2021 was the release of the debut album of The Red Locusts, again with Gregg on drums and his brother Matt on bass with Rick Springfield on guitar and vocals.

Bissonette can be heard on a number of rock instrumental and progressive rock albums, including The Extremist by Joe Satriani, Temporal by Shadrane, Deep Forest by Deep Forest, Bass Invader by Martin Motnik, Inner Galactic Fusion Experience by Richie Kotzen, Shadow King by Steve Fister, Revolution Road by Rocket Scientists, In the Eye of Time by Vox Tempus, Bug Alley [10] and the soundtrack to the movie The Endless Summer II by Gary Hoey. [11]

In 2012, Bissonette played drums on several tracks featured on Docker's Guild's album The Mystic Technocracy: Season 1: The Age of Ignorance, the progressive rock space opera masterminded by the French-American musician, teacher, and ethno-musicologist Douglas R. Docker. [12]

In 2024 Gregg and his brother Matt's band The Reddcoats released its second album, “Reddcoats 2”, which also features Andy Timmons, Ron Pedley, Wally Minko and Mike Medina. The album is 1/2 instrumental and 1/2 with Matt Bissonette on vocals. The album is a mix of pop, funk, fusion and Beatles influenced tunes throughout.

Discography

ArtistAlbumYear
Maynard Ferguson Live from San Francisco1983
Yarborough and PeoplesHeart Beats1983
Brandon FieldsThe Other Side of the Story1985
David Lee Roth Eat 'Em and Smile 1986
Keiko Matsui A Drop of Water 1987
David Lee Roth Skyscraper 1988
Pat KellyViews of the Future1989
Frank Gambale Thunder from Down Under 1990
David Lee Roth A Little Ain't Enough 1991
Joe Satriani The Extremist 1992
Steve Bailey Dichotomy1992
Tab BenoitNice and Warm1999
L.A. Blues AuthorityL.A. Blues Authority1992
Stan Bush Every Beat of My Heart1992
Lanny CordollaOf Riffs and Symphonies1992
Ann LewisRockadelic1993
Robin Zander Robin Zander 1993
Joe Satriani Time Machine 1993
Circus of Power Magic & Madness1993
Vasco RossiGli Spari Sopra1993
Brandon Fields Brandon Fields1994
Gary Hoey The Endless Summer II soundtrack 1994
Milos Dodo Dolezal/Guy Mann-DudeMilos Dodo Dolezal/Guy Mann-Dude1994
Joe Satriani Joe Satriani 1995
Richie Kotzen Inner Galactic Fusion Experience1995
Wayne Watson Field of Souls1995
Bryan Duncan Christmas Is Jesus1995
Jason Becker Perspective1995
Andy Summers Synaesthesia1995
Mustard SeedsMustard seeds1996
Enrique Iglesias Enrique Iglesias 1996
Larry Carlton The Gift1996
Steve Vai Fire Garden 1996
Ron Kenoly Welcome Home1996
Gary Hoey Bug Alley1996
Steve FisterShadow King1997
Steve Lukather Luke 1997
Pat Boone In a Metal Mood:
No More Mr. Nice Guy
1997
KalapanaCaptain Santa Island Music1997
Andy Summers Last Dance of Mr. X1997
Michael ThompsonThe World According to M.T.1998
Gregg BissonetteGregg Bissonette1998
Paul Anka A Body of Work1998
Bette Midler Bathhouse Betty1998
Luis VillegasCafe Ole1998
Matt Bissonette Spot1998
Bass Extremes Cookbook1998
KomboBig Blast1999
Steve Vai The Ultra Zone 1999
Santana Super Natural 1999
Carl VerheyenSlingshot1999
Matt Bissonette Spot 22000
Duran Duran Pop Trash 2000
Don Henley Inside Job 2000
David Benoit Great Composers of Jazz2000
Jann ArdenBlood Red Cherry2000
Gregg BissonetteSubmarine2000
Crush Velvet CowboysCrush Velvet Cowboys2000
Gordon GoodwinSwingin for the Fences2001
Larry Carlton
& Steve Lukather
No Substitutions: Live in Osaka 2001
Steve MindickSo It Begins2001
Lana LaneCovers Collection2002
JugheadJughead2002
Rico GarciaThe Beginning2002
Lana LaneWinter Sessions2003
Eric NorlanderMusic Machine2003
Engelbert Humperdinck Definition of Love2003
Under-RadioBad Heir Ways2003
Steve Lukather Santamental 2003
Dan RamseyGentle Giants2003
Robert Downey Jr. The Futurist2004
Chester E. SmithMonster Groove Party2004
Raizing LazarusRaising Lazarus2004
Rocket RichotteSalute2004
Vox TempusIn the Eye of Time2004
Deep ForestDeep Forest2004
Matt Bissonette Oh No! Bass Solo!2004
Owen KortzOwen Kortz2004
Ryan CabreraTake it all2004
Richard Marx My Own Best Enemy2004
Matt SwindellsMatt Swindells2004
Matt SwindellsMatt Swindells Here2005
Ozzy Osbourne Under Cover 2005
Ten by TuesdayTearing Down the Walls2005
Dan RamseyEverybody's Songs But My Own2005
Martin MotnikBass Invader2005
Brian Setzer Dig That Crazy Christmas2005
Steve Vai Real Illusions: Reflections 2005
Ray Charles Genius and Friends2005
Brian GhigliaMystery2006
Dave C. NormanStratosfear2006
Santo GarofaloFurther Up and Further In2006
Phil Soussan Vibrate2006
Eric NorlanderHommage Symphoniqe2006
Michele PillarI Hear Angels Calling2006
Globus Epicon2006
Dave RogersBlow Your Mind2006
Lou Rawls Lou Rawls Christmas2006
Various Artists80's Metal Tribute to Van Halen 2006
Rocket ScientistsRevolution Road2006
Harry Shearer Songs Pointed and Pointless2007
Katharine McPhee Katharine McPhee2007
Sasha & ShawnaSiren2007
Mick AbrahamsRattlesnake Shake Guitar:
Music of Peter Green
2007
CodeThe Enemy Within2007
Cal Leonard
and His Orchestra
Mr. Irrelevant2007
Daniel Glen TimmsLa La Land [9] 2007
Keith Emerson Band:
featuring Marc Bonilla
Keith Emerson Band2008
OverlandBreakaway2008
Chris BoardmanMidtown Moves2008
Mustard SeedsMustard Seeds 32008
Marco CardonaInstrumentality2008
ShadraneTemporal2008
Dick WagnerFull Meltdown2009
Colin Hay American Sunshine2009
Spinal Tap Back from the Dead 2009
Norm StocktonTea in the Typhoon2009
Jason SaditesWeve2009
Randy JacobsThe Return of Randy Dynamite2010
Grand IllusionBrand New world2010
Ralf JungThe Art of Pop2010
The Doobie Brothers World Gone Crazy2010
Mark Nilan Jr.Hands On2010
Ringo Starr Live at the Greek Theatre 20082010
Jet VelvetJet Velvet2010
Dave C. NormanHigher Ground2011
Cindy Horstman
and Friends
Fretless2011
Abby Cubey & MargaritaDevil Dressed in Lace2011
Barry Manilow 15 Minutes2011
Globus Break From This World2011
Mari Hamada Legenda 2012
Docker's GuildThe Mystic Techocracy:
Season 1: The Age of Ignorance
2012
Gianni De ChellisBondage2013
Gregg BissonetteWarning Will Robinson2013
Ringo Starr Postcards From Paradise 2015
Mari Hamada Mission 2016
Ringo Starr Give More Love 2017
Mari Hamada Gracia 2018
Norm StocktonGrooves & Sushi2019
Charly ZurcherEleven2020
Steve Lukather I Found The Sun Again 2021
The Red Locusts The Red Locusts2021
Globus Cinematica2022
Bass Extremes S'Low Down2022
Mari Hamada Soar 2023

