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Joey DeMaio


Member

1980- Manowar - bass, guitars, keyboards  

Personal information

Born on: 06.03.1954

Joey DeMaio (born March 6, 1954, Auburn, New York) is an American bass player and main songwriter for the power metal band Manowar which he co-founded in 1980. He is also the founder and CEO of Magic Circle Music.

Born in Auburn, New York, he was a childhood friend of Manowar singer Eric Adams. DeMaio played bass in several school bands. In the 1970s he toured with the musical Godspell (premiere in 1971 in New York City), taking musical lessons with the conductor. He worked as a pyro-tech for Black Sabbath during their "Heaven and Hell" tour. He is known to display his technical abilities and playing speed during solos both on Manowar studio recordings and live shows, often covering classical parts such as "Flight of the Bumblebee", which DeMaio has retitled "Sting of the Bumblebee" in reference to his high-speed renditions of the piece. DeMaio has mentioned that he is a practitioner of martial arts and weight training, and is also a great fan of motorcycles. He is famous for his piccolo bass sound. His refurbed basses have a distinct sound. Worked on by tech John "Dawk" Stillwell. His older basses have sold for high prices to acclaimed musicians such as "Soldier" who uses one Rickenbacker bass on the Sleepy Hollow albums Legend and Lazarus Project.

In 2006, shortly after creating the record label Magic Circle Music, he became manager of the Italian metal band Rhapsody of Fire. He is also a producer for the band HolyHell.