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Steve Ferrone | |
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 Ferrone in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Stephen A. Ferrone (1950-04-25)25 April 1950 (age 75) Brighton, Sussex, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Website | steveferrone |
Stephen A. Ferrone (born 25 April 1950) is an English drummer. He was a member of the rock bandTom Petty and the Heartbreakers from 1994 to 2017, replacing original drummerStan Lynch, and was part of the "classic lineup" of theAverage White Band in the 1970s. Ferrone has recorded and performed withMichael Jackson,Eric Clapton,Phil Collins,George Harrison,Duran Duran,Stevie Nicks,Laura Pausini,Christine McVie,Rick James,Slash,Chaka Khan,Bee Gees,Scritti Politti,Howard Jones,Aerosmith,Al Jarreau,Mick Jagger,Johnny Cash,Todd Rundgren andPat Metheny. Ferrone also hostsThe New Guy radio show onSirius XM's Tom Petty Radio.
Ferrone played with the bandBloodstone, appearing on their 1975 albumRiddle of the Sphinx. He then began playing withBrian Auger's band Oblivion Express, which had previously featured drummerRobbie McIntosh.
McIntosh later joined theAverage White Band, but just after releasing their first number-one album, he died of aheroin overdose. Ferrone was asked to join AWB in his place and stayed with them for the next eight years, recording and playing concert tours to support several hit albums, until AWB broke up in 1982.[1]
Since appearing onChaka Khan's 1978 debut album, Ferrone went on to play on most of her subsequent albums in the 80s, including "Naughty" with former AWB band memberHamish Stuart. In 1985, Ferrone joined theSaturday Night Live house band and was there for the 1985–86 season.[2] He contributed as session drummer forDuran Duran on theNotorious,Big Thing,Duran Duran, andThank You albums. He also toured with Duran Duran on the Strange Behaviour Tour in support ofNotorious. He also toured and recorded withEric Clapton from 1986 to 1992. During rehearsals in London for the George Harrison tour, he played drums for Duran Duran atAbbey Road Studios and recorded "Ordinary World." In 1991, Ferrone played drums on the George Harrison tour in Japan including three nights at the Tokyo Dome.[2]
Ferrone met guitaristMike Campbell ofTom Petty and the Heartbreakers when the two played a show withGeorge Harrison as part of his Hari and the Hijack band atRoyal Albert Hall. He became the band's full-time drummer after the departure of original drummerStan Lynch in 1994. Ferrone's first album with the band was Tom Petty's second solo outingWildflowers, released that same year.[2] His first live performance as a member of the Heartbreakers was inLouisville,Kentucky on 28 February 1995.
In November 2002, Ferrone set up Drumroll Studios in Burbank, California with financial advisor Alan Arora and the technical expertise of producer John Jones, with whom he had worked since Duran Duran's "Ordinary World" in 1992.[citation needed] Later, they were joined by guitarist and producer Steve Postell. Together they recorded and produced albums and tracks for a variety of musical acts, as well as film and TV scores.
In 2010, Ferrone played on the eponymous first solo album bySlash, and joined the Italian bandPooh. He also worked on a collaborative project with composer and musician Eric Alexandrakis, guitarist and composerWarren Cuccurullo, and producer and songwriterAnthony J. Resta. Explaining the purpose of that project in aModern Drummer news release, Alexandrakis said, "The four of us decided to create a scoring collective to pursue scoring projects in TV themes, film and advertising."[3][4] In August 2018, he was announced as drummer forDire Straits Legacy prior to their first US tour, consisting of 10 dates.[5]
On 10 July 2019, Ferrone was inducted into theBrighton Music Walk of Fame in his hometown ofBrighton, England.[6] That same year, he recordedsession drums forStroke 9's studio album,Calafrio.[7]
As of July 2024, Ferrone is on the road as the drummer for Mike Campbell's solo project,The Dirty Knobs.[8][9]
Stephen A. Ferrone was born on 25 April 1950 inBrighton, Sussex.[10][11]
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