Robert Bertelli, better known as Bob Bert, is an American rock drummer.

Biography

Based in

Hoboken, New Jersey Hoboken ( ; Unami: ') is a city in Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 60,417. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 58, ...

, Bert initially came to prominence as drummer for the experimental rock band

Sonic Youth Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of th ...

during the early to mid-1980s. Bert played on the Sonic Youth releases '' Confusion Is Sex'', '' Sonic Death'', and ''

Bad Moon Rising "Bad Moon Rising" is a song written by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was the lead single from their album '' Green River'' and was released in April 16, 1969 four months before the album. The song peaked at No. ...

''. After ''Bad Moon Rising'', Bert quit the group. Bert contributed during the last half of the 1980s as percussionist for noise band

Pussy Galore Pussy Galore is a fictional character in the 1959 Ian Fleming James Bond novel '' Goldfinger'' and the 1964 film of the same name. In the film, she is played by Honor Blackman. The character returns in the 2015 Bond continuation novel '' Tri ...

. He was a member of

Action Swingers Action Swingers were an indie rock/ garage punk band formed in the late 1980s in New York City, fronted by singer/guitarist Ned Hayden, who was the only constant member. During its history the band featured members of several other bands, both as f ...

in the early 1990s.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 588 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 Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian film ...

and organist Barry London in the rootsy New York City band

Knoxville Girls :''See also the murder ballad The Knoxville Girl''. Knoxville Girls was a short-lived American, New York City based, alternative rock supergroup that contained: Bob Bert (of Sonic Youth and Pussy Galore), on drums, Jerry Teel (of Boss Hog and Litt ...

. Throughout, Bert managed to release a handful of recordings by his percussive/concussive vehicle

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typi ...

. 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 is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...

. 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 Goo or GOO may refer to: Arts and media * ''Goo'' (album), by the band Sonic Youth * Goo (''Gumby'' character), a character on ''The Gumby Show'' * Goo (''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends''), character on ''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friend ...

was released. During the late 1990s, Bert and his wife, artist Linda Wolfe, began publishing '' BBGun'', a

zine A zine ( ; short for '' magazine'' or '' fanzine'') is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a copy machine. Zines are the product of either a single person or of a very s ...

that primarily covers punk rock. In 1998, Bert contributed the liner notes and interviewed

Suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and ...

for the reissue of the band's eponymous second album. Bert played with Five Dollar Priest as well as with the International Shades, which features ex-

Live Skull Live Skull is a post-punk/ experimental rock band from New York City, formed in 1982. In an overview of their abrasive no wave-influenced music, ''Trouser Press'' said, "As part of the same New York avant-noisy scene that spawned Sonic Youth, Ly ...

guitarist Mark C. and former Pier Platters shop assistant-turned-keyboardist Dorien Garry among others. In 2011 Thick Syrup Records released the compilation cd ''Bewitched - Bob Bert Presents: The Worst Poetry Of 1986 - 1993'', featuring all tracks Bob Bert recorded with Bewitched. The label also released the last album of the re-united Chrome Cranks featuring Bert on drums. Lydia Lunch Retrovirus W71 06

Bert is now playing with Retrovirus (

Lydia Lunch Lydia Lunch (born Lydia Anne Koch; June 2, 1959)Martin Charles Strong. ''The Great Indie Discography''. 2003, page 85 is an American singer, poet, writer, actress and self-empowerment speaker. Her career began during the 1970s New York City no ...

Weasel Walter Weasel Walter (born Christopher Todd Walter, May 18, 1972) is an American composer, improviser, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of ugEXPLODE Records. Walter's work has been informed by techniques and traditions of music including Av ...

, Tim Dahl), who have released studio and live albums, and also with Wolfmanhattan Project with

Kid Congo Powers Brian Tristan (born March 27, 1959), better known by his stage name Kid Congo Powers,Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 25, 41, 359 is an American rock guitarist, singer, and actor best known as a member of ...

(

The Gun Club The Gun Club were an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, which existed from 1979 to 1996. It was formed and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce. History Early days (1979–1980) The Gun Club ...

The Cramps The Cramps were an American rock band formed in 1976 and active until 2006. Their lineup rotated frequently during their existence, with the husband-and-wife duo of singer Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy the only ever-present members. ...

, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Knoxville Girls, Pink Monkey Birds) and

Mick Collins Mick Collins (born December 18, 1965) is a musician from Detroit, Michigan. Biography Collins first got exposure to early rock and roll music through his family's record collection. Also, living in Detroit, he was surrounded by Motown record ...

(

The Gories The Gories are an American garage rock trio that formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1986. They were among the first 1980s garage rock bands to incorporate overt blues influences. The band features Mick Collins (of The Dirtbombs), Dan ...

The Dirtbombs The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul, while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup. The Dirtbombs were formed by Mick C ...

). In 2019, Bert released ''I'm Just the Drummer: My Time Behind Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Chrome Cranks & BB Gun Magazine'', a book compiling his photographs and interviews he did with artists he collaborated with or that influenced him.

Discography

With Sonic Youth

* '' Confusion is Sex'', 1982 * '' Kill Yr Idols'', 1983 * ''

'', 1984 * '' Sonic Death'', 1984 * ''

Death Valley 69 "Death Valley '69" is a song by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth and featuring Lydia Lunch. The song was written and sung by Thurston Moore and fellow New York musician Lunch, and recorded by Martin Bisi in 1984. A demo version of ...

'', 1984

With Lee Ranaldo

* ''

Between the Times and the Tides ''Between the Times and the Tides'' is the ninth studio album by the American alternative rock musician Lee Ranaldo, released on March 20, 2012 on Matador Records. His first release on Matador Records and since Sonic Youth's indefinite h ...

'', 2012

Bewitched

* ''Chocolate Frenzy'' 12" EP * ''

Brain Eraser ''Brain Eraser'' is the debut studio album of Bewitched, released in 1990 by No.6 Records. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Brain Eraser'' liner notes. ;Bewitched * Bob Bert – vocals, drums *Donna Croughn – violin ...

'', No. 6 Records * '' Harshing My Mellow'', No. 6 Records * "Hey White Homie" 7"

. * '' Bob Bert Presents: The Worst Poetry of 1986-1993'', Thick Syrup Records 2011

Chrome Cranks

* ''Dead Cool'', CD

Crypt A crypt (from Latin '' crypta'' " vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, sarcophagi, or religious relics. Originally, crypts were typically found below the main apse of a ...

, 1995 * ''

Love In Exile ''Love in Exile'' is a 1936 British romantic adventure film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Helen Vinson, Clive Brook and Mary Carlisle. Production The film was shot at Isleworth Studios in west London by the independent producer ...

'', CD PCP, 1996 * ''Oily Cranks'', CD Atavistic Records, 1997 * ''Diabolical Boogie: Singles, Demos & Rarities (1992 B.C.- 1998 A.D.)'' CD, Atavistic Records, 2006 * ''Ain't No Lies In Blood'' CD, Thick Syrup Records 2011

With Lydia Lunch Retrovirus

*''Retrovirus'', Recorded live at the Knitting Factory, Brooklin, NY, Nov 15, 2012 (CD / Widowspeak, 2013) *''Urge to Kill'' (CD / Widowspeak / Rustblade / Brava, 2015) *Live in Zurich (CD / Widowspeak, 2016)

With Wolfmanhattan Project

* ''Smells Like You'', (7", In The Red Recordings, 2015) * ''Blue Gene Stew'', (CD/Album, In the Red Recordings, 2019)