Bob Rock

For the heavy metal singer, see Rob Rock. For the drummer, see Bobby Rock. For the American Olympic luger, see Bob Rock Jr.

Robert Jens Rock (born April 19, 1954) is a Canadian record producer, sound engineer and musician, best known for producing rock bands and music artists such as Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, the Tragically Hip, the Cult, 311, Our Lady Peace, Bryan Adams, the Offspring, Michael Bublé, Black Veil Brides, David Lee Roth, and Ron Sexsmith.

Bob Rock
Rock presenting at the 2009 Juno Awards
Background information
Birth name	Robert Jens Rock
Born	(1954-04-19) April 19, 1954
Origin	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres	Rock heavy metal punk rock
Instruments	Bass guitar keyboards vocals
Years active	1976–present

Early life

Rock was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1954, where he grew up and was a big hockey fan.

Payolas and Rock and Hyde

Main article: Payolas

Rock began his music career in Langford, British Columbia (a suburb of Victoria), as a guitarist playing with friends William Alexander and Paul Hyde in the former's household basement. After high school graduation, Rock left Victoria and became the co-founder of the Payolas, who became well known with the success of their 1980s hit, "Eyes of a Stranger", which was used as part of the soundtrack of the movie Valley Girl starring Nicolas Cage.

In 1983, the Payolas won the Juno Award for Single of the Year. Rock also worked as an assistant engineer at Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver. In 1987, the band (who had by then changed their name to Paul Hyde and the Payolas) again changed their name to Rock and Hyde and had two hit singles in Canada with the song "Dirty Water" (#20), which also charted on Billboard's Hot 100, and "I Will (#40). In 2007, the Payolas became briefly active once more as a touring and recording act, releasing the EP Langford Part One.

Production career

Rock is well known as a producer for heavy metal bands such as Metallica and Mötley Crüe. He has also worked with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Blue Murder, the Moffatts, Cher, the Cult, David Lee Roth, Skid Row, Veruca Salt, Nina Gordon, the Offspring, 311, Our Lady Peace, the Tragically Hip, the Tea Party, Lostprophets, American Hi-Fi, Simple Plan, Tonic, Nelly Furtado, Jann Arden, and Ron Sexsmith.

Rock briefly returned to performing, forming the band Rockhead with ex-Payolas drummer Chris Taylor. The band released one self-titled album and two singles before splitting up. Rock produced the five finalist songs of CBC Sports's Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge in late 2008.

Work with Metallica

Main article: Metallica

In 1990, Rock was chosen to produce Metallica's Diamond-certified (16× Platinum) self-titled album (commonly referred to as The Black Album). He would subsequently produce Load (1996), ReLoad (1997), the new material for the band's cover album, Garage Inc. (1998), and St. Anger (2003).

Rock also wrote and played all of the bass guitar parts on St. Anger, as Jason Newsted left Metallica in January 2001, and was the bassist for the band's few live performances until Robert Trujillo joined the band in February 2003. Rock was featured prominently in the 2004 documentary film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, which dealt with Metallica's internal strife and their struggles with the creative process during the recording of St. Anger.

In February 2006, Metallica chose producer Rick Rubin to produce their next album, ending the band's long-time relationship with Rock, being 13 years. At Metallica's 30th Anniversary Concert on December 10, 2011, Rock joined Metallica onstage, and performed bass alongside Trujillo on the songs "Dirty Window" and "Frantic".

Awards

Rock's career both as a producer and musician was recognized at the 2007 Juno Awards ceremony in Saskatoon for his lifetime contribution to popular music. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). "Bob is a musical craftsman whose wide range of talents show no signs of slowing," said Melanie Berry, CARAS President. "He has helped to define rock as we know it today, and we are very proud to recognize him in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame."

Rock has received 4x multi-platinum for "Wanted Dead or Alive" and 2x multi-platinum for "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi.

