ROBO
Encyclopedia
Robo is a Colombian
-American drummer
. He was the drummer for the Misfits, and first gained recognition as a drummer for Black Flag
.
, working in a plastics factory. In 1978, he became the third person to drum for Black Flag
and was with them through 1981, performing on the EPs Jealous Again
, Six Pack
, and their first full-length album Damaged
. He later toured and recorded with The Misfits on the Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood album.
Robo's drum style is brash and brutal, relying heavily on open high-hat to generate the frenetic sounds on Black Flag's albums. His signature drum kit
during that era was transparent to match Greg Ginn
's see-through Dan Armstrong
guitar, and was unique in that all of the drums and cymbals were level. He was also known for wearing plastic and metal bracelets during concerts and recording sessions; they can sometimes be heard faintly clattering on recordings. His stage name was given to him by his Black Flag bandmates, and is both a play on his name (Roberto) and a reference to his drumming style. Whereas many drummers utilize a style which uses quick movements originating from the wrist, Robo's style consists of stiff, robotic movements of the entire arm.
In 2003, Robo drummed for Black Flag during their reunion shows. He was joined by Dez Cadena
on vocals and rhythm guitar, Greg Ginn
on lead guitar, and C'el Revuelta on bass. In 2005, he rejoined with the Misfits, now featuring original member Jerry Only on bass and vocals and fellow former Black Flag member Dez Cadena on guitar. When touring, the band plays Misfits songs as well as Black Flag songs, with Cadena singing the Black Flag songs. He appears on the groups most recent release, the "Land of the Dead
" single.
He was briefly mentioned in the Jim Jarmusch
short film "Coffee and Cigarettes: Somewhere in California
" by Iggy Pop
, who suggested using Robo's drumming talents to an offended Tom Waits
.
Robo has one son, Vincent Valverde, who was born in December 1985.
In 2010 Robo dropped out of both Black Flag and The Misfits due to passport troubles.
Note: Robo was credited as the drummer on early pressing's of Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown EP but did not play on the actual recording.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
-American drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. He was the drummer for the Misfits, and first gained recognition as a drummer for Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
.
Life and career
Robo, who began playing drums in 1976, entered the United States on a student visa and was living in El Segundo, CaliforniaEl Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
, working in a plastics factory. In 1978, he became the third person to drum for Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and was with them through 1981, performing on the EPs Jealous Again
Jealous Again
-Band:* Ron Reyes – vocals* Greg Ginn – guitar* Chuck Dukowski – bass guitar; vocals on "You Bet We've Got Something Personal Against You!"* Robo – drums-Production:* Spot – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer...
, Six Pack
Six Pack (EP)
-Band:* Dez Cadena – vocals, rhythm guitar* Greg Ginn – lead guitar* Chuck Dukowski – bass guitar* Robo – drums-Production:* Geza X – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer* Spot – producer* Raymond Pettibon – artwork...
, and their first full-length album Damaged
Damaged (Black Flag album)
Damaged is the debut studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag. It was released in December 1981 through SST Records. In 2003, the album was ranked number 340 on Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time....
. He later toured and recorded with The Misfits on the Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood album.
Robo's drum style is brash and brutal, relying heavily on open high-hat to generate the frenetic sounds on Black Flag's albums. His signature drum kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
during that era was transparent to match Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
's see-through Dan Armstrong
Dan Armstrong
Dan Armstrong was a guitarist, luthier, and session musician.-Biography:Dan Kent Armstrong was born on October 7, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started playing the guitar at age 11, and moved to New York in the early 1960s in order to work as a studio musician and guitar repairman...
guitar, and was unique in that all of the drums and cymbals were level. He was also known for wearing plastic and metal bracelets during concerts and recording sessions; they can sometimes be heard faintly clattering on recordings. His stage name was given to him by his Black Flag bandmates, and is both a play on his name (Roberto) and a reference to his drumming style. Whereas many drummers utilize a style which uses quick movements originating from the wrist, Robo's style consists of stiff, robotic movements of the entire arm.
In 2003, Robo drummed for Black Flag during their reunion shows. He was joined by Dez Cadena
Dez Cadena
Dez Paul Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag. Since 2001 Cadena has played guitar with the Misfits...
on vocals and rhythm guitar, Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
on lead guitar, and C'el Revuelta on bass. In 2005, he rejoined with the Misfits, now featuring original member Jerry Only on bass and vocals and fellow former Black Flag member Dez Cadena on guitar. When touring, the band plays Misfits songs as well as Black Flag songs, with Cadena singing the Black Flag songs. He appears on the groups most recent release, the "Land of the Dead
Land of the Dead (song)
"Land of the Dead" is a single by the horror punk band the Misfits, released October 27, 2009 through Misfits Records. It is the first release of new studio material from the band since the 2003 covers album Project 1950, and their first release of new, original material since 1999's Famous Monsters...
