David J Castello

“My transformation from amateur to professional drummer occurred during the incredible year I experienced with the Bonnie Parker Band.”
David J Castello

My brother Michael and I were born in the Bronx, but relocated to Boynton Beach, Florida when we were two and three, respectively. We started playing in bands in high school and soon became aware of the exploding music scene in New York City. We relocated to Manhattan in November 1976 with our band The Flying Tigers and began playing clubs like CBGB and Max’s Kansas City. Our rehearsal and living quarters were in a loft on the 7th floor at 251 West 30th Street. Blondie rehearsed on the floor below us. The Ramones rehearsed next door. It was a wild and wonderful time.

Unfortunately, our hometown band broke up and went back to Florida while Michael and I opted to stay in New York. I can’t remember how we found out that BPB was looking for a guitarist and drummer, but we went see them at a club in White Plains.

We were absolutely blown away. Bonnie, Rudy Valentino, Richie Scarlet and Billy Lomax were fantastic. Bonnie and her English manager Desmond came to see us at our loft. Michael and I played a couple of songs and they left. The next day, Desmond called to say they wanted me (Bonnie said my style reminded her of Keith Moon), but not Michael. I was flattered, but I wasn’t leaving Michael.

Fourteen months later, Bonnie and Rudy came to see us again at our new underground rehearsal space near the World Trade Center (RIP). Michael and I had been recording 8 track demos of pop songs we’d written. My wild style of drumming didn’t work with these songs, so I simplified my technique down to that of a human metronome. Desmond called the next day to say that they now wanted Michael, but not me. They didn’t like my new style of drumming.

I was stunned and told Desmond I would play whatever they wanted. They thought about it and decided to give us a chance with Michael playing guitar and keyboards.

Some of our first shows were at the notorious Dunes in Somers Point on the south New Jersey shore. This massive club was packed with coked-out bikers and beautiful women, rocked like a bitch and didn’t close until 7am. Needless to say, it opened a whole new world to me and Michael, and we evolved quickly as musicians and performers.

We began playing in the Chicago area and developed quite a following. Major acts were stopping by to see us (I’ll skip the name dropping). Then we opened for Twisted Sister when they became the first unsigned band to sell-out the Palladium a block from where I lived in Manhattan. We jammed with Rick Derringer in Albany. We blew Savoy Brown off the stage in Pennsylvania. The local press called us Amphetamine Rock.

I’ve been in many bands, but I can honestly say that nothing came close to the unbridled excitement I experienced with the Bonnie Parker Band until I toured the U.K. with BREE in 2016.

Michael, David, Bonnie, and Rudy in Chicago 1978