James LoMenzo

James LoMenzo (born January 13, 1959) is an American musician, currently the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. LoMenzo was a member of White Lion,[1] performing with them from 1984 to 1991. He was later the bassist for Black Label Society and Slash's Snakepit. In August 2021, LoMenzo was announced as the touring bassist for Megadeth following David Ellefson's dismissal and in June 2022 was announced as a permanent replacement.[2][3] Outside music, he is known for being a contestant on the 21st season of the reality television series The Amazing Race.

James LoMenzo
LoMenzo performing in 2008
LoMenzo performing in 2008
Background information
Born (1959-01-13) January 13, 1959
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Bassist
Years active1978–present
Member ofMegadeth
Formerly ofWhite Lion, Black Label Society, Pride & Glory, Slash's Snakepit, David Lee Roth's Band
Websitejameslomenzo.com

Early life and career

LoMenzo is the son of Italian immigrants, and was raised in Bensonhurst. He graduated from Xaverian High School in 1977.

Early days, White Lion, Zakk Wylde, and other projects (1977–2005)

In the late 1970s, LoMenzo started in a band called "Empty Sky", a rock band with hints of jazz. The band was based out of Brooklyn and was one of the biggest up-and-coming young bands. LoMenzo was the lead vocalist and bassist. The band consisted of Robert Littera on lead guitar, Julie Pontecorvo on trumpet, Marco Lagana on trombone, Frank Bonanno on tenor saxophone, Oscar Olivera on drums, Vincent Chirico on rhythm guitar and John Buccellato on electric piano. The band broke up as the members began to mature and take their separate career paths.

LoMenzo played bass with Clockwork, his first original hard rock band from 1980 to 1983. He then went on to play in the band Rondinelli with Ray Gillen, before joining White Lion in 1984.

LoMenzo played bass with White Lion from 1984 to 1991. He would go on with bandmate Greg D'Angelo to play with former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, and then later with Zakk Wylde's side-project Lynyrd Skynhead who evolved into Pride & Glory, who released one album in 1994.[4] Although he left the band during their 1994 tour, he returned to play on Zakk Wylde's 1996 solo album Book of Shadows. He had a brief stint in the recording studio with Ozzy Osbourne in 1994, but material from the sessions were not used, and Ozzmosis was re-recorded with different musicians the next year. In 1995, LoMenzo, along with Pride & Glory drummer Brian Tichy, joined Slash's Snakepit as touring musicians. He was a member of David Lee Roth's band in the late 1990s and early 2000s and performed on his album Diamond Dave.

In 2004, LoMenzo rejoined Zakk Wylde in his band Black Label Society until October 2005, when he was replaced by Black Label Society's original bassist John DeServio.

Megadeth (2006–2010, 2021–present)
LoMenzo with Megadeth at Hellfest 2022

From February 2006 to February 2010, LoMenzo was the bassist of thrash metal band Megadeth. The first Megadeth record he performed on was 2007's United Abominations. LoMenzo also performed on the band's next album, Endgame, which was released in 2009. In February 2010, it was announced that original Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson would rejoin the band, replacing LoMenzo.[5]

In August 2021, it was announced that LoMenzo had returned to Megadeth as Ellefson's replacement for the band's upcoming tour. Ellefson had been fired from the band three months prior in May 2021.[6] In May 2022, Megadeth confirmed on their website that Lomenzo was again a permanent member of the band.[7]

Other ventures (2010–2021)

In 2010, LoMenzo played bass for Lynch Mob. He is also part of the band Hideous Sun Demons. In October 2013, he joined John Fogerty's band.

LoMenzo played bass on the album Get Your Rock On by X-Drive, which was released in August 2014 via Frontiers Records and produced by Led Zeppelin engineer Andy Johns. He is also featured on the Sweet & Lynch album Only to Rise featuring Michael Sweet, George Lynch, and Brian Tichy, which was released in 2015.

As of June 2020, LoMenzo plays for the band Firstborne, the first project created by Chris Adler (Lamb of God, Megadeth).

