Bob Bert Photo credit: Mark C.
Beach Bongo Bloodbath is the debut solo outing from NY/NJ avant-gutter-rock percussion wizard Bob Bert, the throbbing heart of early Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, and many many more. It was produced by Bob and Live Skull alum Mark C. Special guests include erstwhile Pussy Galore bandmate Julie Cafritz. The album is being released by venerable NJ indie label Bar/None on June 12.
Beach Bongo Bloodbath mixes original material with extensive re-workings of a number of covers to create a veritable soundtrack for the B-movie of Bert’s life. The six originals and eight covers play to his love of campy teenage horror flicks, art damaged punk fuck-u-ness and Warholian underground groover vibes.
After seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan show as an eight-year-old, he took drum lessons for one year at age twelve and learned enough to bang along to The Rolling Stones and garage-punk nuggets of the 60’s. In high school Bob drifted away from drumming and headed towards Pop Art. He got into Glam Rock hitting the NYC clubs to see the New York Dolls and more. He discovered CBGBs in 1975 when he wandered into a Television and Patti Smith double bill. He took classes at School of Visual Arts and learned how to silk screen. He moved into Manhattan in 1978 and became a fine art silkscreen printer, eventually working for Andy Warhol.
In 1982, Bob saw a flier that Sonic Youth needed a drummer. Bob took the flyer which he still has and joined in 1982. As it turns out he was the only one to call. After his tenure with them, he joined Pussy Galore, staying with them from the mid-80’s through the end of the decade.
In the years since, Bob has recorded albums and toured the world with Bewitched, Action Swingers, Chrome Cranks, Knoxville Girls, Five Dollar Priest, and in more recent times Lydia Lunch Retrovirus, coming full circle playing metal percussion with fellow Pussy Galore alum Jon Spencer in his HITmakers.
New music on the way? Pitch Big Takeover Exclusives.
