Nick D'Virgilio
Sweetwater's Nick D'Virgilio has been a musician since the age of five. His father got sick of him hitting the pots and pans and brought home a set of 1965 blue sparkle Ludwig drums and he never looked back. The music bug had taken hold and was not going to let go.
Nick was a self-taught musician until he attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, California at the age of 17. From that point forward, Nick's professional career has been in full swing.
In 1994, Nick met the late Kevin Gilbert (Toy Matinee, Giraffe) and from that chance meeting at a ski resort nightclub, his career took off to the next level. Nick joined the UK pop group, Tears For Fears, in 1995 and played with them until 2008. In 1996, Nick replaced Phil Collins in Genesis and recorded on the album Calling All Stations. Nick has also played and recorded for such artists as Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow, Mike Keneally, Eric Burden and the Animals, and many others.
Founded in the early 1990s, Nick's original band, Spock's Beard, was simultaneously climbing the ranks in the Prog-Rock world. During his 20 years with Spock's Beard, Nick was part of ten studio releases, live DVDs, and many tours of the United States and Europe. Later in his tenure with Spock's Beard, Nick also took over the role of lead singer as well as holding the drum chair for studio recordings.
Building on the exposure and the opportunities that arose from these recording and touring credits, Nick became a busy teacher and clinician for Paiste Cymbals, Alesis, Sonic Reality, IK Multimedia, Meinl Cymbals and Percussion, Mapex Drums, Vic Firth Drumsticks, and Aquarian Drumheads. He performed and taught master classes at drum festivals, music schools, and music conventions all over the world.
In 2010, Nick joined the company Cirque Du Soleil. He was part of their touring show, TOTEM, for 4-1/2 years as drummer, lead singer, and assistant bandleader.
Nick joined Sweetwater Sound in August 2014, where he creates how-to content, demonstration videos, and product reviews. He also teaches music and pro audio classes and serves as the Sweetwater Studios' first-call session drummer.
