BOB BERT has been a life long colleague of mine due to our involvement in a part of music history that has never really been able to be categorized. Some called us NO WAVE, others NOISE ROCK , ART ROCK or just lumping us into the ALTERNATIVE Tag. The thing about Bob is he has incredible stamina and tenacity, Both as an artist and a central figure in the art world and he continues to this day.. One of the earliest members of the Iconic SONIC YOUTH. He staked his claim right from the start as one of the better drummers in the underground scene... Mainly due to a blend of impeccable minimalism and brute force. Sonic Youth's career has been long and varied encompassing an incredible body of groundbreaking work, and Steve Shelley is a great drummer. But for me it was the BOB BERT years that were the most interesting. When he left SONIC YOUTH to join PUSSY GALORE. It was such a radical and fascinating move. Reminded me of when Bill Bruford left YES to join KING CRIMSON (come to the dark side) heh heh.

But beyond the amount of amazing artists he´s shared stages with... (Jerry Teel, Kid Congo, Lydia Lunch. I could go on forever here.) He´s also (along with his wife Linda Wolfe (R.I.P.), published his own Fanzine called "BB Gun" in the late 90´s. A truly awesome collection of reviews, articles and interviews that often included a lot of artist to artist interaction. He even wrote the liner notes and interviewed Suicide for the re-issue of the bands second album. And on top of all that he is also a renown Visual Artist.

Bob´s currently touring with LYDIA LUNCH RETROVIRUS (BOB, WEASEL WALTER & TIM DAHL). They are about to hit the road so all of us at PUNK GLOBE are really indebted to him for taking the time to share some of his escapades and adventures with us.

You were born in Hoboken? Which, in my eye´s makes you a native New Yorker. How did it all begin? What was the first record you bought as a kid? And why did you choose the drums as your medium?

I was actually born in Passaic, New Jersey and brought up in Clifton which is 10 miles outside of NYC. The british invasion and the psychedelic garage rock of the 60's is what got me started. I don't know why I was fascinated with the drummers, a kid in the neighborhood had a blue sparkle Slingerland kit in his house and all these drum catalogs. I took drum lessons for a year at the age of 12. I don't remember the first record I actually bought but I do remember at about the same age having one of those plastic battery operated turntables that I would take to the park and repeatedly play the 5 or so singles that I owned which were The Who - Happy Jack/Boris The Spider, The Safari's - Wipe Out/ Surfer Joe, The Yardbirds - Over Under Sideways Down, The Count Five- Psychotic Reaction (still one of my favorite songs of all time) Stones - Paint it Black.

As I stated above, I really admired your transition between Sonic Youth and Pussy Galore. To go from such a textural approach to the instrument into a wild balls out cacophony,with bizarre time changes etc. Did you feel kind of unleashed at that point?

No, quite the opposite, Sonic Youth were much more of a 4 way collaboration. Pussy Galore was a tight run ship by Jon Spencer. We rehearsed at least 3 times a week. The first few rehearsals with Pussy Galore, I played a regular kit and Rick Hall banged on metal. Jon decided to combine the 2, so we hit the junkyard and created the Pussy Galore drum kit.

What are some of your fondest memories of the BB Gun Days? Who (if you can choose) was the most interesting artist you interviewed?

My top 2 BB Gun interviews were Vincent Gallo & Genesis Breyer P-Orridge 2 very different artists. Other favorite's were, Nancy Sinatra, Moe Tucker, Cynthia Plaster-Caster, James Chance, Richard Hell, Dead Moon, Clem Burke, Redd Kross, Elliott Smith, so many.

Out of your wild and varied career to date. I´m sure your many fans would love some anecdotes (amusing or otherwise). Any Particular moments that stand out?

Hmmm, there was the last Pussy Galore tour which we found out as we were being searched by customs coming back from Canada that the only thing Neil Hagerty had in his suitcase was a deflated basketball and a pump. His reason being that he watched a Black Flag doc before we left and Greg Ginn said he never tours without his basketball. Jon sound checking at an early show in Chicago putting the mic in his mouth when the sound man said I wouldn't do that, GG Allin played here last night and shoved that mic up his ass. Jon has toured with his own SM57 ever since. Sonic Youth opening for PIL in Amsterdam in 83. Crazy night. Doing the first Sonic Youth Euro tour with no van, using trains passing 13 beat up guitars through train windows. Playing the Gila Monster Jamboree with Sonic Youth in the middle of the desert with the Meat Puppets and Redd Kross (Steve McDonald was still in high school) in 85. The entire audience was tripping on acid which I couldn't believe people were still doing in 85 but I guess people are still doing it now.

How did you begin as a visual artist? Was it something you've done all your life? Or did you happen upon it in later years?

No, I started as a visual artist. Around the end of the sixties, a few things happened that changed my perspective. My high school art class took a field trip to see the Andy Warhol Retrospect at the Whitney Museum, I discovered the Velvet Underground & Nico lp at my older brother's hippie pad and saw the New York Dolls play at Max's Kansas City. I stopped playing the drums when I moved out at age 18. I idolized Warhol and after high school I took a class at SVA and learned how to silk screen print. I got a job as a fine art silk screen printer which I did for 15 years. I ended up working for Rupert Smith where we printed all of Warhol's work. I worked there while I was in Sonic Youth & the beginning of my time in Pussy Galore up until Andy died on Feb 22, 1987.

