Patrick Lee Mastelotto was
born on September 10th, 1955 in Chico, California and grew up in San Fernando Valley as the eldest of four children.
He is an autodidactic drummer and found inspiration in Todd Rundgren, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Jimi Hendrix
Experience, The Who, The Beatles, Weather Report, D.C. 5, XTC, C.S.N.&Y., PIL, INXS, Y.M.O., 10CC, Yes and P.O.C.O.
Pat’s family moved
around a lot due to his father’s construction career. He admits the situation created a sort of identity crisis. He
regrets that during high highschool years he didn’t have the discipline of formal training, didn’t know how to
read notes well and get all the fundamentals. He started drumming when he was ten and taught himself by playing along with
his records. His family moved to Los Angeles around 1971, but Pat stayed in Oroville, California.
Pat struggled for a couple
of years in different bands until he met Tony Lukyn (Tranqulity) in 1976, the first British artist he ever played with. He
taught Pat how to play in big venues. Pat played in countless bands. Baby Grand (with Michael Boddicker) and The Terrible
Lizards almost achieved a record deal.
Later he met producer Mike
Chapman who often appealed to him for session work. He played with Holly Penfield, Shandi, Holly Knight, Michael Des Barres,
Scandal, Nick Gilder, and contributed to Martin Briley’s hit ‘The Salt In My Tears’ (1983). He also formed
a band, basically put together by Mike Chapman, consisting of Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres, paired with Prescott (The
Knack) and Steve Sykes (also from Shandi). They recorded the hits ‘Obsession’, ‘Bleeding Babies’,
‘Cole Porter Night & Day’, and lots of other cool tunes. This band was crumbling into ‘device’
when Pat met the Misters. He joined in 1982 and they recorded three albums together before guitarist Steve Farris quit in
1988. After Steve left, the remaining three members got to work on the fourth album, Pull, which was never released.
During the recording of Pull
in 1989, Pat accepted the offers to play on new albums for Cock Robins and XTC. He also toured with both artists.
In the early nineties, Pat
did session work mainly for Jude Cole, The Rembrandts, Michael Penn, Ted Hawkins, and producers like Paul Fox and Tony Berg,
as well as a Richard Marx tour and other stuff.
In 1994, he managed to join
his favorite band King Crimson to form a double drummer concept with Bill Bruford. Among other projects, Pat worked with James
Newton Howard for the movie Falling Down with Michael Douglas, doing a drum/percussion moment during a Chinese parade.
In 1996 Pat also contributed to Richard Page’s solo album.
Personal Info
Full name: Patrick
Lee Mastelotto
DOB: September
10, 1955
Place of birth:
Chico, California
Constellation:
Virgo
Height: 6'0
Hair color:
Dark brown
Eye color: Blue
Married to: Connie-Renee
Children:
N/A
Parents: Moses
(building contractor); mother (MCA studio technician).
Siblings: Julie
(1959); Mike (1965); Celeste (1967).
Leisure activities:
Music
Favorite car: Old
Chevrolets
