He was born in Xanthi (a city up north in Greece) in 1955. His first musical Influences and his first encounter with Jazz, came at the age of eight years old at his father's record store with the records: a) Art Blakey's-Jazz Messengers Live (Savoy records) and b) The Cat by Jimmy Smith.

At the following years he attended Music lessons for: Bouzouki (a popular Greek Instrument) Accordion, Trumpet, Flute, Piano, Theory and at the age of thirteen he started playing drums with various pop Rock bands as the band '' Ahatis '' at '71 in the City Drama.
For several years, he was a member of the '' Family band '' with his father and his brothers playing Greek traditional music. He studied drums with: Stelios Fotakis (Thes/niki) Alekos Xristidis (Thes/niki) Mickey Earnshaw (Vancouver-Canada) Max Mariash (Chicago) Julian Vaughan (Thes/niki) and with Takis Barbas (Thes /niki). He had attended Clinics with Tony Williams, Jack de Johnette, Louie Bellson and Roy Burns. In 1985 He formed, with Kostas Pagonidis, The '' Percussion Ensemble of Thessaloniki''.

During his carrier he had played with various bands in the styles of: Rock-Blues-Jazz-Fusion in various clubs in Greece, Switzerland, Germany and France. The last seven years he had focused in the study of the ''Greek Odd Rhythms ''(5/8-7/8-9/8 etc) writing a book about this subject and forming the following bands: ''Serious Fun'' (1996) ''Ebnus Jazz Quintet'' (2000) And ''The Jazz Utopia ''(2001) creating music, based on these rhythms.

For the same reason he participate in the bands that formed by Olivier Gatto and Lydia Phillipovich playing Yugoslavian songs, with jazz arrangement. He had played with many Greek jazz musicians and Jazz Musicians from around the world as well as with Greek Composers and singers. He teaches at: ''Ars Nova'' music school By Yiorgos Fakanas Athens - Greece

JAZZ REVIEW.COM REVIEWER
Thomas R. Erdmann
"Kapilidis, an exceptionally tasteful and technically proficient drummer, is joined by musicians of equal stature not familiar to North Americans: Takis Paterelis on soprano saxophone, Vasso Dimitriou on guitars and tzouras and effects, and Nikos Hadjopoulos on the upright electric bass. The eight compositions are all by Kapilidis except for one which was co-written with Dimitriou. The style of the music is right out of 70s fusion combined with the complex rhythmic temperament of Frank Zappa along with the tastefulness of Weather Report. Each track is more inviting than the previous. Paterelis is a swinging and discerning musician whose lines seek balance within the turbulent metrics. He never falters, all the more amazing when one considers the recording was done as a live performance in the studio, and finds way to shift harmonic structures within the music to expected but exciting areas with aplomb and zeal. Dimitriou's guitar work is reminiscent of Larry Coryell's fusion work but in a more laid back manner, and Hadjopoulos' bass work is clear, focused and provides the intellectual frame the others work off of. Kapilidis' drums, however, are the real star. His ability to take extremely complex cross-related metrics, play them in an easy manner and still be supportive of the improvisational needs of his fellow musicians is extraordinary. This disc has to be heard to be believed, it's that good. "


RHYTHM MAGAZINE-U.K-OCTOBER'S ISSUE REVIEW FROM DEMO PAGE by MATH PRIEST
" We've had some French psychedelia,gospel from Memphis and heavy, acid rock from Australia,so it must be time for Greek jazz. It was bound to happen at some point. And what a joy it is. I'm no a big jazzer, but I love it when it's different and done well, which this is.An Incredibly competend quartet,led by smiley,50-year-old drummer and main composer Nickos Kapilidis, they mix melodic and odd rhythmic elements from Greek music with''harmonic colours found in jazz and contemporary music''.

ALL ABOUT JAZZ-REVIEW-DAN McCLENAGHAN Arothymian Nickos Kapilidis & The Jazz Utopia
"Like many jazz fans, I've always got my ears open for a "new" sound, music grounded in tradition that still manages to push the borders. Arothymian qualifies. Mixing melodic and rhythmic elements of Greek music with the harmonic colors found in jazz and contemporary sounds, Nickos Kapilidis & The Jazz Utopia have come up with a fascinating, novel approach. The lineup-soprano sax, guitar, bass, and drums-isn't out of the ordinary, but the way the Jazz Utopia brings it together is. Vasso Dimitriou's virtuostic guitar playing catches the ear right off. She creates electric orchestral washes of sound, slightly metallic in tone, light in character, and combines with Takis Paterelis' driving soprano sax sound for some vibrant unison interludes. The band makes energetic music, tinged with an exotic Greek feeling, with lots of odd rhythms, some rock leanings, and consistently engaging melodies that give way to creative free-flowing improvisations. The set opens with "Sunday Morning Coffee," a fittingly caffeinated sound, full speed ahead, Dimitriou's guitar chiming at the beginning as the band kicks into a churning forward momentum. "Arothymian," a Pontian word meaning "longing and nostalgia" (a Kapilidis-penned tune, for his parents) feels introspective and a bit sad; and "Minhel" has a lively, sharp-edged tone over a fluid, organic groove, with Takis Paterelis blowing a sweet tone on soprano. Some of the most interesting new sounds I've encountered this year."

Check out ,the review at "All About Jazz"
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=18955