Robert Hecker
Encyclopedia
Robert Hecker is the lead guitarist of the current 2006-2011 line-up of Redd Kross
.
Hecker was born in Hermosa Beach, California
. He played lead guitar
and sang with Redd Kross
from 1984 to 1991, in addition to occasional on-stage reunions throughout the 1990s. He has also played guitar and sang with the band IT'S OK
since 1992.
' era, 1984–1985, Hecker's main guitar was a Gibson
SG, played through any number of different amplifiers (Peavey
, Acoustic Control Corporation
, Sunn
, HiWatt
, Traynor
, Randall
).
In the mid-to-late 1980s, he played a pair of Carvin
guitars: first, a red DC125, which would be enshrined at the Hard Rock Cafe
in 1987; and after, a green DC200, 'Cal', which had the lower horn removed.
By 1986, and throughout the 'Neurotica
' era, he was playing through a Marshall
JCM 800 driving a Carvin 4x12 cabinet. In 1988, he switched to a Mesa/Boogie Quad preamp running through a Mesa/Boogie 295 Simul-Class power amp driving a pair of Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinets. He would use this set up throughout the 'Third Eye' era.
Since 1990, Hecker's main guitar has been a custom built Ibanez
, 'Ike', built by Mace Baily at the Ibanez Custom Shop in North Hollywood. It is an S body outfitted with a 24 fret Wizard neck, with the lower horn removed to facilitate full access to the 24th fret. This guitar was painted orange in 2006.
His current amplifier rig consists of a Mesa/Boogie Triaxis preamp run through a Mesa/Boogie 20/20 power amp driving a pair of Mesa/Boogie 1x12 EV
Thiele
cabinets, and a Marshall JMP1 preamp sounding out through a pair of Marshall 1912 1x12 Celestion
cabinets. For tours he will often just rent a pair of Marshall JCM 900s driving two Marshall 4x12 cabinets.
(Manhattan Beach
) school record for 23 years, until Drew Johnston (whom Hecker taught to hurdle) clocked 14.39 seconds at CIF
prelims in 2006. Hecker ran the 60 meter hurdles in 8.1 seconds as a member of the El Camino College
track team, and was the Exemplary Physical Education Major of the Year at California State University, Dominguez Hills
. He was runner-up in the 110 meter high hurdles at the USA Track & Field Masters Western Regionals in 2004. In addition to his career in music, he teaches science
, physical education
, health
, and music
, and coaches track & field (the Daily Breeze
called him the 'hurdles guru coach') in the South Bay
area of Los Angeles
.
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
.
Hecker was born in Hermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census....
. He played lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
and sang with Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
from 1984 to 1991, in addition to occasional on-stage reunions throughout the 1990s. He has also played guitar and sang with the band IT'S OK
IT'S OK
It's OK is a musical group formed by Redd Kross members Robert Hecker and Victor Indrizzo , along with bassist Abby Travis and the late Greg White on vocals...
since 1992.
Equipment
With Redd Kross during the 'Teen Babes from MonsantoTeen Babes from Monsanto
Teen Babes From Monsanto is a 7 song 12" record of cover songs released by Redd Kross in 1984 on Gasatanka Records. This LP has never been reissued, but all 7 songs were included on the Australian tour CD Trance.-Track listing:#"Deuce"...
' era, 1984–1985, Hecker's main guitar was a Gibson
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
SG, played through any number of different amplifiers (Peavey
Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
, Acoustic Control Corporation
Acoustic Control Corporation
Acoustic Control Corporation was a manufacturer of instrument amplifiers, founded by Steve Marks and based in Van Nuys, California. Its original location was a shack on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California....
, Sunn
Sunn
Sunn Amplifiers, are a brand of musical instrument amplifiers.- History :In early 1963, the Kingsmen, a band based in the U.S. state of Oregon, became known for the song "Louie, Louie". After its hit single, the band soon embarked on a fifty-state national tour...
, HiWatt
Hiwatt
Hiwatt was a British company that manufactured amplifiers for electric guitars and electric basses. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall and Vox, the company contributed to the sonic image popularly termed "British sound"....
