Beatle Bob
Encyclopedia
Beatle Bob is a well-known figure in the St. Louis, Missouri
music scene. He has been seen doing his characteristic dancing at a wide range of concerts including Ani DiFranco
, Less Than Jake
and Chuck Berry
, both in the crowd and onstage with the performers. He is known for his arrhythmic dance moves and Beatles
-inspired "mop top" hairstyle and '60s
attire. His constant presence and dancing is welcomed by some concertgoers and an aggravation to others, but even his detractors admit that his presence signals that one is seeing the best music event in town on that particular night. He has allegedly been to at least one live show every night since Christmas Eve 1996, and seen over 10,000 bands over the last decade.
According to a 2000 article in the Riverfront Times
, Beatle Bob's real name is Robert Matonis. He is a vegetarian
and states that he does not smoke or drink.
Contrary to popular belief, the nickname "Beatle Bob" did not originate from his Beatles style hair cut. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The name was given to him while in school in St. Louis. Typical to many children in St. Louis, Bob went to Catholic schools while growing up in St. Louis. One day during class, he was reading a Beatles magazine that was concealed within an open text book. When the nun caught him, she snatched the magazine from him and stated, "That will be enough of that, Beatle Bob!" The name has stuck.
He has contributed to the now-defunct music publication Jet Lag Magazine and wrote a monthly "Top Ten" of local concerts for Sauce Magazine. He also used to produce an annual Phil Spector
Christmas Special for local community radio station, KDHX
, although members of the local music scene have disputed Bob's claims that he hosts a regular radio show or owns a radio station.
Beatle Bob has also attended music festivals around the United States, including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (an annual Manchester, Tenn. music festival), City Stages
, SXSW, Lollapalooza
, the Ponderosa Stomp, Sleazefest, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Austin City Limits Music Festival
. He holds the distinction of emceeing the final Guided by Voices
show at Metro
in Chicago
, December 31, 2004; and introducing Sleater-Kinney
at their last touring show during Lollapalooza
in 2006. He introduced Camper van Beethoven
and The Flaming Lips
at Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival in Lawrence, Kansas
in June 2006. He also emceed the "Last Call at the Nights" on January 19, 2007, the final show held at Mississippi Nights
on Laclede's Landing
in St. Louis. On August 3, 2007, Beatle Bob was seen at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, Ill., dancing onstage with The Polyphonic Spree
and introducing a Mississippi band, Colour Revolt. Beatle Bob also introduced the Sam Roberts Band onstage on August 4, 2007 and spent their set dancing offstage. He was seen again on August 5 at Lollapalooza introducing the rock band Dios and dancing with them onstage, and later introducing indie rock band Yo La Tengo
. He introduced Cornmeal
at Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival in 2011.
Beatle Bob and his dancing are featured in the Guided By Voices video for "My Kind of Soldier" and in Lit's DVD "All Access." He is the subject of an upcoming documentary entitled "Superfan: The Lies, Life and Legend of Beatle Bob."
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
music scene. He has been seen doing his characteristic dancing at a wide range of concerts including Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
, Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, both in the crowd and onstage with the performers. He is known for his arrhythmic dance moves and Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
-inspired "mop top" hairstyle and '60s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
attire. His constant presence and dancing is welcomed by some concertgoers and an aggravation to others, but even his detractors admit that his presence signals that one is seeing the best music event in town on that particular night. He has allegedly been to at least one live show every night since Christmas Eve 1996, and seen over 10,000 bands over the last decade.
According to a 2000 article in the Riverfront Times
Riverfront Times
The Riverfront Times is a weekly newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri that consists of local politics, music, arts and dining news in the print edition and daily updates to blogs and photo galleries on its website...
, Beatle Bob's real name is Robert Matonis. He is a vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and states that he does not smoke or drink.
Contrary to popular belief, the nickname "Beatle Bob" did not originate from his Beatles style hair cut. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The name was given to him while in school in St. Louis. Typical to many children in St. Louis, Bob went to Catholic schools while growing up in St. Louis. One day during class, he was reading a Beatles magazine that was concealed within an open text book. When the nun caught him, she snatched the magazine from him and stated, "That will be enough of that, Beatle Bob!" The name has stuck.
