At the age of 18, he left his hometown for California to attend the Percussion Institute of Technology, where he studied under Ralph Humphrey (Frank Zappa), Casey Schuerelle, and Joey Heredia.

John appears on several of Alex's solo records, such as Vertical Invader and the writing collaboration Late Nights At Deserts Rim Rock.

Powermad was flown to California and John Macaluso makes his motion picture debut in two scenes with actors Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern.

[citation needed] The main riff of the Powermad song Slaughterhouse was also featured as the backing track of an animated self-promotional ad frequently running on MTV Europe in the early 1990s.

[citation needed] John crossed paths with the guitarist Tore Østby in Toten, Norway and they combined their styles to create a heavy groove, progressive rock mixed with a Latin feel.

They used a blend of flamenco guitars, double bass drumming and Pink Floyd-like moods, they went on to form the progressive metal band known as Ark.

Macaluso would later organize and publish a drum method book entitled Repercussions, endorsed by drummers Joe Franco, Nicko McBrain and Bobby Jarzombek.

[3] In April 2013 he joined Symphony X until their drummer Jason Rullo recovers from health problems, supporting them on some South American and European tour dates.