MIKE DiMEO On Playing On JOHNNY WINTER’s Grammy Winning Step Back Album – “I Am Humbled To Have Been A Part Of It All”

Vocalist Mike DiMeo (Riot, Masterplan, The Lizards) has issued a statement in the wake of guitar legend Johnny Winter posthumously winning the Grammy Award for “Best Blues Album Of The Year” on Sunday at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

DiMeo contributed all the primary keyboards to the album, released September 2nd, 2014 via Megaforce Records. The album, Step Back, features guest performances from Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Joe Bonamassa, Leslie West (Mountain) and Dr John amongst others.

DiMeo also contributed the primary keyboard work for the album’s predecessor, Roots which was released by Megaforce Records in 2011.

“It has been such a great opportunity to work with Johnny Winter on his last couple albums.Roots and Step Back were both great records in my opinion. They were basically the tunes that Johnny cited as major influences on his musical development.Songs by Little Richard, Bo Diddley, BB King and Muddy Waters. These guys are the foundation of rock music… It all comes from there… Without them there wouldn’t have been Johnny Winter,Led Zeppelin or The Rolling Stones. Having guys like Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons and Vince Gill on the records was just an added bonus.The albums really featured the best players around today, and they are all massive fans of Johnny Winter. He really deserved this Grammy!I’m so happy for him and his legacy. He struggled with so much throughout his life. It really is very touching that he won. I am humbled to have been a part of it all!”

DiMeo, regarded as one of the finest vocalists in the heavy rock scene, first came to prominence after joining the legendary New York City band Riot prior to the recording of 1994’s Nightbreaker. He went on to record six studio albums and one live album with the group before departing to join Masterplan, replacing original singer Jorn Lande for the recording of MK II in 2006. In August 2008, DiMeo announced the formation of the now defunct project, Tenpoint.

Becoming increasingly more in demand as a session and touring musician, since 2006  DiMeo has done several tours as hammond organ/ keyboard player for many artists including Bonnie Tyler, Tommy James, Vinnie Moore (UFO), country artist Lisa Matassa and Johnny Winter.

(Photo – Marion Amundsen)