Mike DiMeo (born November 29, 1968) is an American

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

/ heavy metal vocalist, best known for his work in the band

Riot A riot or mob violence is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The p ...

, which he left in late 2006. He recorded six studio albums and one live album with the group before departing to join Masterplan for the recording of '' MK II'' in 2006.

Career

Deep Purple

DiMeo was known only in the New York club scene when asked by

Ritchie Blackmore Richard Hugh Blackmore (born 14 April 1945) is an English lead guitarist. He was a founding member and the guitarist of Deep Purple, one of the pioneering bands of hard rock. After leaving Deep Purple in 1975, Blackmore formed the band Rainbow ...

to join

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

. In 1992, he recorded some demos with

Roger Glover Roger David Glover (born 30 November 1945) is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as a member of the hard rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. As a member of Deep Purple, Glover was inducted into the Rock and Roll ...

for what later became '' The Battle Rages On...''. Against Blackmore's wishes, the rest of the band decided to reunite with

Ian Gillan Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice. Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan ...

instead, and the recorded demos have never been released.

Riot

In the early 1990s, DiMeo was playing heavily in the tri-state area with original band Josie Sang, which also featured on guitar

John Melendez John Edward Melendez (born October 4, 1965), also known as Stuttering John, and The Duke of the Dabbleverse, is an American entertainer. He is best known for being a staff member on ''The Howard Stern Show'' from 1988 to 2004. Initially workin ...

(''

The Howard Stern Show ''The Howard Stern Show'' is an American radio show hosted by Howard Stern that gained wide recognition when it was radio syndication, nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from WINS-FM, WXRK in New York City, between 1986 and 2005. The sho ...

'', ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...

).'' He gained a strong reputation as a singer and frontman, earning him an invitation to join

as the new lead singer in 1993. DiMeo did several Japanese and European tours with the band, including an appearance at the legendary

Wacken festival Wacken Open Air (, abbreviated as W:O:A) is a heavy metal music festival, held annually since 1990 on the first weekend of August in the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Almost all styles and subgenres of hard rock and metal ...

in Germany in 1998. His final recording with the band was the 2006 release, '' Army of One''.

The Lizards

DiMeo joined The Lizards in 2005 and recorded four studio albums with the band. They also released a live DVD featuring recordings of their live performances from around the world including a performance at the

Sweden Rock Festival Sweden Rock Festival is a rock festival outside the town of Sölvesborg in Blekinge in southern Sweden. The festival offers the best possible mix of classic rock, hard rock, metal, blues and related genres. The first version of the festival, k ...

in 2005.

Masterplan

DiMeo joined German

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in co ...

band Masterplan in 2006, and he recorded Lost and Gone EP and MK II with the band, and toured Europe opening for British

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

band

Saxon The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...

. They also toured Japan and played some European festivals before DiMeo announced his departure from the band via his Myspac
Mike Dimeo (mikedimeomusic) on Myspace
page on January 11, 2009.

Tenpoint

On August 8, 2008, DiMeo announced a project with a New York City hard rock band called Tenpoint.

Midas Fate

DiMeo recorded the single "What Dreams May Come" with the band Midas Fate in late 2010. It was released in early 2011 in anticipation of a full-length album, scheduled for release in 2013. In May 2013, it was announced that the former Angra drummer,

Aquiles Priester Aquiles Priester (born 25 June 1971) is a Brazilian drummer. He is currently the drummer of Brazilian power metal band Hangar, and progressive metal bands Midas Fate and Noturnall. As a tour drummer, Priester has played with Paul Di'Anno, Vi ...

, had joined Midas Fate. The album Magnificent Rebel was planned for release in November 2013, but according to the band's Facebook page, there is as of yet no release date for the new album.

Johnny Winter

Mike DiMeo was the session keyboard player for

Johnny Winter John Dawson Winter III (February 23, 1944 – July 16, 2014) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. Winter was known for his high-energy blues rock albums, live performances, and slide guitar playing from the late 1 ...

's 2011 album ''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusin ...

''. He contributed piano, electric piano, and

Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...

on several tracks. The album also featured special guests

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He played in a number of local bluegrass music, bluegrass bands in the 1970s, and from 1978 to 1982, he achieved his first mainstream attention after ta ...

Warren Haynes Warren Haynes (born April 6, 1960) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as longtime guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was ...

Derek Trucks Derek Trucks (born June 8, 1979) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of The Derek Trucks Band. He became an official member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1999. In 2010, he formed the Tedeschi Trucks Band with his wife, blues si ...

Sonny Landreth Clide Vernon "Sonny" Landreth (born February 1, 1951) is an American blues musician from southwest Louisiana who is especially known as a slide guitar player. He was born in Canton, Mississippi, and settled in Lafayette, Louisiana. He lives in Br ...