, Traynor
Traynor
-Surname:* Ann Traynor, news editor for the Hemel Hempstead Gazette* Bradley Traynor , known as Wanda Wisdom, podcasting drag queen* Charles "Chuck" E...
, Randall
Randall
-Places:United Kingdom*Randall Carr, stream in Derbyshire, EnglandUnited States:*Randall, California, former name of White Hall, California*Randall House , numerous locations*Randall, Indiana*Randall, Iowa*Randall, Kansas*Randall, Minnesota...
).
In the mid-to-late 1980s, he played a pair of Carvin
Carvin
This article refers to a French commune. For the guitar manufacturer see Carvin Corporation. For the late New Orleans political consultant see Jim Carvin.Carvin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France....
guitars: first, a red DC125, which would be enshrined at the Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
in 1987; and after, a green DC200, 'Cal', which had the lower horn removed.
By 1986, and throughout the 'Neurotica
Neurotica
Neurotica is the fourth record from the band Redd Kross. It was released on Big Time Records in 1987.- Track listing :All songs written by Jeff McDonald, except where noted....
' era, he was playing through a Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
JCM 800 driving a Carvin 4x12 cabinet. In 1988, he switched to a Mesa/Boogie Quad preamp running through a Mesa/Boogie 295 Simul-Class power amp driving a pair of Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinets. He would use this set up throughout the 'Third Eye' era.
Since 1990, Hecker's main guitar has been a custom built Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
, 'Ike', built by Mace Baily at the Ibanez Custom Shop in North Hollywood. It is an S body outfitted with a 24 fret Wizard neck, with the lower horn removed to facilitate full access to the 24th fret. This guitar was painted orange in 2006.
His current amplifier rig consists of a Mesa/Boogie Triaxis preamp run through a Mesa/Boogie 20/20 power amp driving a pair of Mesa/Boogie 1x12 EV
EV
EV, eV, e. V. may refer to:* Electronvolt, a unit of energy* Eingetragener Verein, a registered voluntary association in Germany* Estonia's official name, Republic of Estonia, in Estonian: Eesti Vabariik*Everett Railroad's reporting mark...
Thiele
Thiele
There have been several prominent current and historical figures named Thiele:* Alfonso Thiele , American Italian racing driver* Annekatrin Thiele , German rower* August Thiele , Vizeadmiral with the Kriegsmarine...
cabinets, and a Marshall JMP1 preamp sounding out through a pair of Marshall 1912 1x12 Celestion
Celestion
Celestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
cabinets. For tours he will often just rent a pair of Marshall JCM 900s driving two Marshall 4x12 cabinets.
Athletics
In 1983, Robert Hecker ran the 110 meter high hurdles in 14.56 seconds, a Mira Costa High SchoolMira Costa High School
Mira Costa High School is a four-year public high school located in Manhattan Beach, California, United States that first began operating in 1950. It is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District...
(Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
) school record for 23 years, until Drew Johnston (whom Hecker taught to hurdle) clocked 14.39 seconds at CIF
CIF
CIF is an abbreviation that may stand for:* California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in California* Caltech Intermediate Form, geometry language for VLSI design, in which the primitives are coloured rectangles * Canada India Foundation, Canadian lobbying...
prelims in 2006. Hecker ran the 60 meter hurdles in 8.1 seconds as a member of the El Camino College
El Camino College
El Camino College is a two-year public community college located partially in the unincorporated area of Alondra Park and partially in the City of Torrance in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is commonly referred to as "Elco" or "ECC"...
track team, and was the Exemplary Physical Education Major of the Year at California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills is a public university located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County and was founded in 1960...
. He was runner-up in the 110 meter high hurdles at the USA Track & Field Masters Western Regionals in 2004. In addition to his career in music, he teaches science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, and coaches track & field (the Daily Breeze
Daily Breeze
The Daily Breeze is a 70,000-circulation daily newspaper published in Torrance, California. It serves the South Bay cities of Los Angeles County. Its slogan is "LAX to LA Harbor".- Early history :...
called him the 'hurdles guru coach') in the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles
The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border.The picture at right uses the broadest definition of the...
area of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.