Marco Soccoli, who was the drummer for New York City glam rock band Roxx, has passed away. Following his career as a musician, Marco started working for Vic Firth, and also managed drum departments for Sam Ash Music and Manny’s Music. He also worked for Evans Drumheads as Director of Artist Relations.
Although details on his passing have yet to be revealed, artist including Styx drummer Todd Sucherman, Shadows Fall / Category 7 drummer Jason Bittner, and Bobby Jarzombek (George Strait, Sebastian Bach, Fates Warning, Halford, etc.) have paid tribute.
Said Todd Sucherman: “So saddened to hear of the sudden loss of drum industry legend, Marco Soccoli. If you knew him, well, you know…old school one of a kind full of stories, merriment, and boundless energy. Many good times together— and here’s a big grappa cheers to you, old pal. RIP.”
Jason Bittner posted: “I wake up this Monday morning really hoping this was a bad dream, but sadly it is not and the drum world grieves right now as we lost one of the greatest in the passing of our dear friend and familia……..Marco Soccoli. I first met Marco back in 1989 when i used to travel down to NYC to buy cymbals off on 48th street. his drum department was always stellar, packed with gear, and a reminder of what the indusrty “used” to be like. He is also the first guy I EVER saw playing multi-pedals with his band ROXX, and this was decades before the guys who made it famous in the 2010s or so – he was doing this in 1990!! He was an innovator and a force to be reckoned with. Years later he would become a giant in the A/R field working for Vic Firth and eventually with me again when he came to ProMark for awhile (which definitely eased the blow of losing my longtime rep Kevin Radomski) knowing I would still be in the hands of my longtime friend. I cant begin to talk about all the great times we shared, the Pasics, the NAMMS, the Bonzo Bashes, every NYC show of mine no mater WHAT band I played in – he was there to support me – the only times he could not come was in the past few years because he was talking care of his mother – proving yet again FAMILIA came first!! And another thing – he was a great drummer photographer as well, and i’ve added here some shots he took of me in 2018 at Irving Plaza in NYC, one of which ended up being my main press shot for quite some time! I’ll can literally sit here all day reminiscing and thinking about all the good times we shared my friend – I love you my big Italian bro, and I will miss you!!”
Bobby Jarzombek shared, “Lot of drummers here sharing their memories of Marco Soccoli. My first time knowing who Marco was… was in 1987 when his band opened for Riot at Brooklyn L’Amour. It was my first show with Riot and it was a showcase for record label people. I watched Marco play on his total electronic DDrum kit and I thought… wow this is different and he was a really good drummer.
About a year or two later Riot is doing rehearsals in NYC and we make the stop at Sam Ash on 48th street. (Btw, for all you young kids, 48th Street there in NYC was everything music. Guitars, drums, music repair, etc… ) So we stop into Sam Ash (and it’s huge) and Marco is there answering questions, and waiting on tons of customers. Smile on his face and I thought wow, this guy is amazing!
“10 years later (in 2000) I get the gig with Rob Halford as the drummer for the ‘Halford’ band. And I’m making calls to drum companies. I call the Vic Firth people (because I’ve always loved VF sticks)… and surprisingly I’m on the phone with Marco. I signed on as an endorser with Vic Firth sticks. And at that time I thought… wow, this is a great place for Marco. He was definitely a people person and he loved bringing drummers together. We had a lot of dinners together, NAMM show gatherings. He would also come out with his camera and take the most amazing photos. Marco took these 3 photos that I have on my wall. It’s from 2010 with Halford at Madison Square Garden when we opened for Ozzy.
“Marco moved from VF to D’Addario a few years later and he was doing stuff more from the office. I’m not sure why the change. Marco was the ultimate drummer’s friend. We all loved him.
“Lastly, Riot did a version of Al DiMeola’s ‘Race With Devil On Spanish Highway’. Marco loved it. I told told him once that when I worked out the parts I took Lenny White’s ride patterns and transferred those patterns to double bass. So when Marco introduced me to other people he would say “Bobby plays Race With The Devil with his feet!” Of course nobody knew what he was talking about. Ha! I always loved that!”
John Macaluso (Ark, TNT, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.) wrote, “R.I.P. Marco Soccoli. This is terrible news! Marco was a great friend of mine for many years. He was one of a kind, a great guy and funny as can be. Marco got me my first endorsement decades ago with Vic Firth drum sticks and about 15 years ago with Promark Drum Sticks and Evans Drumheads. When I still lived in New York every year he would have the yearly drummers pool party/BBQ jam at his house in Whitestone, Queens. What a blast and something to look forward to every year, I never missed one. Amazing drummer jams in his basement with about 20 drummers and about 8 drum kits rocking all at once. I loved em’ and he will be missed big-time. Wow, this is some seriously bad news. One thing for sure, he made his mark on the world and everyone he met. Marco was a CLASSIC. R.I.P. buddy.”