Rock confirmed his acceptance of the award: "It is an honour to join great producers like Bob Ezrin, Bruce Fairbairn, Daniel Lanois, Jack Richardson, and David Foster in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame" said Rock. "They are all giants of the industry, and to be recognized, means that I had to have worked with truly great artists. I thank them for their confidence and inspiration."

Rock has received nominations for 17 Juno Awards in various categories, including "Producer of the Year", "Recording Engineer of the Year", "Composer of the Year", and "Entertainer of the Year". He has won on numerous occasions for both his production work and his work with Payola$ and Rock and Hyde.

Rock last won Producer of the Year in 2005 for Simple Plan's "Welcome to My Life". He was nominated for 2007 Producer of the Year for his work on The Tragically Hip's album World Container. In 2014, Rock won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his work on Michael Bublé's album To Be Loved. In 2023, he won a Grammy Award for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” for his work on Bublé's album Higher.

Discography

Musician

• Payolas – In a Place Like This (1981)
• Payolas – No Stranger to Danger (1982)
• Strange Advance – Worlds Away (1982)
• Payolas – Hammer on a Drum (1983)
• Paul Hyde & The Payolas – Here's the World for Ya (1985)
• Zappacosta – A to Z (1986)
• Rock and Hyde – Under the Volcano (1987)
• Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
• Rockhead – Rockhead (1992)
• Metallica – St. Anger (2003)
• Gord Downie – Lustre Parfait (2023)
• The Offspring – Supercharged (2024)

Producer

• 1979 – Young Canadians – Hawaii (EP)
• 1979 – The Subhumans – Death Was Too Kind (EP)
• 1980 – Pointed Sticks – Perfect Youth
• 1981 – Payolas – In a Place Like This
• 1984 – Servant – Light Maneuvers
• 1986 – Zappacosta – A to Z
• 1986 – The Cheer – Shot with Our Own Guns
• 1987 – Rock and Hyde – Under the Volcano
• 1988 – Kingdom Come – Kingdom Come
• 1988 – Colin James
• 1989 – The Cult – Sonic Temple
• 1989 – Blue Murder – Blue Murder
• 1989 – Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood
• 1989 – Loverboy – Big Ones (new material)
• 1990 – Little Caesar – Little Caesar
• 1990 – Electric Boys – Funk 'o Metal Carpet Ride
• 1991 – David Lee Roth – A Little Ain't Enough
• 1991 – Metallica – Metallica (The Black Album)
• 1991 – Mötley Crüe – Decade of Decadence (new material)
• 1992 – Cher – Love Hurts
• 1992 – Bon Jovi – Keep the Faith
• 1992 – Rockhead – Rockhead
• 1993 – Quireboys – Bitter Sweet & Twisted
• 1994 – Mötley Crüe – Mötley Crüe
• 1994 – The Cult – The Cult
• 1995 – Skid Row – Subhuman Race
• 1996 – Metallica – Load
• 1997 – Metallica – Reload
• 1997 – Veruca Salt – Eight Arms to Hold You
• 1998 – Metallica – Garage Inc. (Disc 1)
• 1998 – Bryan Adams – On a Day Like Today
• 1998 – Mötley Crüe – Greatest Hits (new material)
• 1999 – Tal Bachman
• 1999 – Metallica – S&M
• 2000 – Sins of the Fallen Son – The Raven
• 2000 – Nina Gordon – Tonight and the Rest of My Life
• 2000 – Paul Hyde – Living off the Radar
• 2000 – Metallica – I Disappear
• 2000 – The Moffatts – Submodalities
• 2001 – American Hi-Fi – American Hi-Fi
• 2001 – Antifreez – The Sunshine Daisies
• 2001 – The Cult – Beyond Good and Evil
• 2001 – Econoline Crush – Brand New History
• 2002 – Our Lady Peace – Gravity
• 2003 – Tonic – Head on Straight
• 2003 – Metallica – St. Anger
• 2004 – The Tea Party – Seven Circles
• 2004 – Simple Plan – Still Not Getting Any...
• 2005 – Mötley Crüe – Red, White & Crüe (new material)
• 2005 – Our Lady Peace – Healthy in Paranoid Times
• 2006 – Nina Gordon – Bleeding Heart Graffiti
• 2006 – Lostprophets – Liberation Transmission
• 2006 – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – Sinner
• 2006 – The Tragically Hip – World Container
• 2007 – Payolas – Langford Part 1
• 2007 – Michael Bublé – Call Me Irresponsible
• 2008 – Gavin Rossdale – Wanderlust
• 2008 – The Offspring – Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
• 2008 – The Sessions – The Sessions Is Listed as In a Relationship
• 2008 – D.O.A – Northern Avenger
• 2009 – The Tragically Hip – We Are the Same
• 2009 – 311 – Uplifter
• 2009 – Art Bergmann – Lost Art Bergmann
• 2009 – Michael Bublé – Crazy Love
• 2010 – Michael Bublé – Crazy Love (Hollywood Edition)
• 2010 – American Bang – American Bang
• 2011 – Sins of the Fallen Son – End Time
• 2011 – 311 – Universal Pulse
• 2011 – Bush – The Sea of Memories
• 2011 – Jann Arden – Uncover Me 2
• 2011 – Michael Bublé – Christmas
• 2011 – Ron Sexsmith – Long Player Late Bloomer
• 2012 – The Cult – Choice of Weapon
• 2012 – Loverboy – Rock 'n' Roll Revival
• 2012 – The Offspring – Days Go By
• 2012 – Nelly Furtado – The Spirit Indestructible
• 2013 – Michael Bublé – To Be Loved
• 2014 – Black Veil Brides – Black Veil Brides IV
• 2014 – Sarah McLachlan – Shine On
• 2014 – Jann Arden – Everything Almost
• 2014 – Bryan Adams – Tracks of My Years
• 2015 – The Offspring – Coming for You (Single)
• 2016 – The Cult – Hidden City
• 2017 – Bush – Black and White Rainbows
• 2018 – Jann Arden – These Are the Days
• 2018 – RSO (Richie Sambora and Orianthi) – Radio Free America
• 2019 – Bryan Adams – Shine a Light
• 2019 – Mötley Crüe – The Dirt
• 2021 – The Damn Truth – This Is Who We Are Now
• 2021 – The Offspring – Let the Bad Times Roll
• 2024 – Mötley Crüe – Cancelled (EP)
• 2024 – The Offspring – Supercharged

