Jules Radino

Born in New York City and raised on Long Island, Jules Radino grew up taking lessons and hanging out at the Long Island Drum Center. I remember it was owned by the Ricci brothers—Dennis and Jerry—and it was a groundbreaking place with two locations. They were one of the first drum stores in the area to present clinics, have professional players as teachers, and always offer the latest gear. As both locations were stellar—the places to be on the East Coast for drummers (if you weren’t on 48th Street in Manhattan, or at Sam Ash in Brooklyn)—and Radino would often go back-and-forth between the two.

“I used to hang at the LIDC in Patchogue, Long Island.” says Radino. “In high school, I would go there on Saturdays with a couple of buddies, and we’d stay there all day. All of the teachers were incredible—Fred Weng, Bobby Rondinelli, and John Miceli were mainstays, and Jim Chapin, Dom Famularo, and Michael Lauren taught, as well. When they had drum clinics, they would often offer private lessons or a master class with the visiting artist. I took a few lessons with Chester Thompson and Gregg Bissonette.”

Radino played the local club scene before landing a touring gig in the early 2000s with blues guitarist Ted Horowitz (aka Popa Chubby.) Since October 2004, he has been a member of Blue Öyster Cult. Like a lot of bands, the group had to cancel tours due to the pandemic, but the members able to complete and release a new album, The Symbol Remains [Frontiers]. Now, BOC is back out playing live, and Radino is ready to rock.

July 2021 Issue