He has contributed to the now-defunct music publication Jet Lag Magazine and wrote a monthly "Top Ten" of local concerts for Sauce Magazine. He also used to produce an annual Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
Christmas Special for local community radio station, KDHX
KDHX
KDHX is an award winning, independent, non-commercial, listener-supported community radio station in St. Louis, Missouri, United States located at 88.1 MHz FM offering a full spectrum of music along with cultural and public affairs programming since 1987...
, although members of the local music scene have disputed Bob's claims that he hosts a regular radio show or owns a radio station.
Beatle Bob has also attended music festivals around the United States, including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (an annual Manchester, Tenn. music festival), City Stages
City Stages
City Stages was a three-day, family-friendly, arts and music festival in downtown Birmingham, Alabama that took place in and around Linn Park from 1989 to 2009. City Stages featured 150 to 200 acts from hip hop to country on 9 to 11 stages. Many of the world's renowned performers and musicians...
, SXSW, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, the Ponderosa Stomp, Sleazefest, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
. He holds the distinction of emceeing the final Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
show at Metro
Metro Chicago
This page is about the concert hall; for the metro region surrounding Chicago, see Chicago metropolitan area.Metro is a concert hall at 3730 N. Clark Street in Chicago, Illinois that plays host to a variety of local, regional and national emerging bands and musicians. The Metro was first opened in...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, December 31, 2004; and introducing Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
at their last touring show during Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
in 2006. He introduced Camper van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983.An eclectic band, Camper Van Beethoven mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk and alternative country, as well as various types of world music. Their aggressive musical pluralism created a...
and The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
at Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
in June 2006. He also emceed the "Last Call at the Nights" on January 19, 2007, the final show held at Mississippi Nights
Mississippi Nights
Mississippi Nights was a music club in St. Louis, Missouri that achieved national recognition for the number of big-name acts and performers it hosted....
on Laclede's Landing
Laclede's Landing
Laclède's Landing is a popular attraction located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.Located just north of the Eads Bridge on the Mississippi Riverfront, the Landing is a multi-block collection of cobblestone streets and vintage brick-and-cast-iron warehouses dating from 1850 through 1900, now...
in St. Louis. On August 3, 2007, Beatle Bob was seen at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, Ill., dancing onstage with The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
and introducing a Mississippi band, Colour Revolt. Beatle Bob also introduced the Sam Roberts Band onstage on August 4, 2007 and spent their set dancing offstage. He was seen again on August 5 at Lollapalooza introducing the rock band Dios and dancing with them onstage, and later introducing indie rock band Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
. He introduced Cornmeal
Cornmeal
Cornmeal is flour ground from dried maize or American corn. It is a common staple food, and is ground to fine, medium, and coarse consistencies. In the United States, the finely ground cornmeal is also referred to as cornflour. However, the word cornflour denotes cornstarch in recipes from the...
at Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival in 2011.
Beatle Bob and his dancing are featured in the Guided By Voices video for "My Kind of Soldier" and in Lit's DVD "All Access." He is the subject of an upcoming documentary entitled "Superfan: The Lies, Life and Legend of Beatle Bob."
External links
- http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/08/contest_win_tickets_to_party_with_beatle_bob.php
- The Legend of Beatle Bob - 90.7 KWMU
- Riverfront Times article about Beatle Bob
- Austin Chronicle article about Beatle Bob
- An interview with Beatle Bob
- The Official Beatle Bob Website-Verified
- Site critical of Beatle Bob
- Beatle Bob - World's Most Obsessive Music Fan
- Last Call at the Nights - final show at Mississippi Nights
- Interview with Beatle Bob at insideSTL.com
- Video of Beatle Bob dancing to surf punk band The Balboas' (aka Minnie and the Pearltones) cover of Link Wray's Rumble at Sleazefest 2001, Chapel Hill, NC
- Video of Beatle Bob sending off surf punk band The Balboas (aka Minnie and the Pearltones) at Sleazefest 2001, Chapel Hill, NC