Angel Bartolotta was born a natural drummer. From a kid banging on pots and pans, to a Billboard charting drummer touring The United States, Canada, Germany, France, England, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand. As a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, teacher, and author, Angel has devoted his entire life to the art of music.
Angel has over 100 recording credits in his discography. He is best known as the drummer for the band Skrapegoat (featuring Billy Keeton of Skrape), Dope (who’s album “No Regrets” debuted at #88 on the Billboard 200, #11 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums, and #7 on Billboard’s Independent Albums), shock-rockers Genitorturers, industrial rock pioneers PIG, cyber-metal rockers Crossbreed, nu-metal heavyweights Switched, the iconic punk band The Undead (original members of the Misfits), as well as Rikets, Crooked, Grim Faeries, Gen-XX (electro project from Gen of Genitorturers), and many other bands. He is also the founder, main songwriter and live drummer of Team Cybergeist, a collaborative music project featuring over 100 musicians from all around the world. Angel is an Artist on the DW Drums, PDP Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vater Drumsticks, Westone Audio, SkyGel Damper Pads, and Orthopedic Drum Thrones rosters. In the Summer of 2018, Angel was hand-picked as one of the drummers to perform in the Volumes exhibit at The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida.
Angel has toured and shared the stage with many well-known bands including Motley Crue, KoRn, Godsmack, Alice In Chains, Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Limp Bizkit, Five Finger Death Punch, Seether, Evanescence, Black Label Society, Sevendust, Puddle of Mudd, Mudvayne, Staind, Halestorm, Saliva, Candlebox, Orgy, Lords of Acid, Powerman 5000, Mushroomhead, Buckcherry, Volbeat, In This Moment, Insane Clown Posse, Soil, (Hed)PE, and many others at some of the world’s most famous live music venues and festivals. Angel has also spent time in the recording studio writing and tracking songs with members of Ozzy Osbourne, Shinedown, StoneSour, Hellyeah, Static-X, Nonpoint, Coal Chamber, Morbid Angel, Pigface, Soulfly, Kittie, Black Veil Brides, KMFDM, and Ministry to name a few.
Angel has a true passion for teaching, and with over twenty years of professional drumming experience, world touring and major studio sessions under his belt, he offers much more than the average drum instructor. Since 2001, Angel has been teaching private lessons both online and in-person for students from 2 years old to 80+. He also teaches group lessons and drum clinics/workshops. Angel has released eight instructional books and one DVD (available HERE). His first book, So You Want To Be A Drummer, was called “as close as a perfect beginning drum book as I have ever seen” by Modern Drummer Magazine. He is the creator of The Dinosaur Method, an easy-to-use lesson plan for kids. Angel is a member of the DW Drums Department of Education, the D’Addario Education Collective, a Zildjian Educator, and a certified member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (N.A.R.D.). He specializes in beginner lessons but also works with intermediate and advanced players who are looking to learn something new. Angel is a firm believer in the age-old saying “The success of a teacher is measured by the success of their students.” Many of his students have gone on to form their own bands (performing locally, nationally, and internationally) as well as to earn superior ratings and awards by leading their school’s marching, orchestra, concert, symphonic, and jazz bands, competing in state and national levels. Several have earned job opportunities performing overseas at Sea World in Abu Dhabi, Universal Studios in Japan, and were invited to perform in the New Year’s Day Parade in London, England. Some of his students have been awarded scholarships and accepted into prestigious music schools and colleges including Berklee College of Music. A few have studied under him and have used his mentorship to become teachers themselves.
Over the years, Angel has had the privilege of working with a variety of students, some of which experience personal hurdles of their own, such as Autism (verbal and nonverbal), ASD, Down Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, blindness, deafness and hearing loss. While each individual student faces a different challenge, one thing they have in common is they don’t let it hold them back or stop them from reaching their goals in music. Angel is extremely honored and humbled to help them along the way. Whether it be a physical, mental or genetic disability, permanent or temporary, Angel believes that music is a wonderful healer for the mind, body and soul.
In 2016, Angel and his wife Sally opened The Rock Box Music School & Stage (www.rockboxmusicschool.com), an award-winning school in North Port, Florida where growing musicians of all ages can learn how to play a variety of instruments, perform live on stage, and record in a real studio. In 2018, the school expanded into a second unit to make room for more lesson studios. And in 2021, they relocated to a brand-new location where the school currently resides. The Rock Box features 11 spacious lesson studios, a retail store, and a venue area with a full-size stage for student performances. The Rock Box has been voted among the Best of North Port every year since opening in 2016 and has won multiple Business of the Year awards. The Rock Box has paved the way for students to break into the music scene and perform locally, nationally, and internationally, appearing on mainstream television shows like America’s Got Talent (finalist) and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The school continues to grow and has maintained a solid reputation as North Port’s original music destination. In the 8.5 years under Angel’s ownership, The Rock Box Music School & Stage enrolled 2,547 students and taught 96,044 lessons. In March of 2025, Angel and Sally sold The Rock Box to EFMusic and shortly after moved to the central Florida area where they currently reside. Angel still continues to teach (including online lessons for The Rock Box) and has returned to the stage, bringing his musical journey full circle.
Certifications: DW Drums Department of Education, National Association of Rudimental Drummers (N.A.R.D.)
Endorsements: DW Drums, PDP Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vater Drumsticks, Westone Audio, SkyGel Damper Pads, Orthopedic Drum Thrones
– Performing since 1996
– Recording since 1998
– Touring since 2001
– Teaching privately since 2001
– Teaching full-time since 2014
Bands Angel has played live with: Team Cybergeist, Dope, Genitorturers, PIG, Crossbreed, Switched, The Undead, Rikets, Crooked, Gen-XX, Flying High Forever (All-Star Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne), Grim Faeries, Betty X, Guilty By Design, In Winter, MediaWhore, PsyKill, Triple Sixers, EOg, Ion, Opaquetourmaline, students of The Rock Box Music School & Stage.
Bands Angel has recorded with (including remixes): Dope, Genitorturers, PIG, Crossbreed, Team Cybergeist, Skrapegoat, Godhead, 16volt, Rikets, Beauty In The Suffering, Psychotica, Crooked, Melissa Cross, Human Factors Lab, Ten Cent Toys, Our Last Enemy, Maddie The Destroyer, Savannah Brady, Re-Birth, Michi Gray Eyes, Grave Robber, MediaWhore, As Summer Dies, Misery Coven, Sighlo, Nine Mile Drive, Wormcult, Filth Gauge, Pagan, We’re All Virus, Sin Synthetic, SevenDaysOfNight, Delivution, Balloons, Andy Johnson, Gordy Burrows, Evestus, Magenta6, Mystic Syntax, Anarchy, Animosity, EOg, Dead Inside The Chrysalis, Stay At Home Mafia, Lyrian XR, Opaquetourmaline, Squeal, students of The Rock Box Music School & Stage.
