Vinnie Colaiuta
LegendaryCurrently Active

Vinnie Colaiuta

1956(age 70)
Brownsville, Pennsylvania, USA

The drummer's drummer—a technical virtuoso whose work with Zappa, Sting, and countless sessions set the gold standard for studio drumming.

Vinnie Colaiuta is widely regarded as one of the most technically proficient drummers in the world. His work with Frank Zappa in the late 1970s showcased his ability to play impossibly complex compositions with precision and feel. As a session musician, Colaiuta has recorded with virtually every major artist, from Sting to Herbie Hancock to Megadeth. His combination of jazz sophistication, rock power, and rhythmic creativity makes him a favorite among drummers worldwide.

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Videos

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Signature Songs

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Influences

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Influenced

Videos

Performances, tutorials, and interviews

Featured

Vinnie Colaiuta - The Black Page

Live PerformanceFrank Zappa1978

Performing Zappa's notoriously difficult piece

Vinnie Colaiuta Drum Solo

Live Performance2015

Mind-blowing technical display

More Videos

Vinnie Colaiuta with Sting

Live PerformanceSting2017

Grooving with precision on tour

Signature Songs

Tracks that define their drumming legacy

The Black Page

Frank Zappa

Zappa in New York1978

One of the most difficult drum parts ever written

I'm Tweeked

Jeff Beck

Who Else!1999

Fusion virtuosity meets rock power

Influence Map

Who influenced them and who they influenced

Influenced By

Ginger Bakersecondary

Jazz vocabulary in rock context

Bill Brufordsecondary

Compositional approach to drumming