, and others. DiMeo performed live with the Johnny Winter band for the CD release party at B.B. King's in New York City. Dimeo was the keyboard player on

's last studio album, '' Step Back''. It features performances by a number of guest musicians, including

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. His music combined New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul and funk. Active as a session mus ...

Billy Gibbons William Frederick Gibbons (born December 16, 1949) is an American rock musician, best known as the guitarist, primary vocalist, and only constant member of ZZ Top. He began his career in Moving Sidewalks, who recorded '' Flash'' (1969) and op ...

from

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For almost 56 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard (musician), Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill prior to his death in 2021. ZZ ...

, Joe Perry from

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

, and

Brian Setzer Brian Robert Setzer (born April 10, 1959) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly group Stray Cats, and returned to the music scene in the early 1990s with ...

from the

Stray Cats Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer, double bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in ...

. It was released by

Megaforce Records Megaforce Records is an American independent record label founded in 1982 by Jon Zazula and his wife Marsha Zazula to release the first works of Metallica, and devoted primarily to hard rock and heavy metal. It has offices in New York City (whe ...

on September 2, 2014. As on Winter's previous studio album,

the songs are mainly blues standards. '' Step Back'' was released posthumously as Winter had finished recording the album and prior to the release, played a concert tour in Europe before he died on July 16, 2014. The album debuted at No. 1 on the

Billboard charts The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ' ...

for Blues Albums and Independent Albums, and at No. 17 on the Billboard 200. '' Step Back'' won the

Grammy Award for Best Blues Album The Grammy Award for Best Blues Album was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the blues genre. Honors in severa ...

at the 2015 Annual

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

Vinnie Moore

DiMeo was the keyboard player and vocalist for

UFO An unidentified flying object (UFO) is an object or phenomenon seen in the sky but not yet identified or explained. The term was coined when United States Air Force (USAF) investigations into flying saucers found too broad a range of shapes ...

guitarist

Vinnie Moore Vincent Moore (born April 14, 1964) is an American guitarist and a former member of the British hard rock band UFO (band), UFO. Biography Moore was born in New Castle, Delaware. He began his professional career at age 12 after receiving a ...

during his 2010 European solo band tour. Other performances with

Moore Moore may refer to: Language * Mooré language, spoken in West Africa People * Moore (surname) ** List of people with surname Moore * Moore Crosthwaite (1907–1989), a British diplomat and ambassador * Moore Disney (1765–1846), a senior ...

have since included New York City's legendary

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

club The Iridium, and the 2012

NAMM Show The NAMM Show is an annual trade show in the United States organized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), which describes it as "the industry’s largest stage, uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology commun ...

Anaheim, CA Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the tenth-most ...

and The

Monsters of Rock Monsters of Rock was a hard rock and heavy metal music festival. It was originally held annually in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as th ...

Cruise in 2016. Dimeo played keyboards and sang on the track "Rise" which Moore and Dimeo co-wrote for Moore's 2022 album ''Double Exposure'', released in November 2022.

Brand New

DiMeo played Hammond Organ on ''

Science Fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

'', the fifth studio album by American rock band Brand New. The album's title and track listing were officially revealed on August 17, 2017, after several weeks of speculation, hints and leaks with its physical release on October 20, 2017. It was both a critical and commercial success, being met with universal acclaim and becoming Brand New's first number one album on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart.

Phenomena

DiMeo was the vocalist on "The Sky Is Falling", a track on Tom Galley's 2010

Phenomena A phenomenon ( phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable Event (philosophy), event. The term came into its modern Philosophy, philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which ''cannot'' be ...

album "Blind Faith".

Tommy James and the Shondells

DiMeo has been the Hammond Organ player for retro rockers

Tommy James and The Shondells Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. The band has had two No. 1 singles in the U.S.: " Hanky Panky" (1966), the band's only RIAA Certified Gold record, and "Crimson and Clover" (1969). The ...

, since 2007. James' hits include "

Mony Mony "Mony Mony" is a song by American pop rock band Tommy James and the Shondells, released in 1968 as the second single from the album of the same name. It reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 3 in the U.S. Written by Bobby Bloom, Ritc ...

", "

Crimson and Clover "Crimson and Clover" is a 1968 song by American rock band Tommy James and the Shondells. Written by the duo of Tommy James and drummer Peter Lucia Jr., it was intended as a change in direction of the group's sound and composition. "Crimson an ...

" and "

Draggin' the Line "Draggin' the Line" is a hit song by American rock musician Tommy James, who went solo after the Shondells disbanded in 1970. It was first released as the B side of "Church Street Soul Revival" in 1970. The song was judged to have some hit pote ...

", and he has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Bonnie Tyler

DiMeo has done several North American tours playing keyboards for

Bonnie Tyler Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins; born 8 June 1951), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, is a Welsh singer. Known for her distinctive husky voice, Tyler came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album '' The World Starts Tonight'' and its ...

whose hits include "

It's a Heartache "'It's a Heartache'" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. Written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and co-produced with David Mackay, the single was released in November 1977 by RCA Records. The song topped the charts in Australia, ...