In 1978 I saw a small ad on the back of the Village Voice saying punk art needed so I brought some of my work to the Nonson Gallery in Soho and my lithograph of Holly Woodlawn was accepted. I was in a group show with Joey Ramone who had a tooth brush with red paint on it entitled bloody gums. It was through this gallery that I met Linda Wolfe. Our first date was Jan 1st 1980. She was living in Jersey City at the time and I was in Manhattan. She didn't wanna live there and I didn't want to live in Jersey City so we compromised and moved to Hoboken where I still am. One night we were at a club drinking and the band didn't show so me, Peter Missing and Jeff Holiday (RIP) took over the stage. This turned into my first band called Drunk Driving. That Peter Missing upside down Martini Glass graffiti that you still see today was designed in my apt. Once I started performing music or whatever it was I got the bug. Much more social and fun than being in a room painting. Been rocking ever since.

What´s your current touring set up? Do you dig Vintage Drums? Are you using any metal or unorthodox percussion these days?

I do dig vintage drums but by no means am I a total drum geek, I hardly know how to tune them. These days I'm using a standard 66 Ludwig champagne sparkle kit that I bought from Dee Pop about 15 years ago.

With Performing, Recording, and Visual Artist, as well as journalist in your bag of tricks. It seems Author would be a logical next step. Any plans to write your memoir? I for one would be first in line to buy it.

I've been talking about putting a book together for years and hope to actually accomplish it this year. It would be mostly photos and stories with some exerts from BB Gun interviews. I definitely have a lot of amazing photos from the 70's on. It's got to happen!!

You and I both know Lydia´s true personality and demeanor. But would you like to speak a bit about what it´s like to work with the "Queen of the Damned"? (so to speak).

It's the best musical experience of my life. I was already a big fan and had seen her perform many times when I met her at my very first Sonic Youth show at CBGB on Nov 3rd, 1982 on a bill with Swans & Don King (ex-Mars). We've been good friends ever since. I truly have nothing but love and respect for her and working with her couldn't be anymore fun.

You reunited with Lee Ranaldo in 2012. To support some of his solo work... That must have been a blast. Things kind of came full circle for you which is awesome. What was that experience like?

It was casual, I see Lee pretty often since The Sonic Youth recording studio is in the same factory complex in Hoboken as my practice space that I share with close friend Mark C (Live Skull). He was working on his solo record and I suggested that he let me add some congas. So I played on 3 or 4 tracks and ended up on 2. You can hardly hear them but that's cool, I was happy to be associated with the project. I love Lee.

As you obviously aren't showing any signs of slowing. What does the future hold for Bob Bert? Any elaborate plans or do you just gonna keep on truckin'?

Well with Linda's passing 2 1/2 years ago my life had a major change. I'm in the process now of moving which with the profit I made from selling my place will allow me the freedom to spend my time being creative. I plan to keep traveling the world putting on great shows with Lydia Lunch Retrovirus. I have a side project in the works with Mick Collins and Kid Congo called The Wolfmanhattan Project which I hope gets off the ground. And I've really been enjoying making paintings again.

It´s really nice of you to take some time to correspond with an old friend. Myself and your many fans are extremely grateful. Any final thoughts? Or Words of Wisdom or Political statements?

To quote Nick Cave on the first Grinderman lp "I've got some words of wisdom, get it on, get it on, on the day when you were born" political statements I'll quote Lou Reed from the Take No Prisoners LP " Give me an issue, I'll give you a tissue, you can wipe my ass with it" BB Peace and Free Love!!!

https://www.facebook.com/BobBertartwork

Helmsley has been my BFBFF (Best FB Friend Forever) for years...Her work encompasses everything I adore in any art form. Mainly, CONTRAST. I want snippets of Glittery Beauty in my Ugliness. I want Flowers in my Garbage and Garbage in my Flowers. I want sex and death and hellbound spiritual journey´s. And most of all BRUTAL HONESTY. All of this we can expect when we enter Helmsley´s venue.

As a writer of creative non-fiction and poetry. Her writing can be found in various anthologies like Ladyland and Air in the Paragraph Line and online at websites like Jezebel, Junk Lit, The Hairpin, and The Rumpus. Her book of essays, stories, and poems,"My Body Would be the Kindest of Strangers" is forthcoming in 2015. Here´s a taste.

http://therumpus.net/author/fiona-helmsley

Also you may correspond with Fiona at her Blog: "Flee Flee This Sad Hotel" at

ilikemymeattender.blogspot.com

Grayson County Humane Society Leitchfield, KY Clint was with the group of 8 cats/kittens a woman brought in on June 14th. He does not appear to be part any of the litters and is quite small but adorable and needs your love! (There are transport options)

CONTACT: http://www.graysonhumane.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=7101897

David Rat´s Memoir available here....









http://artandcraftcorfu.homestead.com/library/moderns/happy-ending/order-paperback.html











http://dromedary-records.com/news/coming-soon-the-united-hates