" single.
He was briefly mentioned in the Jim Jarmusch
Jim Jarmusch
James R. "Jim" Jarmusch is an American independent film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor and composer. Jarmusch has been a major proponent of independent cinema, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
short film "Coffee and Cigarettes: Somewhere in California
Coffee and Cigarettes: Somewhere in California
Coffee and Cigarettes: Somewhere in California is a 1993 black-and-white short film directed by writer/director Jim Jarmusch shot in Northern California. The film consists primarily of a conversation between musicians Tom Waits and Iggy Pop in a coffee shop...
" by Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, who suggested using Robo's drumming talents to an offended Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
.
Robo has one son, Vincent Valverde, who was born in December 1985.
In 2010 Robo dropped out of both Black Flag and The Misfits due to passport troubles.
Black Flag
- "Jealous AgainJealous Again-Band:* Ron Reyes – vocals* Greg Ginn – guitar* Chuck Dukowski – bass guitar; vocals on "You Bet We've Got Something Personal Against You!"* Robo – drums-Production:* Spot – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer...
" EP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1980) - "Six PackSix Pack (EP)-Band:* Dez Cadena – vocals, rhythm guitar* Greg Ginn – lead guitar* Chuck Dukowski – bass guitar* Robo – drums-Production:* Geza X – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer* Spot – producer* Raymond Pettibon – artwork...
" EP (SST Records, 1981) - "Louie LouieLouie Louie"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
" single (Posh Boy RecordsPosh Boy RecordsPosh Boy Records was a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Robbie Fields, a high school substitute teacher and former copyboy at the L A Times who took an interest in the emerging punk rock scene in Orange County, California during the late 1970s...
, 1981) - DamagedDamaged (Black Flag album)Damaged is the debut studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag. It was released in December 1981 through SST Records. In 2003, the album was ranked number 340 on Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time....
(SST Records, 1981) - Everything Went BlackEverything Went BlackEverything Went Black is a compilation album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag, released in 1982. It comprises early songs recorded before Henry Rollins became the band's vocalist in 1981, and released initially without the band's name on its cover, due to their lawsuit with MCA/Unicorn...
compilation (SST Records, 1983) - selected tracks - The First Four YearsThe First Four YearsThe First Four Years is a compilation of early songs by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag recorded before Henry Rollins became the band's vocalist in 1981...
compilation (SST Records, 1983) - selected tracks - Wasted...AgainWasted...AgainWasted...Again is an album released by American hardcore punk band Black Flag in 1987 on SST Records. It is a "best-of" compilation released after Black Flag's breakup in 1986.-Track listing:All songs written by Greg Ginn, except where noted....
compilation (SST Records, 1987) - selected tracks
Note: Robo was credited as the drummer on early pressing's of Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown EP but did not play on the actual recording.
The Misfits
- Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (Plan 9 Records, 1983)
- "Die, Die My DarlingDie, Die My Darling-Band:* Glenn Danzig - vocals* Doyle - guitar* Jerry Only - bass guitar* Arthur Googy - drums on "Die, Die My Darling"* Robo - drums on "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?" and "We Bite"-Metallica version:...
" EP (Plan 9 Records, 1984) - Misfits compilation (Plan 9/Caroline Records, 1986) - selected tracks
- Collection IICollection IICollection II is the companion album to The Misfits' Collection I. Both compilations collect all the early singles and the entire Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood album, and are meant to complement Walk Among Us and Legacy of Brutality with little overlap...
compilation (Caroline Records, 1995) - selected tracks - The Misfits Box Set (Caroline Records, 1996) - selected tracks
- Cuts from the CryptCuts from the Crypt- Band :* Michale Graves – vocals* Jerry Only – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Monster Mash"* Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein – guitar* Dr. Chud – drums- Additional musicians :* John Cafiero – vocals on "I Wanna Be a NY Ranger"...
compilation (Roadrunner RecordsRoadrunner RecordsRoadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
, 2001) - on the song "Rise Above" - "Land of the DeadLand of the Dead (song)"Land of the Dead" is a single by the horror punk band the Misfits, released October 27, 2009 through Misfits Records. It is the first release of new studio material from the band since the 2003 covers album Project 1950, and their first release of new, original material since 1999's Famous Monsters...
" single (Misfits RecordsMisfits RecordsMisfits Records is an independent record label founded in 2002 by Jerry Only of the Misfits as a division of his publishing company Cyclopian Music, Inc...
, 2009)
External links
- MisfitsCentral.com - band bio of Robo
- Recording of Robo playing with the Misfits