Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 1H 2M

Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore)

from Performance Anxiety · host Marc Shea

Today’s guest has made a career playing with some of the most avant garde musicians in the world. But he didn’t start off with music in mind. Welcome drummer Bob Bert to the podcast. He grew up in a house that wasn’t super musical. In fact, his father, Angelo, was more into sports than music. He was so into sports that he won the Heisman trophy in 1943. But Bob had other ideas. Bob played some drums but was more interested in fine art, eventually printing for Andy Warhol. His music career began when his wife volunteered him for an impromptu gig. Bob talks about how he got the Sonic Youth gig, was fired, and then rehired. He talks about some other projects he was in and how Thurston Moore named one of them. Bob discusses his time in Pussy Galore, Chrome Cranks, Jon Spencer & The Hitmakers, Lydia Lunch’s Retrovirus, and more. Bob has released his first true solo album called Beach Bongo Bloodbath. And the consensus is…it’s a fun album. It’s a mix of covers and originals and highlights Bob’s singular take on music, like his guitar-free version of Mountain’s Mississippi Queen. It’s out on Bar None Records. Find it, buy, it, stream it, whatever you need to do. And follow Bob @therealbobbert on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx and grab some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Or just slide us some money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now please welcome Bob Bert on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest has made a career playing with some of the most avant garde musicians in the world. But he didn’t start off with music in mind. Welcome drummer Bob Bert to the podcast. He grew up in a house that wasn’t super musical. In fact, his father, Angelo, was more into sports than music. He was so into sports that he won the Heisman trophy in 1943. But Bob had other ideas. Bob played some drums but was more interested in fine art, eventually printing for Andy Warhol. His music career began when his wife volunteered him for an impromptu gig. Bob talks about how he got the Sonic Youth gig, was fired, and then rehired. He talks about some other projects he was in and how Thurston Moore named one of them. Bob discusses his time in Pussy Galore, Chrome Cranks, Jon Spencer & The Hitmakers, Lydia Lunch’s Retrovirus, and more. Bob has released his first true solo album called Beach Bongo Bloodbath. And the consensus is…it’s a fun album. It’s a mix of covers and originals and highlights Bob’s singular take on music, like his guitar-free version of Mountain’s Mississippi Queen. It’s out on Bar None Records. Find it, buy, it, stream it, whatever you need to do. And follow Bob @therealbobbert on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx and grab some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Or just slide us some money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now please welcome Bob Bert on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore)

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This episode was published on June 16, 2026.

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Today’s guest has made a career playing with some of the most avant garde musicians in the world. But he didn’t start off with music in mind. Welcome drummer Bob Bert to the podcast. He grew up in a house that wasn’t super musical. In fact, his...

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