JP Cappelletty (born October 13, 1993) is an American drummer. He is best known by his stage name Rook, as the longtime touring drummer for rapper Machine Gun Kelly.
Who is JP Cappelletty?
JP Cappelletty is an American drummer from Toledo, Ohio. He performs under the stage name Rook and has served as Machine Gun Kelly’s touring drummer since 2012.
He joined the rapper’s band while still a senior in high school. Cappelletty left school to join Machine Gun Kelly’s Hostile Takeover tour that same year.
Since then, he has played on stages around the world. He has also appeared in music videos, short films, and the 2019 Netflix biopic The Dirt.
Early Life of JP Cappelletty
JP Cappelletty was born on October 13, 1993, in Toledo, Ohio. He grew up in the area and attended Sylvania Southview High School.
Music ran in his family from the start. His father, Johnny Cappelletty, played drums for the American metal band Damien.
Cappelletty picked up his first drumsticks at age two. He has said he grew up attending concerts with his father and watching the drummers on stage.
That early exposure shaped his ambitions. He later told a local Toledo news station that he always wanted to be the drummer he saw performing.
His break came during his senior year of high school. Machine Gun Kelly called him directly after seeing his drumming videos, leading to an audition that changed his career path.
JP Cappelletty Age
JP Cappelletty is 32 years old as of June 20, 2026, born on October 13, 1993. His zodiac sign is Libra.
He continues to tour as part of Machine Gun Kelly’s band, which kicked off the Lost Americana Tour in late 2025.
JP Cappelletty Ethnicity and Nationality
JP Cappelletty holds American nationality. He was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, before later relocating to Los Angeles, California.
His family background centers on Ohio, where his father also built a career as a touring musician. That shared musical upbringing shaped his early path into drumming.
JP Cappelletty Musical Style and Influences
Cappelletty has described his drumming as a blend of energy and precision rather than a single fixed style. He has said he avoided copying other drummers directly, aiming instead to stay versatile enough for different genres.
That approach helped him adapt across rock, rap, and pop-punk projects. He has cited heavy metal drummer Tommy Aldridge as a major influence.
He has also named Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee as an inspiration. Cappelletty later met Lee in person through his work with Machine Gun Kelly.
He taught Machine Gun Kelly to play drums for the rapper’s role as Tommy Lee in the 2019 Netflix film The Dirt. That project deepened his connection to Lee’s drumming legacy.
JP Cappelletty Education
Cappelletty attended Sylvania Southview High School in Toledo, Ohio. He did not complete his diploma there.
He left during his senior year after Machine Gun Kelly invited him to join the 2012 Hostile Takeover tour. Cappelletty chose to pursue music full time rather than finish high school.
His training came primarily through hands-on experience rather than formal schooling. Years of touring and studio work became his real education as a drummer.
JP Cappelletty Career
Early Career
Cappelletty’s path to professional drumming began with a phone call during class. Machine Gun Kelly contacted him directly after watching videos of his playing, leading to an audition in Cleveland.
The audition led to a show in Michigan at The Blind Pig. That performance went well, and more shows followed soon after.
Cappelletty officially became Machine Gun Kelly’s touring drummer in 2012. He joined the rapper’s Hostile Takeover tour that year under the stage name Rook.
Notable Projects
Cappelletty appeared alongside Steve-O in the music video for “Wild Boy (Remix),” which has drawn more than 4.5 million views on YouTube.
He has also worked as a composer on Machine Gun Kelly music videos, including “Machine Gun Kelly: Hollywood Whore” in 2019.
He contributed to “Machine Gun Kelly: Why Are You Here” in 2020, credited under the name RookXX. In 2019, he worked in the music department for The Dirt, the Netflix biopic about Mötley Crüe.
Cappelletty also appeared in the 2021 short film Downfalls High as a band member. He performed alongside Machine Gun Kelly during the rapper’s debut Saturday Night Live appearance in January 2021.
Recent Work
Cappelletty continued drumming for Machine Gun Kelly’s music videos into 2025, appearing in “MGK: Miss Sunshine” and “MGK: Vampire Diaries” that year. Both credited him under his Rook stage name.
He remains part of Machine Gun Kelly’s touring band. The group launched the Lost Americana Tour in November 2025 in support of the rapper’s seventh studio album.
That tour continued through Europe, the UK, and Australia in early 2026. It is scheduled to return to North America between May and July 2026.
JP Cappelletty Awards and Recognition
Cappelletty has not won individual music industry awards as a touring drummer. His recognition has come primarily through his work with Machine Gun Kelly’s band and his visibility on social media.
He has built a reputation within the drumming community for his versatility. Outlets covering drumming and live music have profiled his technique and his influences over the years.
His connection to Tommy Lee, formed while preparing Machine Gun Kelly for The Dirt, also brought him added attention within the rock community.
JP Cappelletty Girlfriend
JP Cappelletty has kept his personal relationships largely private. No verified information confirms a current spouse or partner.
He has not publicly discussed details of his dating life. His social media presence focuses primarily on drumming, touring, and his work with Machine Gun Kelly’s band.
JP Cappelletty Net Worth
JP Cappelletty’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His income comes primarily from touring, music video work, and his long-running role as Machine Gun Kelly’s drummer. A
dditional earnings come from his visibility on social media and brand exposure tied to his stage persona, Rook.
JP Cappelletty Social Media
Cappelletty is active on Instagram under the handle @rookxx, where he shares drumming footage, tour content, and behind-the-scenes moments from life on the road. His bio identifies him directly as Machine Gun Kelly’s drummer.
He has also built a presence on TikTok, where fans share clips of his live performances. His IMDb page lists his music video and film credits under both JP Cappelletty and his Rook stage name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JP Cappelletty’s net worth?
JP Cappelletty’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026.
How old is JP Cappelletty?
JP Cappelletty is 32 years old as of June 2026, born on October 13, 1993.
Who is JP Cappelletty dating?
JP Cappelletty has not publicly confirmed a current relationship. He keeps his personal life largely private.
What is JP Cappelletty famous for?
He is famous as Rook, the longtime touring drummer for rapper Machine Gun Kelly. He has held the role since joining the Hostile Takeover tour in 2012.
Where was JP Cappelletty born?
He was born in Toledo, Ohio, on October 13, 1993.
What is JP Cappelletty’s biggest career moment?
His biggest break came when Machine Gun Kelly recruited him as a touring drummer in 2012. He has since performed on Saturday Night Live and appeared in the Netflix film The Dirt.
The Bottom Line
JP Cappelletty has drummed for Machine Gun Kelly since 2012, starting on the rapper’s Hostile Takeover tour while still a high school senior.
That partnership has carried him through Saturday Night Live performances and work on the Netflix film The Dirt.
Cappelletty grew up in Toledo, Ohio, in a musical household led by his father, a drummer for the metal band Damien. He picked up the drums at age two and built his style around versatility rather than copying any single drummer.
He continues touring with Machine Gun Kelly’s band on the Lost Americana Tour, which runs into mid-2026. Cappelletty also shares his drumming and tour life with fans through his Instagram account.
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