Drummer Michelangelo Carubba Stepping Away From Touring After 2 Decades On The Road
“It’s heartbreaking and heavy for me to stop doing what I love. It’s not forever. You’ll see me again.”
By Andy Kahn Aug 20, 2024 • 8:40 am PDT
Drummer Michelangelo Carubba announced he will take a break after 21 years as a professional touring musician. Carubba made the announcement in a message shared on social media.
Carubba is a member of Cool Cool Cool, which he co-founded with members of his former band Turkuaz following that group’s disbandment. Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew recruited Carubba and Cool Cool Cool to back them on recent tours celebrating the Talking Heads album Remain In Light.
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Singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau recently tapped Carubba to be a member of his touring band. Carubba was a co-founding member of Dopapod before leaving to join Turkuaz, and has performed with Death Kings, Organ Freeman, Pimps Of Joytime and numerous others.
Notably, Carubba’s message announcing his break from touring stated, “It’s not forever. You’ll see me again.”
Carubba’s longtime bandmate saxophonist/vocalist Josh Schwartz parted ways with Cool Cool Cool earlier this year. Cool Cool Cool is next scheduled to perform on Thursday, August 22 at the Levitt Pavilion Dayton in Dayton, Ohio as part of The Eichelberger Concert Series.
Read Carubba’s full statement below:
“By the Grace of God , the moment I graduated highschool in 2003, I got a call to sub a gig for a national touring tribute band that was coming through Buffalo. I took it, and after that show, they offered me the permanent job. That changed my life. I’ve been a touring drummer ever since.
“For the last 21 years, my drumming and my love for people has taken me across this planet. For that I am grateful.
“I take a lot of pride in my drumming. I’m grateful for having been given the chance to give something back that is of some value to this world I love.
“My pocket comes from Nikki Glaspie. She taught me everything I needed to know as a young drummer. She showed me the roadmap to connect the most ancient primal art with the deepest part of my soul. I took what her drumming did to me and I’ve tried to make it my own. To call her a friend, a homie, my sister and my greatest inspiration is an honor. For that l, and for her, I am grateful.
“The way I do it requires a lot of me. Relaxation and intense exertion at the same time. It’s joyous and taxing. It’s dichotomous to no end. I love it and it drains me. Currently I don’t have the energy to keep doing it. Everything else about this life, combined with my own choices over the last 20 years, have brought me now to a point where I really need to rest. I need to refocus my energy. I need to sit down, and be alone, and really come back to myself.
“For those reasons, I will be stepping away from touring. The families I have in my fellow artist brothers and sisters understand and support my decision, because they love me and know that this is right decision for me at this time in my life. I am eternally grateful for that.
“It’s heartbreaking and heavy for me to stop doing what I love. It’s not forever. You’ll see me again.
“But if you know and love me, understand that this is what I have to do. I know this deeply in my heart.
“As much as I want the way I play the drums to be the mark I leave on this beautiful world, I need to be whole before that can happen. And I am not whole right now. I am disintegrated.
“Please go see live music. Please support artists. Please support independent venues. Buy the merch. Buy your tickets ahead of time. Go and tip your bartenders, even if it’s for a bottle of water. Leave a great review for an awesome club you went to. It is SO IMPORTANT.
“Music gives us so much. It’s given me so much.
“For that, I am eternally grateful.
“I love you. Yes, you. See y’all someday soon.”