[13] [14] [15]

Television soundtracks

Movie soundtracks

Gregg Bissonette's movie soundtrack credits include the following:

See also

References

  1. "David Lee Roth". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  2. "Bio ‹ Gregg Bissonette". Greggbissonette.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  3. Gregg Bissonette (1990). Private Lesson (VHS). New York: DCI Music Video. OCLC   22866873 . Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  4. Olson, Rex; Bissonette, Gregg (1993). Playing, Reading & Soloing with a Band (VHS video). Miami, Florida: CPPMedia : DCI Music Video. OCLC   32400704.
  5. Bissonette, Gregg (1993). Bill Reeve (ed.). Playing, Reading & Soloing with a Band (Musical score). Chris Brady. Miami, Florida: Manhattan Music. OCLC   68957968.[ dead link ]
  6. Markovich, Mitch (1966). Tornado. Rudimental Contest Series (musical score ed.). Creative Music. OCLC   7895690. 10-305.
  7. "Gregg Bissonette on Dream Gigs with Ringo Starr and David Lee Roth, Avoiding the Spinal Tap Curse". Rolling Stone . 28 July 2020.
  8. "Supernatural - Santana". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Daniel Glen Timms: Discography". Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  10. "Gary Hoey: Discography". GaryHoey.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  11. 1 2 "The Endless Summer II: Credits". GaryHoey.com. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  12. "LION MUSIC - the progressive, neoclassical & hard rock label". lionmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  13. "Gregg Bissonette: credits". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  14. "Gregg Bissonette: Discography". greggbissonette.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  15. "Gregg Bissonette". discogs.com. Retrieved 2025-02-11.