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United States Richie Castellano is an American musician and engineer, known for his instrumental role in the legendary rock band Blue Öyster Cult and his diverse work as a producer, songwriter, and content creator.
Richie Castellano of Blue Öyster Cult collaborated with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning to produce an original rock song entitled 'Kiss My Axe (While I Drink My Beer)'.
Blue Öyster Cult, featuring Richie Castellano, signed a multimedia deal with Frontiers Music SRL, which included six live concert videos and a new album of original music. The new album 'True' by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks, featuring Richie Castellano as co-producer, co-writer, engineer, and mixer, was also released on Frontiers Music.
Richie Castellano uses guitars manufactured by Ernie Ball Music Man, including the Albert Lee Signature, Axis, Axis Super Sport, Silhouette Special, and Sterling models.
Richie Castellano uses Line 6 Helix and Variax products.
Richie Castellano uses an Audio-Technica Wireless system.
Richie Castellano was born on February 7, 1980, in Brooklyn, New York City, and moved to Staten Island in 1985. As a fifth-generation musician, he began studying guitar at age seven. His early musical influences included Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens. By the early 1990s, inspired by The Beatles, he started songwriting and recording in his basement studio. Influences expanded to include Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Queen. In 1997, after transferring to Curtis High School and meeting mentor Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Castellano released a 13-song solo concept album, “Alone in My Basement,” which sold out its initial pressing within a month and earned him two songwriting awards. He graduated from Curtis High School in 1998.
Castellano pursued higher education at the State University of New York at Purchase, majoring in Studio Production and focusing on digital recording. During this time, from 1999–2001, he produced and engineered Regina Spektor’s debut album, “11:11.” He also studied advanced digital recording techniques under Ron Thal, assisting with the production of Thal’s album, “Uncool.” His association with Blue Öyster Cult began in 2000 as a substitute Front of House engineer. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he earned a master’s degree in music from SUNY Purchase in December 2002, simultaneously working as a staff producer at Larchmont Records.
In December 2003, Castellano joined Blue Öyster Cult’s 13-city German tour as a sound engineer. He officially began performing with the band as a bassist on September 18, 2004, in Las Vegas. In early 2007, following original member Allen Lanier’s retirement, Castellano transitioned to rhythm guitar and keyboards. Beyond Blue Öyster Cult, he co-founded the band Morning Starlett, releasing an eponymous album in 2012, and the power pop duo 2 Part Invention in 2005. His YouTube channel features viral video hits, including multi-instrumental and vocal renditions of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and The Beatles’ Abbey Road Medley. In 2014, he started the “Band Geek with Richie Castellano” podcast, which evolved into a YouTube band called The Band Geeks. This led to tours and a new album, “True,” released in August 2024 with Jon Anderson, where Castellano is credited as co-producer, co-writer, engineer, and mixer.
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