About rob affuso

drumming for Skid row

Rob is best known as the drummer from Skid Row, the immensely popular rock band during the 1980’s and 90’s. Skid Row’s 1991 album Slave to the Grind was the first rock album in history to debut as the number one album in America, selling over 22 million albums worldwide. Four Skid Row singles charted on Billboard’s Top 100, including two in the top three on the charts, and seven number one videos, including the longest running number one video of MTV’s history at the time. In 1990, Skid Row was the recipient of the “Best New Artist” award at the American Music Awards.

“I am blessed that touring with Skid Row took me to every remote corner of the globe for 10 years….and got PAID!,” Affuso said. And tour they did. Skid Row performed on mega, worldwide tours with Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Guns-N-Roses, Motley Crue and Metallica, selling out arenas and stadiums worldwide.

Recording with music royalty

Rob has also recorded albums with some of the most iconic names in music. Affuso laid down the groove for Duff McKagan’s 1993 album Believe In Me, playing drums on “F@*K You” featuring Jeff Beck on guitar. Rob also was featured on Gilby Clarke’s 1994 debut album, Pawnshop Guitars, performing a cover of the Stone’s “Dead Flowers” with an all-star lineup.

In 2009, Rob was called upon to join actor, Jill Hennessey (Law & Order, Crossing Jordan, The Good Wife, Madame Secretary) to record her debut album, Ghost In My Head with members of the Dixie Chicks, R.E.M, Alejandro Escovedo, and Joe Ely.

A lover of ALL music styles, Rob was once heard lamenting “playing the same style music all of the time is like eating steak for dinner every night!” This passion for music took Rob across the country, where he gave instructional performance concerts on drumming.

Soulsystem orchestras

Rob also formed the 12-piece band Soulsystem, which performs many of his favorite old-school soul, R&B, Motown and swing/big band classics. By the time Skid Row disbanded in 1998, the Soulsystem band’s success in corporate and private entertainment had parlayed itself into the highly regarded entertainment company, Soulsystem Orchestras Music & Production (SSO), based in New York, NY. Soulsystem and the ensuing company SSO continues to provide world-class private entertainment and event production around the country and world today.

Old Friends, new music

In April of 2015, Rob was asked by old friends Pat Gasperinic (Producer), and John Regan (Bassist, Frehley’s Comet, Peter Frampton), to join the ranks of FOUR BY FATE along with Frehley’s Comet cohort and lead vocalist Tod Howarth to record the “Relentless” album. Rob says of the union, “It was truly inspiring to come into a room full of smiles and good energy and play powerful rock-n-roll music again!”

Currently, Rob continues to manage the Soulsystem brand around the world while also creating the educational, conversational experience with his “Rob Affuso Master Class” series.

Rob - an NYU graduate specializing in marketing and PR - is an adjunct professor at a private New York State University, Mount St. Mary College teaching “Music Business” and sits on the Business School Advisory committee. Affuso has been featured in many drumming and musician magazines, including Modern Drummer, Rhythm, and Rolling Stone