Nick D'Virgilio

Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer, often referred to as NDV, perhaps best known as a member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations sessions. He has also done session work with many artists including Tears for Fears and Big Big Train.

In 1994, D'Virgilio joined Kevin Gilbert's reformed band Giraffe for a one-off performance of the Genesis piece The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway at Progfest '94. In 1995 he performed drums as part of Gilbert's touring band, "Thud" which recorded a live album, Live at the Troubadour, released in 1999. After Gilbert's death in 1996, D'Virgilio was asked by Gilbert's estate to complete his second solo album, The Shaming of the True, based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. Shaming was released posthumously in 2000 and has D'Virgilio on many tracks contributing drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. In November 2002 D'Virgilio headlined Progwest in Claremont, CA and played the entire The Shaming of the True album live in a band consisting of other friends and colleagues of Gilbert's. In 2008, video tapes of the Troubadour concert were uncovered for the first time, leading to a DVD, entitled Welcome to Joytown - Thud Live at The Troubadour being released in 2009.

After Neal Morse left Spock's Beard in 2002, D'Virgilio took over on lead vocals and has since recorded three albums, Feel Euphoria, Octane and the self titled Spock's Beard. His first solo album, Karma was recorded in 2001 at Kevin Gilbert's former studio, Lawnmower and Garden Supplies Studio, in Pasadena. The album included performances by Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller, D'Virgilio's bandmates in "The Mike Keneally Band"

He served as the chief engineer on Bryan Beller's solo album View, recorded at the same studio as Karma. In addition, D'Virgilio was a full member of the Mike Keneally Band from 2001 to 2004, playing on the tour supporting Keneally's 2000 album Dancing and later providing drums and vocals on the 2004 album Dog, and can see seen on DVD included as part of the Dog Special Edition in both live as well as "making-of" studio footage. "Zappa Plays Zappa"/previous Keneally drummer Joe Travers took D'Virgilio's place in the band lineup for the subsequent "Guitar Therapy" tour (Nick was in the studio recording Spock's Beard's album Feel Euphoria at the time), although he has played Southern California-based shows with the band since then. D'Virgilio is one of three "primary drummers" for the band, including the aforementioned Joe Travers and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Marco Minnemann depending on who is available for live shows/touring and recording sessions at the time.)

D'Virgilio also filled in for Mark Zonder on Fates Warning's summer tour with Dream Theater and Queensrÿche in 2003. Zonder's prior commitments prevented him from taking part in that relatively high-profile tour, and he ceased performing with the band following its 2005 release FWX due to a reported aversion to touring. D'Virgilio has played with the band on a handful of gigs supporting that album and appeared on its 2006 DVD release Live in Athens.

Since 2003, D'Virgilio has also been the drummer for the power pop band The Rubinoos.

He has appeared on Jordan Rudess' 2007 album The Road Home and Big Big Train's 2007 and 2009 albums The Difference Machine and The Underfall Yard.

He also played drums for Tears For Fears in 2007 - 2009.

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