Hal Blaine: The Story of an American Drum Legend with Mike Megaffin - EP 169

Hal Blaine is one of the most recorded drummers in history and is an icon from the golden age of session musicians. We learn about Hals parents heroic journey to America, Hal's early years and time in the Army, and his meteoric rise as a first call studio drummer. Mike Megaffin's business card says "Hal Blaine Disciple" and he definitely lives up to that title with this very in-depth episode. Mike spent lots of time with Hal and learned tons of great stories about the years that Hal Blaine spent working for mafia types in seedy nightclubs through his rise to the top and love of all things luxurious.
Here is a link to the Hal Blaine Biography book we discussed on Amazon: amzn.to/3RgkjaV
Thanks to Milestone Percussion for sponsoring this episode! keep up to date with Ronn Dunnett/Milestone on socials at @dunnettclassicdrums
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[@drumdiscussion7776]

Excellent interview Bart and Mike! Hal Blaine will always be remembered in history as a pivotal musician. He created innovation and creativity in music and percussion. Anyone growing up in the 1960's heard Hal on the radio continuously. He created what the 1970's deemed as " concert toms" and his " monster kit ". He will always be remembered for his impact for generations.

[@BlAcKpHrAcK]

America had it's wallets pick-pocketed away by Swedish grifters and their North American benefactors. Buddy Rich and the Chemical Brothers - Mr. D. A. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpe7qoead510m6c During the 1990's North America's essential security, bank and armoured vehicle services (Pinkerton, Burns, Armoured vehicle services, etc...) were ENTIRELY acquired by only ONE Swedish entity, Secur-it-a55 (anti-trust and white supremacist war crime causing the genocide of millions globally).

[@CharlesTPrimm]

His drumming on Windy by the Association inspired me to play drums way back in the 1960s!

[@mattskustomkreations]

That’s cool. Before I got a drum set, my dad got me a pair of bongos. So I would drop & pick up the needle over & over on Windy and play along with the distinctive conga part. Or maybe it was timbales?

[@JOHNWLOUCKS]

some of my favorite of Hal's drumming was on Midnight Confession, Drag city and Lovin Things along with a zillion others.

[@Charles53412]

Neil Peart also learned from Hal Blaine at the time he was just learning to play. Neil spent hours playing along to the radio and Hal Blain being the session player of the day, playing for multiple bands during recording. Neil realized he wasn't playing like Ringo or Dennis Wilson, but like Hal Blaine and all the songs that the Wrecking Crew were playing. Hal helped the Professor to became the G.O.A.T. ! Hal was such the influencer of his day !

[@davidsuprenant893]

Hal Blaine,will go down in history as one of the best.Out of all my favorite drummers,he's the one I wish I could have met and thank him for his contributions to the music industry. He played on so many hit records.What a musician.!!! Rest in peace Mr.Blain.

[@JJDSports2012]

One fine detail: Mike Nesmith (RIP) was one of the Monkees who could actually play an instrument and he wrote any number of songs and had a career as solo performer for a long time. Talented guy.

[@mikebroszczak5767]

Great video great guy thanks for the mention Don mills Ontario it makes me feel good

[@dennismoran-hk6no]

Loved and admired Hal. Met him many times at NAMM and clinics. He would always encourage you on your drumming and always have a really funny and mostly dirty joke for you. Like "What do a drum solo and a premature ejaculation have in common? You know it's coming and there's nothing you can do about it." Always a drumming inspiration and greatly missed. R.I.P. Hal.

[@richardbelsky7098]

Hal was my cool uncle. Watching him perform at NAMM was like looking at my late dad ,the family resemblance became greater in there older years

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Listening to this story of Hal's humble upbringing reminds me of Tommy Tedesco working in a factory, hating his job, but motivating him to practice. I would imagine other members of The Wrecking Crew had humble starts that led to the work ethic...imagine driving home from a session, tired, but seeing guys working on a roof and thinking,,,that could be me...but i got to play on a hit record.

[@winthroplewis9361]

Hal! When they say things like such and such is "the soundtrack of our lives"... frequently this means HB must be on that 'soundtrack'.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

So true!

[@redstrat1234]

I am not a drummer. That was a fantastic interview.

[@babooll5632]

It's funny how late night hosts and great singers can use tiny headset mics, but these podcasters somehow require the biggest mic in the world

[@ZackYouTube]

"Right hand on the hi-hat, left hand on the snare drum - Cuz the drummer's job is playing a good solid beat."

[@ZackYouTube]

Great interview with The Hal Blaine! Find his "Have fun!!! Play Drums!!!" record on vinyl.

[@JFKDrummer]

Hal Blaine is baddass!!!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Yep Hal is the man!

[@markbahouth2713]

i also was thinking how could there be so many great young drummers that were part of the mid sixties and 70s breakthrough groups like the Byrds , Beach Boys , MAMAS & PAPAS , Hit singles ... etc . just like Mike Megeffin i eventually also discovered it was actually most of the time Hal Blaine. Thanks Bart & Mike and Drum History. P.S. i left a comment to the hosts and in house drummers at Drumeo to produce a episode on drummer Hal Blaine , including a few drum charts of his drumming to songs like " Mr Tambourine Man " by the Byrds. DRUMEO also could have some famous rock drummers play some of the drum parts Hal Blaine played . Bart could you ask Mike if Hal Blaine was the session drummer on the Byrds song " I See You" . its my favorite drumming to one of my favorite songs. thanks again. 👍🙏

[@liamcooper65]

I bought my Slingerland blakrome set from Rita in Santee in 95. That was the loudest set, cut right through. BTW it's Santee as in SAN-T like t-shirt.

