Rob De Luca
{{Short description|American musician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{coi|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rob De Luca
| image = Rob_de_luca_2011.jpg
| caption = De Luca in 2011
| instrument = Bass, vocals
| genre = Hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal
| occupation = Musician, songwriter, producer
| years_active = 1989–present
| current_member_of = Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach, {{nowrap|Of Earth}}
| past_member_of = UFO
| website =
}}
Rob De Luca is an American bassist and vocalist, best known for playing in UFO and as a founding member of Spread Eagle. He has also toured with Sebastian Bach, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Of Earth and Helmet.{{cite web|title=Rob De Luca Interview|date= July 3, 2008|url= http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/spread-eagle-interview/|publisher=Music Legends|access-date=July 3, 2013}}
Early years
De Luca started playing guitar at the age of 15.{{Cite web|url=http://www.getreadytoroll.com/interviews/robdeluca.htm|title=GET READY TO ROLL!|website=Getreadytoroll.com|access-date=March 28, 2023}} He first played bass in a band called Bang.{{cite web|url=http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/spreadeagle/spreadeagle.shtml|title=Sleaze Roxx: Spread Eagle|website=Sleazeroxx.com}} When the members of Bang met vocalist Ray West, Spread Eagle was born.
Spread Eagle
Spread Eagle formed in 1989 and after just a few months of rehearsals they signed a record deal with MCA/Universal Records. They have released three albums: their debut Spread Eagle in 1990, Open to the Public in 1993 and Subway to the Stars in 2019. The debut album was recently voted as one of the top 20 glam albums of all time (along with Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Hanoi Rocks and Skid Row).{{Cite web|url=http://www.uberrock.co.uk/features/84-september-features/3025-uber-rocks-top-20-glam-albums-of-all-time.html|title=Über Röck – September 2011|website=Uberrock.co.uk|access-date=March 28, 2023}}
In 2006, a remastered version of the album was released via Lovember Records.
Despite being quite popular among their fans, they never achieved major commercial success and disbanded around 1995.
Spread Eagle reunited in 2006 and are currently together and touring.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elektra.com/|title=Elektra Entertainment|website=Elektra.com|access-date=March 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/spreadeaglenyc|title=Spread Eagle|website=Facebook.com}} In January 2018, the band signed with Frontiers SRL Records for a 2019 studio album release, produced by De Luca.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl/photos/a.124014497654610/1617642208291824/|title=Facebook post from 8 January 2018|website=Facebook.com|access-date=March 28, 2023}}
Of Earth
Of Earth is a four-piece psychedelic/progressive band from NYC fronted by Rob De Luca on vocals and bass. Their self-titled debut album was mastered by Howie Weinberg and released on February 14, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://ofearth.bandcamp.com/|title=OF EARTH|website=Ofearth.bandcamp.com|date=February 14, 2013}} The album was reviewed by New York Music Daily and referred to as an "Art-Rock Masterpiece".{{cite web|url=http://newyorkmusicdaily.wordpress.com/2012/10/|title=October - 2012 - New York Music Daily|website=Wordpress.com}} In a 2012 interview with Music Legends, De Luca confirmed that he is working on the follow-up album.{{cite web|url=http://musiclegends.ca/?s=rob+de+luca|title=You searched for rob de luca - Music Legends|website=Musiclegends.ca|date=July 26, 2018 }} On February 21, 2013, Of Earth released the lead off single "Prototype" from their sophomore album The Monarch.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=186555|title=Rob De Luca's Of Earth To Release 'The Monarch' This Spring |website=Blabbermouth.net|date=February 21, 2013}}
In March 2013 Classic Rock magazine nominated "Prototype" for Track of the Week in a poll that also included David Bowie's song "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" from his album The Next Day. Of Earth won the competition collecting more than two times as many votes as Bowie, who ranked No. 2.[http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/music_and_videos/tracks-of-the-week-results-of-earth-beat-bowie/ Classic Rock – Tracks Of The Week results: Of Earth bash David Bowie!], Classicrockmagazine.com In June 2013 Classic Rock magazine again nominated Of Earth for Track of the Week, this time for the song "Heart of the Hard Drive". Of Earth won for the second straight time, gaining almost one third of all votes and beating Nine Inch Nails, Shinedown, Megadeth and Queensrÿche.[http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/music_and_videos/tracks-of-the-week-results-of-earth-scoop-the-top-spot-again/ Classic Rock – Tracks Of The Week results: Of Earth scoop the top spot again!], Classicrockmagazine.com In February 2015, Of Earth's song "Sweep the Fire" was chosen as Classic Rock magazine's Track of the Week.{{cite web|title=Classic Rock's Tracks Of The Week|url= https://classicrock.teamrock.com/features/2015-02-06/classic-rock-s-tracks-of-the-week-13|publisher=Classic Rock|access-date=April 14, 2015}} The song, from the album The Monarch, marks their third consecutive single being picked as Classic Rock magazine Track of the Week.
