Lee Patrick Mastelotto, born on September 10th, 1955 in Chico, California grew up all over California as the eledest of five children. He is an autodidactic drummer and was inspired, like most young drummers in the 60’s, by the 'two R’s'-Radio and Ringo. But it wasn’t long before his audio entusiansum led his ear to everything from Hank Williams to Bela Bartok. Ginger Baker and Michael Giles became his drumming icons, Lennon and Rundgren his songwriting heros.
As a child living in Northern California it seemed Pat's family moved every few months due to his father's jobs. He admits the situation created a sort of identity crisis.
Around the age of 10 Pat started to drum. He learned by playing along with records and regrets that during these early years he didn't have the discipline of formal training, nor learn to read notes well and get all the fundamentals. In 1971 his family moved to Los Angeles while Pat stayed behind living in Oroville, California.
Around the age of 16 Pat played in the most popular local bands and, while going to school, drove three hours every night to Lake Tahoe to gig and then back to be at school in time. By now studio drummers like Jim Gordon and Jim Keltner had become his role models. In 1973 he moved to San Francisco with his band, but when the band imploded he moved down to L.A.
After a few months of starving he moved back with his folks. His father now had a long term freeway project in the San Fernando Valley. He even took drum lessons with neighbor Joe Porcaro (Toto), but stopped after only three lessons, which he also regrets. His first L.A. recording gig was with Juice Newton, but when the record came out a year or two later, he noticed Jeff Porcaro and Hal Blaine had redone the drum parts. This more firmly planted the seed of ‘session drummer’.
Throughout the seventies Pat played in countless bands. "Baby Grand" (with Michael Boddicker) and others almost achieved record deals.
This lead to meeting producer Mike Chapman who often appealed to him for session work. He played with Holly Penfield, Shandi, Michael Des Barres, Scandal, Nick Gilder , Bernie Taupin, and drummed on Martin Briley's hit "The Salt In My Tears" (1983). Mike also helped formed a band, consisting of songwriters Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres, paired with Prescott (from The Knack) and pat. They recorded (later) hits like "Obsession", "Bleeding Babies", a great Cole Porter "Night & Day (bars)” ... lots of cool tunes. This band was crumbling into 'Device' when he met the Misters.
To earn a living Pat still held lots of different jobs including managing a restaurant, picking carnations in a hothouse, driving a truck, hiring out his drum gear, selling office supplies or carpet over the phone, working construction, all between rehearsals, club gigs and sessions.
Pat often worked at the L.A. "Country Club" where an earlier roadie became the production manager. This was great because he could take off whatever nights he had to gig and then come back the next night to work shows with the best touring bands.
So the day came when he noticed an audition for Richard Page and Steve George. It was Kim Bullard (from Poco) who called him and advised him to go since he knew Pat was the kind of drummer they were looking for. ‘Their former band Pages was in a Hall & Oates-like situation where the songwriters were signed to the label as the main artists. Instead of using sidemen every time - who they couldn't take on the road and which made their sound different at every track - they wanted a real band’.
The day of his audition for Richard Page and Steve George, he was working a day gig stuffing envelopes from 6 AM 'til noon while listening to a Pages demo on his walkman. He went to the audition at noon break and was supposed to bring a bass player with him. The bassist couldn't make it because of some dental work. Because the bass player didn't show up, Richard Page grabbed a bass guitar and they jammed a few songs. Richard keep yelling ‘Go!’, later he learned he was saying ‘Ringo! ‘. Half an hour later Mr. Mister was born. They released three albums. The second one sold over two million copies and delivered two #1 hits.
This led to session work with Al Jarreau, Pointer Sisters, Kenny Loggins, Patti Labell, Eddie Money, Martika and many others.
After the commercially disappointing third album guitarist Steve Farris left the band. By the fall of 1988 the remaining Misters went into the studio to start recording a fourth album with the producer of "Welcome To The Real World", Paul DeVilliers. They invited Trevor Rabin and Buzz Feiten to add guitar.
During the recording in 1989 Pat accepted offers to play on new albums for XTC, and Cock Robin . He even joined for a short tour. These were solid indications that he was now a highly respected drummer.
On September 25th 1990, Mr. Mister broke up. Their fourth album has never been released .
During the beginning of the nineties Pat did session work mainly for Jude Cole, The Rembrandts, and with producers like Tony Berg ( for artists Michael Penn and Ted Hawkins) and Paul Fox. Paul Fox brought pat in for additional percussion with Robyn Hitchock, the Sugercubes and many others, in addtition to T.V. gigs with Julia Fordham & world tours with the Rembrandts & Richard Marx . He even did overdubs for a dance mix of a Rolling Stones single with producer Don Was. And among other fun projects, Pat worked with James Newton Howard for the Michael Douglas movie "Falling Down" , doing a twisted drum/percussion ensemble moment during a Chinese parade. And co-producing records with France’s megastar Peter Kingsbery.
More strange syncronicity. In 1994 another dream came true. A friend told him King Crimson members Trey Gunn and Robert Fripp were doing a project with David Sylvian (ex-Japan) and were looking for a drummer. So Pat joined them on David Sylvian's "The First Day" tour. During this tour Robert Fripp considered to reform King Crimson.
After the tour he called pat while he was touring over seas with Jay Graydon's band. Pat went over to Bill Bruford's place in England. They managed to get along quite well and the new King Crimson was established and released a series of albums: "Vrooom", "Thrak", "Thrakattak" and "B-Boom".
In 1995 Pat moved to Austin Texas . As Crimson continued stomping on thru over a hundred shows and into the PojeKcts.
When Crimson took a one year pause in 1997 pat went back to study drumming at U.T., U.N.T., and with privite teachers . As one year became two, Pat started looking for local players. And found: Gumby & Monkey. Monkey is a 24 year-old girl who plays sax, clarinets, bassoons, guitars, keys and sings. Her 'old man' Gumby plays bass, cello, mandecello and sings too. Pat does the production, knob turning and drumming stuff. The favorite comment Pat heard was "That's strange, I've never heard anything like that before. I need to listen again."
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