Bobby Rondinelli

Drum legend Bobby Rondinelli has a long and successful history in the world of rock music. He has played and recorded with such acts as Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Blue Öyster Cult and Doro. We met Bobby in last February when he visited in Finland with his "new" band "The Lizards" who were midst of their current European tour supporting for another legend Glenn Hughes. There was a talk about tour, the Lizards and of course about his old bands and some other interesting things ...
Bobby Rondinelli debuted on the international music map with his appearance on Rainbow's `Difficult to Cure' album in 1980. The record was the first of many to showcase Rondinelli's neat, precise style of drumming - his playing has always served the song, and never the other way around. Bobby quickly made a name for himself, and in short order began to accumulate accolades in fan polls and industry publications alike.

The mid-80's found him in demand as a session player; Rondinelli appeared on albums by German rockers Scorpions and Doro, as well as with his own band Rondinelli, which featured the drummer's brother, Teddy, and late singer Ray Gillen.

The early 90's found him in the studio and on the road with Quiet Riot, and in 1993 Bobby joined the first of two of heavy rock's grandest establishments, Black Sabbath. One album and two tours later, following his departure from Sabbath, Rondinelli found a permanent home with Blue Oyster Cult. Recently, Bobby took up with another group called The Lizards. Based in New York, The Lizards pay homage to classic rock tradition with blues-rocking, funk-laden grooves that are at once fresh and retro. The Fuze called Bobby Rondinelli at home in New York recently. Bobby was happy to talk to us about The Lizards, The Fudge and how his six year old granddaughter helped him overcome writer's block to finish an album.