Sebastian Bach, Helmet
De Luca joined the Sebastian Bach band in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.underground.pcdome.hu/cikk.php?id=16616|title=Underground Magazin - zenei s kulturlis hrek, lersok, fotk|website=Underground.pcdome.hu}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lovemberrecords.com/news_archive/2011_archive/interview-2011-01.html|title=News|website=Lovemberrecords.com}} They have toured worldwide as direct support for Guns N' Roses and as a headliner.{{cite web|url=http://www.sleazeroxx.com/news09/1030bac.shtml|title=Sleaze Roxx: Sebastian Bach To Support Guns N'Roses On Canadian Tour|website=Sleazeroxx.com}} In 2006, De Luca did the entire leg of the Guns N' Roses Canadian tour playing bass in
both support acts (Sebastian Bach and Helmet). Helmet's previous bassist was refused entry at the Canadian border, so De Luca had four
hours to learn their ten-song set before going onstage at Winnipeg's MTS Centre. By the next
day at Calgary Saddledome, he already knew their full twelve song set.{{Cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=news&id=7142|title=Melodic Net|website=Melodic.net|access-date=March 28, 2023}}
UFO
File:2022 Lieder am See - UFO - Rob De Luca - by 2eight - 9SC4723.jpg
De Luca was recruited by the British hard rock band UFO in 2008 when former bassist Pete Way was unable to get his U.S. work visa.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ufo-stand-in-bassist-for-u-s-tour-announced/|title=UFO: Stand-In Bassist For U.S. Tour Announced|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=March 10, 2008 |access-date=October 4, 2014}} They've since toured worldwide. De Luca joined UFO in the studio recording their acclaimed 2015 album A Conspiracy Of Stars, also contributing songwriting.{{cite web|url=http://www.ufo-music.info/index.html|title=UFO are currently recording their new album|website=Ufo-music.info|access-date=October 4, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-11-20/ufo-head-for-the-stars|title=UFO head for the stars|website=Classicrock.teamrock.com |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 23, 2014}} On September 29, 2017, UFO released their 22nd studio album, the self produced The Salentino Cuts, including De Luca on bass.{{cite web|url=http://www.ufo-music.info/albums.htm|title=UFO - ROCK BAND - ALBUMS|website=Ufo-music.info |date=September 29, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017}} De Luca remained in UFO until the band called it quits in April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/phil-mogg-ufo-lights-out-interview-2024/|title=How UFO Aimed for the Stars With 'Lights Out'|website=ultimateclassicrock.com|date=13 April 2024|access-date=18 April 2024}}
Studio work and additional touring
De Luca has recorded for producer Steve Lillywhite{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/distorted-lullabies-mw0000003367/credits|title=Distorted Lullabies - Ours | Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=March 28, 2023}} and for engineer Tom Camuso.{{cite web|title=Grammy Awards – Past Winners Search|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=%22Tom+Camuso%22&field_nominee_work_value=&year=2007&genre=All|website=Grammy.com|access-date=October 4, 2014}}{{cite web|title=OF EARTH album notes|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ofearth|website=Cdbaby.com|access-date=October 4, 2014}} He has also toured and/or recorded with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, George Lynch (Dokken/Lynch Mob), Vinnie Moore and Mike Chlasciak (Halford).
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{UFO}}
{{Sebastian Bach}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:De Luca, Rob}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:American rock musicians
Category:American rock bass guitarists
Category:American male bass guitarists
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:20th-century American bass guitarists
Category:21st-century American bass guitarists