Jason Rullo (Hackensack, 1972) has been playing drums in Symphony X since the started in April 1994.



He has been featured in the Modern Drummer readers' polls and is considered to be one of the top 30 rock drummers of all-time. He also performed on the 2003 self-titled album by Redemption, a super group including Michael Romeo (also of Symphony X) and members of Prymary and Fates Warning.



Thomas Walling drummed in Symphony X for a short while in 1999, temporarily replacing Jason Rullo.



After the critically acclaimed "The Divine Wings of Tragedy" (1997) Jason Rullo decided to leave the band. He was replaced by Thomas Walling. With Walling on drums Symphony X released "Twilight in Olympus" in 1998. This release garnered both greater critical kudos and greater sales.



However, newcomer Walling decided that he was not up to touring for the album. Departed Rullo rethought his exodus and came back into the Symphony X fold. Jason Rullo has never left.



How it all started...

Jason Rullo had taken a few lessons for piano and guitar but nothing had really grabbed him yet. Acutally he starte playing drums on therapeutic basis ina way: Rullo's mother had read that hitting something was a good form of therapy, and since his father had just passed, she was concerned about that. Rullo:

"I was eleven at the time and she asked if I wanted to get some sticks and a pad and I lit up at the idea. Then a cousin of mine told me he had a drumset sitting in his closet collecting dust and offered it to me, so of course I jumped on it."

Jason Rullo had grown up listening to Stevie Wonder and bands like Earth, Wind, and Fire but by that time his main influences were Alex Van Halen and bands like Iron Maiden. He had lessons for only about 4 months and he was more interested in playing Van Halen songs than practicing his rudiments.

"Then I discovered Rush and the world of progressive music while still listening to some heavier stuff as well....everything from Slayer and King Diamond to Zeppelin. A few years later I started getting into fusion and jazz also...Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, Tony Williams, Frank Zappa, Miles Davis and the list goes on and on. As far as drummers I would have to add names like Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Simon Phillips, Terry Bozzio, Steve Gadd, Manu Katche, Steve Smith, Jeff Porcaro and of course Buddy Rich. Now I listen to all kinds of stuff depending on the mood I am in."

When Rullo was 16 he found out that Sonny Igoe was living and teaching in the same samll town he lived in so he started studying with him, which he did on and off for about three years.



After High School Rullo attended Drummers Collective and graduated the Certificate Program there.



About important turning points in his musical career Rullo tells:

"The first was when I started taking lessons with Sonny, the next was one of my first concerts (Spyro Gyra) with the very talented Richie Morales on drums, which was when I realized I really had to make a life of drumming. After that I would say Drummers Collective, which took my playing and awareness to another level. Then it was the first show with Symphony X, which was in Japan. I think for the whole band it got us right over that nervousness and made us a real band. More recently I would have to say being named on the Modern Drummer readers' poll."

(source: symphonyx.com)