The post ROXX Drummer And Industry Legend MARCO SOCCOLI Has Passed Away; Artists Pay Tribute appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Although details on his passing have yet to be revealed, artist including Styx drummer Todd Sucherman, Shadows Fall / Category 7 drummer Jason Bittner, and Bobby Jarzombek (George Strait, Sebastian Bach, Fates Warning, Halford, etc.) have paid tribute.
Said Todd Sucherman: “So saddened to hear of the sudden loss of drum industry legend, Marco Soccoli. If you knew him, well, you know…old school one of a kind full of stories, merriment, and boundless energy. Many good times together— and here’s a big grappa cheers to you, old pal. RIP.”
Jason Bittner posted: “I wake up this Monday morning really hoping this was a bad dream, but sadly it is not and the drum world grieves right now as we lost one of the greatest in the passing of our dear friend and familia……..Marco Soccoli. I first met Marco back in 1989 when i used to travel down to NYC to buy cymbals off on 48th street. his drum department was always stellar, packed with gear, and a reminder of what the indusrty “used” to be like. He is also the first guy I EVER saw playing multi-pedals with his band ROXX, and this was decades before the guys who made it famous in the 2010s or so – he was doing this in 1990!! He was an innovator and a force to be reckoned with. Years later he would become a giant in the A/R field working for Vic Firth and eventually with me again when he came to ProMark for awhile (which definitely eased the blow of losing my longtime rep Kevin Radomski) knowing I would still be in the hands of my longtime friend. I cant begin to talk about all the great times we shared, the Pasics, the NAMMS, the Bonzo Bashes, every NYC show of mine no mater WHAT band I played in – he was there to support me – the only times he could not come was in the past few years because he was talking care of his mother – proving yet again FAMILIA came first!! And another thing – he was a great drummer photographer as well, and i’ve added here some shots he took of me in 2018 at Irving Plaza in NYC, one of which ended up being my main press shot for quite some time! I’ll can literally sit here all day reminiscing and thinking about all the good times we shared my friend – I love you my big Italian bro, and I will miss you!!”
Bobby Jarzombek shared, “Lot of drummers here sharing their memories of Marco Soccoli. My first time knowing who Marco was… was in 1987 when his band opened for Riot at Brooklyn L’Amour. It was my first show with Riot and it was a showcase for record label people. I watched Marco play on his total electronic DDrum kit and I thought… wow this is different and he was a really good drummer.
About a year or two later Riot is doing rehearsals in NYC and we make the stop at Sam Ash on 48th street. (Btw, for all you young kids, 48th Street there in NYC was everything music. Guitars, drums, music repair, etc… ) So we stop into Sam Ash (and it’s huge) and Marco is there answering questions, and waiting on tons of customers. Smile on his face and I thought wow, this guy is amazing!
“10 years later (in 2000) I get the gig with Rob Halford as the drummer for the ‘Halford’ band. And I’m making calls to drum companies. I call the Vic Firth people (because I’ve always loved VF sticks)… and surprisingly I’m on the phone with Marco. I signed on as an endorser with Vic Firth sticks. And at that time I thought… wow, this is a great place for Marco. He was definitely a people person and he loved bringing drummers together. We had a lot of dinners together, NAMM show gatherings. He would also come out with his camera and take the most amazing photos. Marco took these 3 photos that I have on my wall. It’s from 2010 with Halford at Madison Square Garden when we opened for Ozzy.
“Marco moved from VF to D’Addario a few years later and he was doing stuff more from the office. I’m not sure why the change. Marco was the ultimate drummer’s friend. We all loved him.
“Lastly, Riot did a version of Al DiMeola’s ‘Race With Devil On Spanish Highway’. Marco loved it. I told told him once that when I worked out the parts I took Lenny White’s ride patterns and transferred those patterns to double bass. So when Marco introduced me to other people he would say “Bobby plays Race With The Devil with his feet!” Of course nobody knew what he was talking about. Ha! I always loved that!”
John Macaluso (Ark, TNT, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.) wrote, “R.I.P. Marco Soccoli. This is terrible news! Marco was a great friend of mine for many years. He was one of a kind, a great guy and funny as can be. Marco got me my first endorsement decades ago with Vic Firth drum sticks and about 15 years ago with Promark Drum Sticks and Evans Drumheads. When I still lived in New York every year he would have the yearly drummers pool party/BBQ jam at his house in Whitestone, Queens. What a blast and something to look forward to every year, I never missed one. Amazing drummer jams in his basement with about 20 drummers and about 8 drum kits rocking all at once. I loved em’ and he will be missed big-time. Wow, this is some seriously bad news. One thing for sure, he made his mark on the world and everyone he met. Marco was a CLASSIC. R.I.P. buddy.”
The post ROXX Drummer And Industry Legend MARCO SOCCOLI Has Passed Away; Artists Pay Tribute appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...