Gregg Bissonette is best known for his ability to play in a wide variety of styles. His credits range from the big band jazz of Maynard Ferguson to the hard rock of David Lee Roth to Britain’s loudest band, Spinal Tap.
After growing up in Detroit, Michigan, Gregg received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). While at NTSU, he played for three years in the famed “One O’Clock Jazz Band.” After graduation, he joined the Maynard Ferguson Big Band that already featured his brother Matt on bass. The band toured the world and recorded the Live in San Francisco CD. Gregg later moved to Los Angeles and that has been his home ever since where he continues to record with other artists as well as for films and television.
Gregg has played with James Taylor, Joe Satriani, Gino Vannelli, Tania Maria, Brian Wilson, Robin Zander, Yarbrough & Peoples, Toto, Ray Charles, Don Henley, Electric Light Orchestra, Andy Summers, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Steve Lukather, The Reddcoats, & many others. One of his favorite gigs came about in 1985 when David Lee Roth left Van Halen and started his own band that included Gregg on drums. They recorded three albums together: Eat ‘Em and Smile, Skyscraper, and A Little Ain’t Enough, as well as touring the globe extensively.
Gregg had the “honor and thrill” of performing with his drumming hero Ringo Starr in promotional tours for the albums Ringo Rama and Choose Love. Since 2008, Gregg has been a member of Ringo’s “All Starr Band”, performing all across the United States as well as Europe and South America. In July 2010, Gregg was part of Ringo’s 70th birthday celebration including a surprise appearance by Paul McCartney.
Gregg played on Santana’s Grammy-winning album Supernatural, including the tune “El Farol” which was named “Best Pop Instrumental” at the 2000 Grammy Awards. He also played on Larry Carlton’s and Steve Lukather’s CD No Substitutions, recorded live in Osaka,Japan, which won the Grammy for “Best Pop Instrumental Album” in 2002. Another highlight of Gregg’s career was being invited to perform on the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert and video. In 2006, he released the award-winning 2-disc DVD Musical Drumming in Different Styles (Hudson Music) and has two other instructional videos, Private Lesson and Playing, Reading and Soloing With A Band. He recently recorded video lessons for Kennan Wylie’s Drumset Method books (Hal Leonard) and has three solo CDs, Gregg Bissonette, Submarine and Warning Will Robinson.
Gregg Bissonette uses and endorses Dixon drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks, Remo heads, DW pedals, LP accessories, XL Specialty road cases (by Gator), and Direct Sound headphones. From Maynard Ferguson to Ringo Starr, from multi-platinum albums to world tours and a Grammy, Gregg Bissonette has seen his musical dreams come true.