Bob Cock
Encyclopedia
Adam Gates is a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and composer from the San Francisco Bay Area
. He was lead singer for The Spent Poets who released a self-titled album and toured nationally in the early 1990s. Gates toured in 1996 with Les Claypool
as guitarist for Holy Mackerel appearing on Highball with the Devil
. He has been a member of No Forcefield which included Larry LaLonde
and Bryan Mantia
(also both of Primus
). More recently he played the character of Steve "Aiwass" Hampton Trouzdale in Claypool's film Electric Apricot. Gates has also made guest appearances at Les Claypool's New Year's Eve shows.
As of 2007 he currently is a member of Madame Blavatsky Overdrive from Oakland, California self-described as "progressive pop."
band Primus
. He has appeared in a few of the band's video
s ("Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
", "My Name Is Mud
" and "Cheesy Home Video
" among them). As "Bob Cock" he often made cameo appearance
s at the band's live shows, usually dressed up as something or someone (e.g. in a chicken suit, or as George W. Bush
). Gates also had a Primus related band called "Bob Cock and the Yellow Sock," although Les usually ended up playing the shows because "Bob Cock couldn't make it tonight". It has also been noted that Bob's middle initial is "C" for Cock.
Bob Cock is mentioned in several Primus recordings. In Primus's cover of Pink Floyd's
"Have a Cigar
" as opposed to "...that is really what we think -and by the way, which one's Pink?" as in the original, the Primus version states "Of the town you are the talk, and who the hell's this guy they call Bob Cock?" He is also mentioned at the beginning of a live performance of "Groundhog's Day" by Primus, from the album Suck on This
. Before beginning the song, Les Claypool
says "Hey hey, Bob Cock here!" A clip of this is also inserted at the end of the same song on the album Frizzle Fry
, with heavy delay
added.
In the late 90s, Gates has killed off the "Cock" character with rumors of a cocaine overdose and a bizarre gerbilling
accident in Mexico. On the DVD that accompanies Primus' Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People
EP; there is an extra (accessible by entering "7" in the attic) where Bob C. Cock is in heaven (blue backdrop with clouds and a Britney Spears Calendar), doing drugs with Jesus. "Gates" is credited on the DVD.
Recently, Gates returned as Bob Cock at Primus's New Years Eve Freak Out, presumably he faked his death.
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. He was lead singer for The Spent Poets who released a self-titled album and toured nationally in the early 1990s. Gates toured in 1996 with Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
as guitarist for Holy Mackerel appearing on Highball with the Devil
Highball with the Devil
Highball with the Devil is a studio album by Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel, released in 1996. "Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel" is Claypool's first solo effort; many of the instruments on the album are played by Claypool himself including guitar, most of the drums and vocals as well as all...
. He has been a member of No Forcefield which included Larry LaLonde
Larry LaLonde
Larry "Ler" LaLonde is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Jay Lane...
and Bryan Mantia
Bryan Mantia
Bryan "Brain" Mantia is a contemporary rock drummer. He has played with bands like Primus, Guns N' Roses, Praxis and Godflesh, and with other popular performers such as Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins and Buckethead...
(also both of Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
). More recently he played the character of Steve "Aiwass" Hampton Trouzdale in Claypool's film Electric Apricot. Gates has also made guest appearances at Les Claypool's New Year's Eve shows.
As of 2007 he currently is a member of Madame Blavatsky Overdrive from Oakland, California self-described as "progressive pop."
Years with Primus
Gates is also notable as a close friend and a road crew member of the funk metalFunk metal
Funk metal is a subgenre of funk rock that fuses elements of heavy metal and funk. Allmusic has claimed that "funk metal evolved in the mid-'80s when alternative bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Infectious Grooves, Mordred and Fishbone began playing the hybrid with a stronger...
band Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
. He has appeared in a few of the band's video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s ("Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
"Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" is the first single of Primus's 1991 album Sailing the Seas of Cheese. The song tells the stories of two characters, Jerry, an ill-fated race car driver who collides with a telephone pole while driving intoxicated and Captain Pierce, a retired fireman.-Composition and...
