It all started for me when I left Berklee College of Music in 89, The same year I got into Mike Varney's Spotlight column in Guitar Player magazine as an up-and-coming bass player. I left berklee to go on tour with Jodi Bongiovi, who was John Bon Jovi's cousin of all things!!! I got to tour and recorded at The Powerstation in New York. I played with some legendary cats including Steve Ferrone.

About a year later Zakk(Wylde) got me an audition for Lita Ford. I got the gig and toured with her for almost a year. We opened for Motley Crue on The Doctor Feelgood tour. It was awesome playing arenas!!! After Lita I joined New York underground type heavy funk band. It was members from a band call Defunkt. We played in NYC quite a bit and toured europe for 2 months. my first European experience! It was life changing.

Next I joined Vinnie Moore's band. He's a virtuoso instrumental guitarist.(plays with UFO now) We toured for a year and opened up for Rush on the Roll the bones tour. That was amazing to play with these guys!! I actually got to play Geddy's bass and jammed with Neil Peart for a minute!!! After Vinnie I was in Jersey for about a year, teaching and playing covers for $ when I went on tour with Zakk for the first time in Pride and Glory. We toured America, europe,Japan and opened up for Aerosmith in the states for a month.

A year after this, I joined a band called Drill. We did a record which I wrote 2 tunes for and tourd for a couple of years. We toured with Stabbing westward, Marilyn Manson on the Antichrist superstar tour, as well as other hardcore industrial type bands. After we did our second record, the record company went under, and that was the end of Drill.Too bad, the 2nd record had a shot. Then I got back with Zakk for Black Label Society's first tour.

We did America, Japan and europe. After the tour I stayed in Jersey for a few years teaching, recording, and practicing piano, drums and guitar. I moved to California and did some touring with Richie Kotzen. We went to South America, Spain and Korea. I've also did some recording with the hideous sun demons!! Ray Luzier and Toshi Hiketa from David Lee Roth's band.

I just recorded a track on Derek Sherinian's solo record. Crazy Yngwie style stuff!! I am currently back in Black Label Society. i did the fall tour and we're almost done recording the new record!! We hit the road in June for Ozzfest then the world again!!! I've always taught through the years and have done many clinics for Zakk, Eric Singer, Joe Franco and Vinnie Moore.Teaching is definitly one of my passions as well as producing. I am endorsed by Schecter guitars.

-JD