Engineer/mixer

• 1979 – Prism – Armageddon
• 1979 – Survivor – Survivor
• 1979 – Servant – Shallow Water
• 1980 – Private Lines – Trouble in School – assistant engineer
• 1980 – Prism – Young and Restless
• 1980 – Loverboy – Loverboy
• 1980 – Modernettes – Teen City
• 1981 – Servant – Rockin' Revival
• 1981 – Loverboy – Get Lucky
• 1982 – Strange Advance – Worlds Away
• 1982 – Payolas – No Stranger to Danger
• 1983 – Loverboy – Keep it Up
• 1983 – Payolas – Hammer on a Drum
• 1984 – Krokus – The Blitz
• 1984 – Sins of the Fallen Son – The Raven
• 1984 – Chilliwack – Look in Look Out
• 1985 – Paul Hyde and the Payolas – Here's the World for Ya
• 1985 – Northern Lights – "Tears Are Not Enough"
• 1985 – Black 'n Blue – Without Love
• 1986 – Zappacosta – A to Z
• 1986 – Honeymoon Suite – The Big Prize
• 1986 – Paul Janz – Electricity
• 1986 – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
• 1987 – Rock and Hyde – Under the Volcano
• 1987 – Loverboy – Wildside
• 1987 – Aerosmith – Permanent Vacation
• 1988 – Bon Jovi – New Jersey
• 1989 – Paul Dean – Hard Core
• 2022 – Kirk Hammett – Portals

See also

• Music of Canada
• Canadian Music Hall of Fame

External links

• Bob Rock discography at Discogs
• Bob Rock at IMDb
• Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca