Episode #265 – Digital Payola, Minors Playing In Clubs, And Microphone Maker Dave Pearlman

After years as a touring pedal steel guitarist with everyone from Dan Fogelberg and Phil Everly to Pat Boone and Bobby Womack, Dave Pearlman opened his Rotund Rascal Studio in North Hollywood in 1979. To save money on outside techs, Dave began to do repairs and modifications on classic mics like the U47, 67 and AKG C12. His side business became so successful that Dave closed the studio after 25 years and started Pearlman Microphones. He now hand-builds a full line of excellent vintage-style tube mics, including the mostly overlooked Church MGM microphone from the 50s, Telefunken 250, and the U 47, among others. In the interview we talked about how he started building mics, the history of the famous Church microphone, finding vintage tubes, the magic of older parts, and much more. On the intro I'll take a look at payola and how it’s making a legal comeback, and a new well-intentioned law that might end up hurting musicians in Pennsylvania.