Bob Bert
Encyclopedia
Robert Bertelli, better known as Bob Bert, is an American
rock drummer.
Bert is the son of the quarterback
Angelo Bertelli
. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey
, Bert initially came to prominence as drummer for the experimental rock band Sonic Youth
during the early to mid-1980s. Bert played on the Sonic Youth releases Confusion Is Sex
, Sonic Death
, and Bad Moon Rising
. After Bad Moon Rising, Bert quit the group. Sonic Youth replaced Bert with drummer Steve Shelley
.
Bert contributed during the last half of the 1980s as percussionist for noise band Pussy Galore
, as well as their splinter group Boss Hog
.
In the early 1990s, Bert drummed for the Chrome Cranks (which also included Peter Aaron on vocals; Jerry Teel on bass; and William Weber on stun guitar).
After the dissolution of the Cranks, Bert joined forces with guitarist Kid Congo, guitarist Jack Martin, bassist/vocalist Jerry Teel and organist Barry London in the rootsy New York City band Knoxville Girls
.
Throughout, Bert managed to release a handful of recordings by his percussive/concussive vehicle Bewitched. Releases by Bewitched include the Chocolate Frenzy 12" EP; some albums, including Harshing My Mellow on No. 6 Records; and the "Hey White Homie" 7" on Sub Pop
. Bewitched toured with S.Y. and STP (short-lived NYC all-female foxcore band which included PG guitarist Julie Cafritz) during the summer of 1990, the year "Goo" was released.
During the late 1990s, Bert (with his wife, artist Linda Wolfe) began publishing BBGun, a zine
that primarily covers punk rock.
In 1998, Bert contributed the liner notes and interviewed Suicide
for the reissue of the band's eponymous second album.
Bert currently plays with "Five Dollar Priest" as well as with the International Shades, which features ex-Live Skull
guitarist Mark C. and former Pier Platters shop assistant-turned-keyboardist Dorian Gary among others.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock drummer.
Bert is the son of the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Angelo Bertelli
Angelo Bertelli
Angelo Bortolo Bertelli was an American football player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1943 playing as a quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Early life:...
. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, Bert initially came to prominence as drummer for the experimental rock band Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
during the early to mid-1980s. Bert played on the Sonic Youth releases Confusion Is Sex
Confusion Is Sex
Confusion Is Sex is Sonic Youth's first studio album, originally released on 12" vinyl in 1983 on Neutral. It was reissued on SST Records in 1987 and on CD in 1995 on DGC with extra tracks from the Kill Yr Idols EP. The album features a live cover of The Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog". The cover...
, Sonic Death
Sonic Death
Sonic Death is a live album by Sonic Youth, released in 1984.It contains live recordings from 1981 to 1983.Many of the songs on this album appear only as fragments, often with no breaks between....
, and Bad Moon Rising
Bad Moon Rising (album)
Bad Moon Rising is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band Sonic Youth, released on the New York independent record label Homestead Records in 1985. The album is loosely themed around the dark side of America, and includes references to obsession and insanity, Charles Manson,...
. After Bad Moon Rising, Bert quit the group. Sonic Youth replaced Bert with drummer Steve Shelley
Steve Shelley
Steven Jay Shelley is an American drummer, best known as the drummer of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.-Biography:...
.
Bert contributed during the last half of the 1980s as percussionist for noise band Pussy Galore
Pussy Galore (band)
Pussy Galore was an American garage rock band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1985. They had a constantly fluid line-up until their demise in 1990. Like many garage rock outfits, they were dogged by substance abuse problems...
, as well as their splinter group Boss Hog
Boss Hog
Boss Hog is an American punk blues band including the husband and wife duo of Jon Spencer and Cristina Martinez along with Jens Jurgensen , Hollis Queens and Mark Boyce...
.
In the early 1990s, Bert drummed for the Chrome Cranks (which also included Peter Aaron on vocals; Jerry Teel on bass; and William Weber on stun guitar).
After the dissolution of the Cranks, Bert joined forces with guitarist Kid Congo, guitarist Jack Martin, bassist/vocalist Jerry Teel and organist Barry London in the rootsy New York City band Knoxville Girls
Knoxville Girls
Knoxville Girls was a short-lived New York City alternative rock supergroup that contained: Bob Bert , on drums, Jerry Teel on vocals, guitars; Kid Congo Powers on guitar and vocals; Jack Martin on guitar; and Barry London on...
.
Throughout, Bert managed to release a handful of recordings by his percussive/concussive vehicle Bewitched. Releases by Bewitched include the Chocolate Frenzy 12" EP; some albums, including Harshing My Mellow on No. 6 Records; and the "Hey White Homie" 7" on Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
. Bewitched toured with S.Y. and STP (short-lived NYC all-female foxcore band which included PG guitarist Julie Cafritz) during the summer of 1990, the year "Goo" was released.
During the late 1990s, Bert (with his wife, artist Linda Wolfe) began publishing BBGun, a zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
that primarily covers punk rock.
In 1998, Bert contributed the liner notes and interviewed Suicide
Suicide (band)
Suicide is an American electronic protopunk musical duo, intermittently active since 1970 and composed of vocalist Alan Vega and Martin Rev on synthesizers and drum machines. They are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo....
for the reissue of the band's eponymous second album.
Bert currently plays with "Five Dollar Priest" as well as with the International Shades, which features ex-Live Skull
Live Skull
-Overview:Live Skull created abrasive no wave music not unlike their 1980s contemporaries Sonic Youth, Swans, Rat at Rat R, The Chameleons, Mars, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and Band of Susans. Their music featured angular guitar parts interspersed with bleak, quieter passages, for a haunting...
guitarist Mark C. and former Pier Platters shop assistant-turned-keyboardist Dorian Gary among others.