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Bob Rock
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Robert Jens Rock, aka Bob Rock,(born 19 April, 1954 in Winnipeg, Manitoba), is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer.
began his career in Langford, British Columbia (a suburb of Victoria) as a guitarist playing with friends William Alexander and Paul Hyde in the former's household basement. After high school graduation, Rock left Victoria and became the co-founder of the Payola$, who became well known for their '80s hit, "Eyes of a Stranger", which was used as part of the soundtrack of the movie Valley Girl starring Nicolas Cage.
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Encyclopedia
Robert Jens Rock, aka Bob Rock,(born 19 April, 1954 in Winnipeg, Manitoba), is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer.
Music career with Payola$ and Rock and Hyde
Rock began his career in Langford, British Columbia (a suburb of Victoria) as a guitarist playing with friends William Alexander and Paul Hyde in the former's household basement. After high school graduation, Rock left Victoria and became the co-founder of the Payola$, who became well known for their '80s hit, "Eyes of a Stranger", which was used as part of the soundtrack of the movie Valley Girl starring Nicolas Cage. In 1983, the Payola$ won the Juno Award for Single of the year. He also worked as an assistant at Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver. In 1987, the Payola$ (who had previously changed their name to Paul Hyde and the Payolas) changed their name to Rock and Hyde and had a hit single in Canada with the song "Dirty Water". The song also charted on Billboard's Hot 100. In 2007, the Payola$ reclaimed their irreverent band name and once again became active as a touring and recording act, releasing the CD EP Langford Part One.
Production career
Rock is best known for giving bands such as Metallica and Mötley Crüe a more elaborate record production. He has also worked with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Cher, The Cult, David Lee Roth, Skid Row, Veruca Salt, Nina Gordon, Our Lady Peace, The Tragically Hip, Lostprophets, American Hi-Fi and Simple Plan.
Rock briefly returned to performing, forming the band Rockhead with ex-Payola$ drummer Chris Taylor. The band released one self-titled album and two singles, but split up shortly afterwards.
Rock is also producing his own band's next album, Langford. The Payola$ have mentioned plans for a tour in early 2008.
Rock also produced The Offspring's eighth studio album, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, which was well-received by the band's fans. Released on June 17, 2008, it was their first album in four-and-a-half years, since Splinter in 2003.
Rock was asked directly and interviewed with Canadian rock trio Rush to produce their eighteenth studio album Snakes & Arrows, but because Rock had prior obligations with The Offspring, he was unable to produce the record, and he directed the band to Foo Fighters and Velvet Revolver producer Nick Raskulinecz for the gig. Bob Rock attended the Rush concert at the Los Angeles Nokia Live on May 8, 2008 where he discussed Rush's next record with band members. He had also been unavailable to produce Rush's previous studio album, 2002's Vapor Trails, due to his obligations with Metallica.
Rock penned an essay on the recording of The Tragically Hip's album World Container.
Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge
As of late September 2008, Rock has been instrumental in narrowing down close to 15,000 contestants in CBC Sports's Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge, a contest to find a new theme song for the iconic weekly sports presentation. Controversy erupted in the Anthem Challenge when Gerry Mosby, a professional composer and former business associate of Lou Pomanti, another contest judge and producer, was announced as a semi-finalist. Mosby and Rock have both worked together on a Zappacosta album. This clear conflict of interest has enraged many of the entrants who have posted their feedback at the Anthem Challenge website, as it violated CBC rules that prevented persons connected with the judges or producers from entering. The segment on The Hour in which Mosby was shown to have won was pre-taped on the second week of September. With the contest having closed on August 31, 2008, many are openly questioning if the CBC and Bob Rock actually screened the almost 15,000 entries.
Metallica
Bob Rock was chosen to produce Metallica's multiplatinum self-titled album (known as The Black Album) after the band's ironic admiration of Mötley Crüe's 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. The Black Album was released in 1991 and subsequent followups produced by Rock included Load (1996), ReLoad (1997), Garage Inc. (1998) and S&M (1999). Metallica once again tapped Rock to produce their 2003 album St. Anger, in which he played bass guitar due to the departure of bassist Jason Newsted.
A petition that over 20,000 fans signed was posted online. The petition called for Metallica to dump Rock as producer, claiming he had too much influence on the band's sound and musical format. Rock claimed the petition was hurtful for his children. He was also quoted saying "Sometimes, even with a great coach, a team keeps losing. You have to get new blood in there."
In February, 2006, Metallica chose producer Rick Rubin to produce their next album, ending the group's long-time relationship with Rock.
Awards
Rock's career both as a producer and musician was recognized at the 2007 Juno Award Ceremony for his lifetime contribution to popular music. Rock was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). "Bob is a musical craftsman whose wide range of talents show no signs of slowing," said Melanie Berry, CARAS President. "He has helped to define rock as we know it today, and we are very proud to recognize him in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame."
Rock confirmed his acceptance of the award: "It is an honour to join great producers like Bob Ezrin, Bruce Fairbairn, Daniel Lanois, Jack Richardson, and David Foster in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame" says Rock. "They are all giants of the industry, and to be recognized, means that I had to have worked with truly great artists. I thank them for their confidence and inspiration."
Bob Rock has been nominated for Juno Awards 17 times in various categories ranging from Producer of the Year, Recording Engineer of the Year, Composer of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. He has won on numerous occasions for both his production work and his work in bands such as the Payola$ and Rock and Hyde. Rock last won Producer of the Year in 2005 for Simple Plan's "Welcome to my Life". He has been nominated for 2007 Producer of the Year for his work on The Tragically Hip's album "World Container".
Discography - Musician
- 1981 - Payola$ - In a Place Like This
- 1982 - Payola$ - No Stranger to Danger
- 1982 - Strange Advance - Worlds Away
- 1983 - Payola$ - Hammer on a Drum
- 1985 - Paul Hyde & The Payola$ - Here's the World For Ya
- 1987 - Rock and Hyde - Under the Volcano
- 1989 - Mötley Crüe - Dr. Feelgood
- 1992 - Rockhead - Guitar - backing vocals
- 2003 - Metallica - St. Anger - Bass guitar/writing
- 2007 - Payola$ - Langford Part 1
Discography - Engineer/mixer
- 1979 - Prism - Armageddon
- 1979 - Survivor
- 1980 - Prism - Young and Restless
- 1980 - Loverboy
- 1980 - Modernettes - Teen City
- 1981 - Loverboy - Get Lucky
- 1982 - Strange Advance - Worlds Away
- 1982 - Payola$ - No Stranger to Danger
- 1983 - Loverboy - Keep it Up
- 1983 - Payola$ - Hammer on a Drum
- 1984 - Krokus - The Blitz
- 1984 - Chilliwack - Look in, Look Out
- 1985 - Paul Hyde and the Payolas - Here's the World for Ya
- 1985 - Northern Lights - Tears are Not Enough
- 1985 - Black 'N Blue - Without Love
- 1986 - Honeymoon Suite - The Big Prize
- 1986 - Paul Janz - Electricity
- 1986 - Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
- 1987 - Rock and Hyde - Under the Volcano
- 1987 - Loverboy - Wildside
- 1987 - Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation
- 1988 - Bon Jovi - New Jersey
- 1989 - Paul Dean - Hard Core
Discography - Producer
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