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'''Ron Blair''' (born Ronald Edward Blair, [[September 16]] [[1948]], in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]]) is the original [[bassist]] for [[Tom Petty|Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]]. He was the [[band (music)|band]]'s bass guitarist from 1976 to 1981. In 2002, he returned to the group after a 21-year hiatus, replacing his own replacement, the late [[Howie Epstein]]. |
'''Ron Blair''' (born Ronald Edward Blair, [[September 16]] [[1948]], in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]]) is the original [[bassist]] for [[Tom Petty|Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]]. He was the [[band (music)|band]]'s bass guitarist from 1976 to 1981. In 2002, he returned to the group after a 21-year hiatus, replacing his own replacement, the late [[Howie Epstein]]. |
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His father was a [[United States Navy|Navy]] man, so the family relocated every few years throughout the [[United States|U.S.]] as well as within [[Japan]] and [[Hong Kong]]. As a teenager in Japan, Ron was in a locally famous rock band. But it was the music scenes in [[Macon, Georgia|Macon]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], [[Florida]], where Blair felt most at home. In Gainesville, Blair was a member of the band RGF. |
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Blair eventually moved to [[Los Angeles]], and there teamed up with fellow Gainesville musicians [[Mike Campbell]], [[Benmont Tench]], and [[Stan Lynch]]. Campbell and Tench, along with Tom Petty, had been members of the popular Gainesville band [[Mudcrutch]]. Mudcrutch had relocated from Gainesville to Los Angeles, but subsequently broke up. |
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After the breakup, Tench recruited Campbell, Blair, and Lynch to record demos in the hopes of getting a new record deal. After observing one of their sessions, Petty asked if they would like to assume his current [[recording contract]] with [[Shelter Records]] and start a band. (Denny Cordell, [[President]] of Shelter, seeing Petty's potential, had kept him under contract while releasing the other members of Mudcrutch). Blair went on to play on the band’s first four [[album]]s, ''[[Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (album)|Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers]]'', ''[[You're Gonna Get It!]]'', ''[[Damn the Torpedoes]]'', and ''[[Hard Promises]]'' and one track on ''[[Long After Dark]]'' before his departure in 1982. |
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He then rejoined them on March 18, 2002, to perform at the band’s [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony. The reunion led to Blair’s return to the group for their 2002 summer tour. He helped finish up ''[[The Last DJ]]'' album, and has been present for all subsequent tours. |
He then rejoined them on March 18, 2002, to perform at the band’s [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony. The reunion led to Blair’s return to the group for their 2002 summer tour. He helped finish up ''[[The Last DJ]]'' album, and has been present for all subsequent tours. |
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Aside from the Heartbreakers, Blair has designed albums for Barbara Morrison and Carlos Zialcita. He has also played on albums by Kirstin Candy, [[Stevie Nicks]], [[Del Shannon]], [[Slobberbone]], and The Tremblers. Blair was also part of the original lineup of The Dirty Knobs, [[Mike Campbell]]'s side-project band. |
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[[Tom Petty]] had the following to say about Blair: "It’s great having him [back] in the band. It reminds me of the old days just seeing him around. ... We hung out. We knew each other. And he was always the best bass player in town." (''Orange County Register'', August 26, 2002) |
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Blair has been seen with many basses (including a [[Rickenbacker]] 4001 and a [[Hofner]] Club bass, both owned by Petty), but in his early years with the Heartbreakers, he used a black [[Fender Jazz Bass]] and has used a white one ever since his return to the band. |
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Revision as of 17:42, 18 June 2009
Ron Blair (born Ronald Edward Blair, September 16 1948, in San Diego) is the original bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He was the band's bass guitarist from 1976 to 1981. In 2002, he returned to the group after a 21-year hiatus, replacing his own replacement, the late Howie Epstein.
He then rejoined them on March 18, 2002, to perform at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The reunion led to Blair’s return to the group for their 2002 summer tour. He helped finish up The Last DJ album, and has been present for all subsequent tours.