Michael Urbano
Encyclopedia
Michael Urbano is a studio drummer, band member, programmer, and record producer.
One of his first gigs was as a member of Bourgeois Tagg, a 1980s band that was fronted by Brent Bourgeois
and Larry Tagg and included Lyle Workman as the guitarist. They had moderate success with their second album, Yo-Yo, which was produced by Todd Rundgren
, and featured the Top 40 hit, "I Don't Mind At All." When Bourgeois Tagg split, Michael, Larry, and Lyle recorded and toured with Todd Rundgren for his Nearly Human
Tour.
He is perhaps best known today for being drummer for pop rock group Smash Mouth
. He originally joined the band briefly in mid-1999, replacing original drummer Kevin Coleman, and performed during the first portion of their Astro Lounge
tour, though was soon replaced by touring drummer Mitch Marine. When Mitch Marine departed, he joined Smash Mouth permanently in early 2000. He stayed for six years and departed on February 14, 2006. Before Smash Mouth, Urbano had played drums with The Spent Poets, The Kinetics, Deathray
, Third Eye Blind
, John Hiatt
, Black Lab
, Cracker
, Paul Westerberg
, Red House Painters
, Willy DeVille
, and Sheryl Crow
. While with Hiatt (1995–1999), Urbano toured extensively as one of Hiatt's "Nashville Queens" that included bassist Davey Faragher (now with Elvis Costello
) and guitarist David Immergluck
(now with Counting Crows
). The Nashville Queens also worked with Hiatt in the studio, recording Walk On
, Little Head
and Crossing Muddy Waters
. Smash Mouth is the most recent band to have Urbano as a full member.
In 2006 Urbano left Smash Mouth due to creative differences. He recently recorded with Fischerspooner
and played live with Cake
as well as leading Artist Development at fuzz.com.
In July 2007, he worked with Luciano Ligabue
for recording a new song: 'Niente paura'. In early 2008 he became a band member with Luciano Ligabue, playing drums for the European Tour, and through mid-2008 in the main stadiums of Italy fo ElleSette tour. He was in the band also in the seven dates at Verona Arena
among September and October 2008 with the Arena's orchestra, repeated in the same months of 2009 in ten concerts.
Michael Urbano rejoined Smash Mouth in June 2009, but was replaced by Randy Cooke
in 2010 .
One of his first gigs was as a member of Bourgeois Tagg, a 1980s band that was fronted by Brent Bourgeois
Brent Bourgeois
Brent Thomas Bourgeois is an American rock musician, songwriter, and producer. He was co-leader of the band Bourgeois Tagg with Larry Tagg, and has released several solo albums. His later work has been classified in the genres Pop and Contemporary Christian Music.- Early career :Born in New...
and Larry Tagg and included Lyle Workman as the guitarist. They had moderate success with their second album, Yo-Yo, which was produced by Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, and featured the Top 40 hit, "I Don't Mind At All." When Bourgeois Tagg split, Michael, Larry, and Lyle recorded and toured with Todd Rundgren for his Nearly Human
Nearly Human
Nearly Human is a 1989 album by Todd Rundgren, and his second for Warner Bros. Records. His first release in four years time - the longest break in Rundgren's discography up to that point, although he had been active as a producer in the intervening years - the album has a soulful, searching,...
Tour.
He is perhaps best known today for being drummer for pop rock group Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
. He originally joined the band briefly in mid-1999, replacing original drummer Kevin Coleman, and performed during the first portion of their Astro Lounge
Astro Lounge
Astro Lounge, released in 1999, is the second full length album from the Californian rock band Smash Mouth. It includes the single "All Star", which reached number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie Shrek...
tour, though was soon replaced by touring drummer Mitch Marine. When Mitch Marine departed, he joined Smash Mouth permanently in early 2000. He stayed for six years and departed on February 14, 2006. Before Smash Mouth, Urbano had played drums with The Spent Poets, The Kinetics, Deathray
Deathray
Deathray was a band from Sacramento, California formed by former Cake members Greg Brown and Victor Damiani, and Dana Gumbiner, a musician formerly of the Sacramento indie band Little Guilt Shrine....
, Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The songwriting duo of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed the band's first major label recording contract with Elektra records in 1996 resulting in two multi platinum albums. The band's lineup...
, John Hiatt
John Hiatt
John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
, Black Lab
Black Lab
Black Lab is an alternative rock band founded in Berkeley, California and currently based in Los Angeles and Montana.They released one album on Geffen Records, entitled Your Body Above Me, and scored two rock radio hits in the US, "Wash It Away" in 1997 and "Time Ago" in 1998...
, Cracker
Cracker (band)
Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring founders/songwriters singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Euro-Trash Girl", and "Get Off This".Founders Lowery and Hickman...
, Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg
Paul Westerberg is an American musician, best known as the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s. He launched a solo career after the dissolution of that band...
, Red House Painters
Red House Painters
Red House Painters were an alternative rock group formed in 1989 in San Francisco, California by singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek.-History:While in Atlanta, Georgia, Ohio-born Kozelek became friends with Anthony Koutsos, a drummer. He then moved to San Francisco, California, adding guitarist Gorden...
, Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille was an American singer and songwriter. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary...
, and Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
. While with Hiatt (1995–1999), Urbano toured extensively as one of Hiatt's "Nashville Queens" that included bassist Davey Faragher (now with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
) and guitarist David Immergluck
David Immerglück
David Immerglück is an American multi-instrumentalist who is best known as a guitarist in the alternative rock bands Counting Crows, Camper Van Beethoven and the Monks of Doom...
(now with Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
). The Nashville Queens also worked with Hiatt in the studio, recording Walk On
Walk On (John Hiatt album)
Walk On was singer-songwriter John Hiatt's thirteenth album, released in 1995. It was his first album with Capitol Records.-Track listing:All tracks written by John Hiatt#"Cry Love" – 4:20#"You Must Go" – 5:01#"Walk On" – 5:11...
, Little Head
Little Head
Little Head was singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fourteenth album, released in 1997. It was considered a big flop commercially as well as musically despite the fact that Hiatt and his band produced the album...
and Crossing Muddy Waters
Crossing Muddy Waters
Crossing Muddy Waters was singer-songwriter John Hiatt's fifteenth album, released in 2000. A raw album recorded with no drummer, it was a purely acoustic album that brought elements of bluegrass music into his Americana sound. The title of the album is an intentional double entendre, referencing...
. Smash Mouth is the most recent band to have Urbano as a full member.
In 2006 Urbano left Smash Mouth due to creative differences. He recently recorded with Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner is an electroclash duo and performance troupe formed in 1998 in New York. The name is a portmanteau of the founders' last names, Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner...
and played live with Cake
Cake (band)
Cake is an American alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. Consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Gabe Nelson and drummer Paulo Baldi, the band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and...
as well as leading Artist Development at fuzz.com.
In July 2007, he worked with Luciano Ligabue
Luciano Ligabue
Luciano Ligabue , more commonly known as Ligabue or Liga, is an Italian rock singer-songwriter, film director and writer.-Biography:...
for recording a new song: 'Niente paura'. In early 2008 he became a band member with Luciano Ligabue, playing drums for the European Tour, and through mid-2008 in the main stadiums of Italy fo ElleSette tour. He was in the band also in the seven dates at Verona Arena
Verona Arena
The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy, which is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind....
among September and October 2008 with the Arena's orchestra, repeated in the same months of 2009 in ten concerts.
Michael Urbano rejoined Smash Mouth in June 2009, but was replaced by Randy Cooke
Randy Cooke
Randy Cooke is an established Canadian drummer, percussionist, session musician, and touring musician.-Biography:Influenced by his drummer father, Cooke picked up the drums as a child, learning and playing as part of a local drum corps before starting his own bands as a teenager...
in 2010 .