Deen Castronovo, Former Ozzy/Steve Vai Drummer, Jailed on Rape Charges

Deen Castronovo has had quite the illustrious career: he has recorded and/or toured with Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai, Fear Factory, Marty Friedman, Geezer Butler, Bad English, Death’s James Murphy, Hardline, and, until about twenty-four hours ago, Journey. Unfortunately, it now looks like Castronovo’s legacy will have a very large, dark shadow cast over it. From NBC:

“Journey drummer Deen Castronovo will remain in an Oregon jail on rape and other felony charges after prosecutors said he repeatedly violated a court order by calling and texting the victim with messages that included suicide threats and apologies.

“Prosecutors told a Marion County judge Tuesday that the 50-year-old musician contacted the woman after his arrest in Salem on June 14, when he was accused of misdemeanor assault and menacing. He was released on bail in that case and ordered to stay away from the victim.

“He now faces felony charges after a grand jury returned the indictment Monday.”

Charges against Castronovo include assault, sexual abuse and unlawful use of a dangerous weapon. The drummer apparently texted and called this poor woman literally hundred of times with abusive messages and suicide threats, and he “even told the woman to get a restraining order.” So while he hasn’t yet entered a plea, the evidence seems to be fairly damning.

Making the matter even worse is the fact Castronovo has a history of such dipshittery:

“In 2012, Castronovo was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and ordered to attend anger-management classes after a domestic violence episode.”

Oy.

According to Metal Injection, Journey has now sacked Castronovo. They have a live show scheduled for July 4, so, presumably, they already have a replacement lined up.

More on this story as it develops.