[@phillipbratman5237]

Excellent ! Do the Jim Gordon ! Please

[@mikebroszczak5767]

Great video great job God bless.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Wow! So Hal was "volun-TOLD" to do the Tommy Sands band.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Ha thats a great way to put it

[@MobiusMinded]

I had the honor of recording Hal near the beginning of my career.

[@petercleary1000]

Love it.

[@MrRCOTE]

Not quite sure of the timeline....late 60's, early 70's. Ludwig marketed "The Octa Plus" with Hal in mind....you know, so every kid on the block could sound like Hal....wink, wink :)

[@jelehan88]

Charlie Watts supposedly said that his 4 favorite drummers was 1 Guy, Hal B.

[@MIGeoMous]

Loved this 🙏

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks for watching!

[@bangosdemangos416]

The house that Hal bought from Lee J Cobb was on Castilian Drive, Outpost Estates in the Hollywood Hills not Bel Air or Beverly Hills.

[@_Ben4810]

You'd never guess Mike was previously a car salesman, would you...?!? 😉😆🤭

[@mapquest681]

Hal mentioned in the I'd Hit That podcast that Ricky wrapped the springs in the lugs with mole skin to stop the rattle and buzz.

[@Annunaki_0517]

Hal Blaine ought to be mentioned in the same sentence as Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Jeff Pocaro, Bernard Purdie, J.Z. Modeliste etc. He’s one of the all time greats.

[@bangosdemangos416]

*Porcaro

[@dennismoran-hk6no]

Forgot to add, while watching this I'm also wearing a Revival Drum Shop T-shirt.

[@markr.devereux3385]

I agree with everything that MIKE alluded too. I admit i had no idea who HAL Blaine was and that he was part of wrecking crew.

[@philipmartin708]

At 45:44 I can't make out the name of the recording that he says Hal double drummed on with Earl Palmer. Can somebody help me with that? I'm hoping to hear it on KZbin.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks for watching - I believe it was "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" by Jan and Dean

[@recordguy4321]

@@DrumHistoryPodcast they drummed together on quite a few Jan and Dean hits

[@DanLoFat]

What's a lot of Rick beato videos and I'm wondering if you've ever gotten together with him to do stuff

[@67Stu]

GREAT INTERVIEW Can you do an episode on Buddy Saltzman and Gary Chester?

[@recordguy4321]

would love that. Gary Chester played on just as many hits as Hal Have they even done one on Earl Palmer?

[@67Stu]

@@recordguy4321 It would be great if someone could get a hold of musicians inion receipts to who really did play on the most sessions. Wether it was Hal Blane, Gary Chester, or Buddy Saltzman is up for debate, despite the individual’s claims.

[@recordguy4321]

@@67Stu I have the complete Atantic Record session logs from 1949 to the late 90's

[@67Stu]

@@recordguy4321 Nice ‼️ I will get in touch with you.

[@recordguy4321]

@@67Stu ...Here's the link...www.jazzdisco.org/atlantic-records/

[@woodysdrums8083]

What about Eddie Hoh?

[@byronwoodleymaund1439]

Wow ! Hal was a Monkee

[@ATreeofNight]

played on every "hippie" album coming out of laurel canyon

[@blujay9191]

Imagine being requested by name by both Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich to record their daughter's albums.

[@johnkarpslis4349]

What did the drummer get on his I.Q . test ? Answer; Drool ! BoomCrash

[@JoeBilello1969]

Dont get married😮

[@JoeBilello1969]

Talk about the life lessons that have nothing to do with drumming that young guys need to hear, like NEVER hooking up with the wrong women, which today is most of them!!!! He was basically bankrupted by women, all of his life's work and all he earned was out the door!!!! Never get married guys NEVER!!!! YOULL BE SORRY😢

[@fosbury68]

Hal was great but.. Earl Palmer > Hal Blaine

[@GeeBee909]

This is why I didn't understand the faux shock about Milli Vanilli not singing on their albums. 99% of those groups in the 60's didn't play on their own albums. Then, they turn around and blast Milli Vanilli for doing something that was a common practice in the industry back then. Yet no one spoke out during their scandal and said anything. Why? Ridiculous and possibly racist

[@user-wm1js2no9x]

Milli vanilla were fake performing live to pre recorded music, the wrecking crew played on recordings then the artist would get a touring band to take on tour, the way COUNTRY music is still being recorded, it's pretty much the same studio musicians playing on the album, & they get a touring band on the road, one of the reasons why country music sounds the same it's the same players, I used to tour with DAVID ALLAN COE, when DAVID recorded new music he used the studio players be cause recording time is costly, on the road, we would play the new music. And it's not racist. Great interveiw.😊🥁

[@RedVynil]

If he was born in `35 and died in `19, how could he have been 90?

[@casanovafrankenstein8538]

He was born in 29, you noob

[@RedVynil]

@@casanovafrankenstein8538 Then, why did that guy say he was born in `35, you twat?

[@harveyg104]

So being a cop, I'm sure he was a racist too, with the ability to arrest especially black men, who he feared the most, as drummers.The psychology of it all.😮😮😮

[@drewconlin9452]

Earl Palmer is listed as drummer on night has a thousand eyes

[@TheGigmiester101]

Hey Mike….Would love to get in touch with you. I was Hal’s good buddy for the last 40 years of his life…also his barber. Let me know how to contact you. We need to share some stories.Send me a text, Thanks. Regards, Shawn Weingart 👍😁

[@wolfebeardsnarl5691]

Frank Sinatra was a Kundt

[@drewconlin9452]

Frank Sinatra was perhaps the greatest stylist ever