bernhard@castiglioni.ch

Bernhard Castiglioni is the founder of the website DRUMMERWORLD.

Bernhard, hailing from the picturesque town of Morcote, Switzerland, is a name synonymous with the world of drumming. 

In the nascent days of the internet, Bernhard took a pioneering step by founding Drummerworld, a digital haven for drummers worldwide. This visionary endeavor ascended to the position of the world’s premier drumming website. Over the years, Drummerworld has become an enduring source of inspiration for countless generations of drummers, a testament to Bernhard’s enduring influence on the drumming community. In 2022 Bernhard sold Drummerworld to Savage Ventures in Nashville. So the list of the 500 most influential drummers has gone.

Bernhard made journeys that took him to the far corners of the world. During these travels, he had the privilege of meeting and interacting with some of the greatest drummers in history. From Steve Gadd to Peter Erskine, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Simon Phillips, Jojo Mayer and Dennis Chambers, to name a fews.

In his youth (1967 – 1972), Bernhard pursued his passion as a professional drummer, with esteemed orchestras such as José Marka Orchestra, Piero Pieri Orchestra, Dr. Vlado Rubes Septet, Franco Tempobono, and Fred Pohl, among others.

He played renowned venues across Europe, from the opulent Suvretta House in St. Moritz with Piero Pieri and orchestra José Marka (accompagning Dahlia Lavi) to the Palace Hotel in Gstaad – playing with Piero Pieri Orchestra (accompagning Josephine Baker), the Rondo in Göteborg, Velden at the Wörthersee, to name just a few. 

He played in iconic hotels like the Parkhotel Wiesbaden, Bayrischer Hof Munich, and the dancehalls Hazyland Basel, and graced the stages of Lucerne, Zuerich, Ascona, Verbier, Sion, Martigny, Stuttgart, Berlin, Grand Hotel Reber Locarno (accompagning Errol Garner as a Duo for 3 months), Dancehall Grillon Geneva, Chicito Bern, and many more.

Transitioning from a professional drummer, Bernhard ventured into the world of insurance, where he became a trusted insurance broker for Switzerland’s leading insurance company.

The last two decades of Bernhard’s life have seen him as a hobbyist, playing drums with ensembles like the TYMPANIC JAZZBAND, the Rock Bands MONROE and ERTLIF, and the blues-infused 6UP BLUES BAND.

Now retired, Bernhard Castiglioni resides in the town of Riehen, near Basel, Switzerland, where he finds joy and fulfillment in the company of his four grandchildren. 

go to:
DRUMMERWORLD YOUTUBE Channel (440’000 subscribers):