" and "

Total Eclipse of the Heart "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is the lead Single (music), single by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler from her fifth studio album, ''Faster Than the Speed of Night'' (1983) written and produced by Jim Steinman and recorded in 1982, released as a single ...

Jaimoe

Dimeo was the keyboard player for

Jaimoe John Lee Johnson (born July 8, 1944), frequently known by the stage names Jai Johanny Johanson and Jaimoe, is an American drummer and percussionist. He is best known as one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band and, with the death ...

drummer and founding member of

The Allman Brothers Band The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969. Its founding members were brothers Duane Allman (slide guitar, lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards), as well as Dickey Betts ( ...

and his jazz-rock collective known as Jaimoe's Jasssz Band at the legendary venue My Father's Place on April 27, 2019.

Leslie West

Dimeo played keyboards on ''Legacy: A Tribute to

Leslie West Leslie Abel West (born Weinstein; October 22, 1945 – December 23, 2020) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the co-founder, guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Mountain. West was named the 245th greatest guit ...

''. The album originally scheduled to begin recording weeks before his death features a variety of guitarists. That group of musicians including

Slash Slash may refer to: * Slash (punctuation), the "/" character Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Slash (Marvel Comics) * Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') Music * Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band * Nash th ...

Yngwie Malmsteen Yngwie Johan Malmsteen (; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, on 30 June 1963) is a Swedish-American guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical metal, neoclassical playing style in heavy metal music, heavy metal, and has ...

Zakk Wylde Zachary Phillip Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt; January 14, 1967) is an American rock musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and as the founder, lead guitarist, lead singer, songwriter and producer of the heav ...

, Charlie Starr

Blackberry Smoke Blackberry Smoke is an American country rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2001. The lineup consists of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Charlie Starr, lead/rhythm guitarist Paul Jackson, bassist Richard Turner and keyboardist Brandon Stil ...

and many others, came together to record the album which was officially released on March 25, 2022, on

Mascot Records Mascot Records is a record label and rock music subsidiary of Mascot Label Group. Artists * 10 Years * King Falcon *Agent Steel *Black Country Communion * Black Label Society * Black Stone Cherry *Bootsy Collins * Calva Louise * Crobot * Conque ...

Other artists

Australian

band Ilium released their album, ''Ageless Decay'' in June 2009 featuring DiMeo on vocals.
In 2010, DiMeo appeared on debut album '' Tears of white roses'' of Czech melodic power metal band Sebastien, released on November 19 via Escape Music.

Discography

*1994 '' Nightbreaker'' –

*1996 ''

The Brethren of the Long House ''The Brethren of the Long House'' is Riot band, Riot's ninth studio album. It was first released in Japan on November 11, 1995, in Germany in 1996, and eventually in the United States in 1999. The album is dedicated to the lost culture of Nativ ...

'' –

*1998 ''

Inishmore Inishmore ( , or ) is the largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland. With an area of and a population of 820 (as of 2016), it is the second-largest island off the Irish coast (after Achill) and most populo ...

'' –

*1998 '' Shine On Live in Japan'' –

*1999 ''

Sons of Society ''Sons of Society'' is the eleventh studio album by American heavy metal band Riot, released in Japan on July 15, 1999, and in the US on September 7, 1999, with a missing track. Track listing * "Queen" is a standard track on the original Jap ...

'' –

*2002 '' Through the Storm'' –

*2004 ''Cold Blooded Kings'' –

The Lizards ''The Lizards'' (, also known as ''The Basilisks'') is a 1963 Italian comedy-drama film written and directed by Lina Wertmüller. It was Wertmüller's directorial debut. Plot Francesco, Sergio, and Antonio are three privileged young individuals ...

*2005 ''Against All Odds'' –

*2006 '' Army of One'' –

*2007 '' Lost And Gone EP'' – Masterplan *2007 '' MK II'' – Masterplan *2008 ''

Archeology Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscapes. Archaeolo ...

'' –

*2008 ''4-2-11'' Live DVD –

*2009 ''Ageless Decay'' – Ilium *2010 ''A New Beginning'' – Creation's End *2011 ''What Dreams May Come (single)'' – Midas Fate *2011 ''Genetic Memory'' – Ilium *2011 ''

'' –

*2014 '' Step Back'' – Johnny Winter *2014 ''Metaphysical'' - Creation's End *2015 ''Reptilicus maximus'' – The Lizards *2017 ''

'' – Brand New *2022 ''Legacy : A Tribute To

'' – Various artists *2022 ''Double Exposure –

References

External links

Mike DiMeo at MySpaceThe Lizards' official websiteMasterplan's official websiteMike DiMeo joins Creation's End
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimeo, Mike 1968 births Living people American heavy metal musicians American heavy metal singers Tommy James and the Shondells members Riot (band) members Masterplan (band) members American people of Italian descent