Kevin Rapillo is a Nashville-based professional touring and session drummer who also happens to be one of Clint's best friends. After attending Boston's Berkley College of Music in the 1980's, Kevin formed the rock band Kid Crash who were a regional hit alongside peers like Extreme. After being courted by Michael Alago, Kid Crash landed a coveted record/publishing deal and even shared management with a tiny little band called Pantera.

After Nirvana and the grunge movement destroyed 80's rock, Kevin packed his drums and moved to Nashville where he's been playing at a high level ever since. In the 1980's, Kevin ran in the same circles as Metallica, even attending a 1985 club show in NYC on the Ride the Lightning tour. He wasn't a fan at all but admired the band for their work ethic, particularly fellow drummer, Lars Ulrich.

With the release of Hardwired...To Self-Destruct, Kevin experienced a renaissance of fandom with Metallica culminating in his enthusiasm for 72 Seasons. On this episode we talk through Kevin's Metallica journey with some fun stories along the way. Here's what we discussed:

- how KISS is like Metallica
- Clint tries to buy an EVH guitar and fails
- someone reads Clint a poem
- a drummer’s reaction to St. Anger
- identifying with Lars
- Knicks vs. Celtics
- going to Berkley College of Music
- being discovered by Michael Alago
- getting a record deal in the 80’s
- Boston bands
- the golden hour before a show
- communicating on stage
- seeing Metallica with Cliff in 1985
- discovering thrash music
- Nirvana and the death of 80’s rock
- Metallica changing in the 90’s
- Bob Rock and the Black Album
- starting over in the Nashville country music scene
- falling in love with Metallica
- Rush
- the death of our musical heroes
- legacy acts
- criticism of Lars as a drummer
- Metallica getting better live
- the power of 72 Seasons

Listen to Kid Crash HERE.

Listen to Kevin's podcast (with Brooks and Dunn drummer Trey Gray) HERE.

Clint Wells - Going Supernova (Out Now!)

Merch store HERE!

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