Other ventures

LoMenzo is also a graphic artist and did the art work for Gilby Clarke's solo album Rubber in 1998. Also, in 1997, he did the photos in Mike Tramp's first solo album Capricorn. LoMenzo is also a member of a tribute band called HAIL!. HAIL!'s rotating cast of members include Andreas Kisser, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Paul Bostaph, David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy, Jimmy DeGrasso, and Roy Mayorga. Owens, DeGrasso, Ellefson and Kisser formed the band in late 2008.[8] The band toured Europe in 2009, and in June 2010, HAIL! was on their second European tour with the line-up Andreas Kisser, Tim Owens, Paul Bostaph, and LoMenzo.[9][10] Due to the death of previously announced Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, LoMenzo agreed on only one day's notice to fly to Portugal and play the Rock in Rio festival where HAIL! was scheduled to perform on May 30, 2010. Lomenzo also joined Lynch Mob in late July 2010, replacing Marco Mendoza. LoMenzo previously jammed with Lynch Mob drummer Brian Tichy in both Pride & Glory and Slash's Snakepit.

On August 29, 2012, LoMenzo was announced as a cast member of The Amazing Race 21 along with his partner Mark "Abba" Abbattista. They ended up in 6th place out of 11 teams and were the sixth team eliminated at Sokolniki Park in Moscow, Russia due to an unsuccessful search for Abba's stolen passport.

In October 2014, LoMenzo briefly joined former Megadeth members Nick Menza and Chris Poland for an unnamed project. Shortly after announcing this project, LoMenzo left, to be replaced by OHM bassist Robby Pagliari. Nick Menza would go on to join OHM as drummer, filling the role left by David Eagle's death.[11][12]

Gear

LoMenzo is best known for his frequent use of the Warwick Buzzard bass and Warwick Stryker bass. His amplification section is dominated by Ashdown amps and cabinets. His effects pedals include Dunlop Crybaby, MXR Chorus, MXR Distortion, and Aphex Punch as well as other pedals. He has his own signature pedal, the Ashdown Lomenzo Hyperdrive. His rig bears a strong resemblance to that of John Entwistle, who also used Ashdown amps and Buzzard basses (which he designed himself). LoMenzo's live rig can be seen here.[13] He is an endorser of RotoSound bass strings. He is also known to play a spyder model Alembic bass guitar. He was also seen playing a Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass for the entirety of the 2007 Megadeth Tour of Duty. As of September 2008, LoMenzo has been seen playing a Yamaha BB Custom Shop model which has a slightly smaller body than a standard BB, two pairs of P bass pickups (one reversed), a neck pickup based on a Dimarzio Model One, a maple neck, and a Hipshot D-Tuner. Some Megadeth photos show LoMenzo playing Yamaha Attitude Ltd models that also have the P-bass/neck pickup and D-tuner configuration.[14]

Discography
With Rondinelli
  • Wardance (recorded c. 1985, released 1996)
With White Lion
With Pride & Glory
With Zakk Wylde
With Gilby Clarke
With Mike Tramp
With David Lee Roth
With Hideous Sun Demons
  • Hideous Sun Demons (2004)
With Black Label Society
With Megadeth
With Tim "Ripper" Owens
With X-Drive
  • Get Your Rock On (2014)
With Sweet Lynch
  • Only to Rise (2015)
  • Unified (2017)
With Lamb of God
With John Fogerty
  • 50 Year Trip: Live at Red Rocks (2019)

References
  1. Prato, Greg. "Biography: White Lion". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  2. Concepts, Lucid Design. "Megadeth James LoMenzo Joins Megadeth as Permanent Bass Player". Megadeth. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  3. Childers, Chad (May 31, 2022). "Megadeth Announce Permanent Replacement for David Ellefson". Loudwire. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  4. Paul, Alan (November 4, 2011). "Zakk Wylde Discusses Pride & Glory, His New Band (and Album), in 1994 Guitar World Interview". Guitar. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  5. "Blabbermouth.Net - Megadeth Rejoined By original bassist David Ellefson". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  6. "MEGADETH Recruits Bassist JAMES LOMENZO for Upcoming Tour". Blabbermouth. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  7. Concepts, Lucid Design. "Megadeth James LoMenzo Joins Megadeth as Permanent Bass Player". Megadeth.com. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  8. "Official Home of Hail!". Hailthemasses.com. April 27, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  9. "Official Home of Hail!". Hailthemasses.com. April 27, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  10. "Hail! to Continue Tour Despite Paul Gray's Passing - in Metal News". Metal Underground.com. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  11. "Former Megadeth Members Chris Poland, Nick Menza, James Lomenzo Unite In New Project". Blabbermouth.net. November 1, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  12. "JAMES LOMENZO Exits New Project Feat. Fellow Ex-MEGADETH Members NICK MENZA, CHRIS POLAND". October 30, 2015.
  13. "Ashdown Engineering". Ashdownmusic.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  14. "Photographic image" (PDF). I.ytimg.com. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
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