Rick OConnell
Gig Seeker Pro

Rick OConnell

San Jose, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2019

San Jose, California, United States
Established on Jan, 2019
Band Rock

Calendar

Music

Press


This band has no press

Discography

Royal Rebels - Debut Album

Forthcoming Album (Produced by Simon Phillips)

Photos

Bio

Rick O'Connell has been playing drums since he was 7 years of age. His influences range from Toto to Van Halen and from Louis Bellson to Simon Phillips. Through high school and college he performed mostly orchestra percussion then joining the DeAnza College big band for the last two years of his college education. While in high school, he toured with the Monterey Bay Academy Westwinds ensemble where he toured across the United States and England.

After 20 years as a nurse in emergency medicine and critical care, the world of music called him back. In 2019 he filled in on drums for Frantic Romantic for their show in Mexico then accepted the invitation to join the band permanently. At the same time he was assisting the Royal Rebels band based in San Jose with recording demos for their upcoming album. The band invited Rick to join as permanent drummer and manager for the group. In September of 2020 the roles and duties in both bands required him to choose which band to devote all his attention to. His choice was quickly made as he has stayed with the Royal Rebels.

The Royal Rebels just completed their second recording session in June of 2021 at Grammy Award winning Prairie Sun Recording studios in Cotati, California. In this session the band were engineered and produced by multi-Grammy nominated drummer/artist Simon Phillips of Protocol/ Toto/ The Who/ Judas Priest/ Mick Jagger/ Pete Townsend and numerous other notable artists.

Though the music industry wasn’t always his primary focus, drumming and music always was a constant. And since 1990 the only drums he has played have been Pearl. Since his first Export kit to the  Masters Custom Maple and now to his Masterworks kit, Pearl drums and hardware have always met his needs and never let him down. In 2021 Rick joined the artist roster for Soultone cymbals and Solobeat drumstick and uses Remo drumheads exclusively.

Band Members