", "My Name Is Mud
My Name Is Mud
"My Name Is Mud" is a song by alternative rock/metal band Primus and is the first single from the 1993 album Pork Soda. The lyrics are written from the point of view of a blue-collar man, Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie, who has murdered his friend after an argument...
" and "Cheesy Home Video
Cheesy Home Video
Cheesy Home Video is the first home video from Primus, released in 1992 on VHS in conjunction with the band's first covers EP Miscellaneous Debris...
" among them). As "Bob Cock" he often made cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
s at the band's live shows, usually dressed up as something or someone (e.g. in a chicken suit, or as George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
). Gates also had a Primus related band called "Bob Cock and the Yellow Sock," although Les usually ended up playing the shows because "Bob Cock couldn't make it tonight". It has also been noted that Bob's middle initial is "C" for Cock.
Bob Cock is mentioned in several Primus recordings. In Primus's cover of Pink Floyd's
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
"Have a Cigar
Have a Cigar
"Have a Cigar" is the third track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. It follows "Welcome to the Machine" and on the original LP opened side two...
" as opposed to "...that is really what we think -and by the way, which one's Pink?" as in the original, the Primus version states "Of the town you are the talk, and who the hell's this guy they call Bob Cock?" He is also mentioned at the beginning of a live performance of "Groundhog's Day" by Primus, from the album Suck on This
Suck on This
-Personnel:Primus*Les Claypool – bass guitar, vocals*Larry "Ler" LaLonde – guitars*Tim "Herb" Alexander – drumsProduction*Bob Cock – producer*Howard Johnston – editing*Tim "Soya" Leroy – stage*Lauren Miller – sound...
. Before beginning the song, Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
says "Hey hey, Bob Cock here!" A clip of this is also inserted at the end of the same song on the album Frizzle Fry
Frizzle Fry
-Personnel:Primus*Les Claypool – electric bass, electric fiddle bass, string bass, vocals*Larry LaLonde – electric guitar, acoustic guitar*Tim "Herb" Alexander – drumsProduction*Todd Huth – second acoustic guitar on "Toys"...
, with heavy delay
Delay (audio effect)
Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.-Early delay...
added.
In the late 90s, Gates has killed off the "Cock" character with rumors of a cocaine overdose and a bizarre gerbilling
Gerbilling
Gerbilling, also known as gerbil stuffing or gerbil shooting, is an urban legend that describes a supposed sexual practice of inserting small live animals into the human rectum to obtain stimulation.Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand records that the urban legend began in 1984, and initially involved a...
accident in Mexico. On the DVD that accompanies Primus' Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People
Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People
Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People is a career-spanning retrospective DVD plus bonus EP by Primus, released on October 7, 2003. The title was inspired by a crayon-made story book written by guitarist Larry LaLonde's son, and the cover depicts a sculpture made by long-time Primus collaborator...
EP; there is an extra (accessible by entering "7" in the attic) where Bob C. Cock is in heaven (blue backdrop with clouds and a Britney Spears Calendar), doing drugs with Jesus. "Gates" is credited on the DVD.
Recently, Gates returned as Bob Cock at Primus's New Years Eve Freak Out, presumably he faked his death.
Selected discography
- The Spent Poets, The Spent Poets (1992)
- Highball with the DevilHighball with the DevilHighball with the Devil is a studio album by Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel, released in 1996. "Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel" is Claypool's first solo effort; many of the instruments on the album are played by Claypool himself including guitar, most of the drums and vocals as well as all...
, Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel (1996) - Lee's Oriental Massage 415-626-1837, No Forcefield (2000)
- Stray, No Forcefield (2001)
- Idiot Jones Will Have His Day, Madame Blavatsky Overdrive (2006)
External links
- Official site: Madame Blavatsky Overdrive