The mysterious Beatle Bob

Comments

This is my 2nd Bob post. Sorry. Can't help it. I'm a St. Louisan. A few points I'd like to make: (1) Beatle Bob does not pay to get into any shows. Nor does he buy drinks or anything else at any shows. (2) A lot of club owners and bands feel obligated to let him in, let him up front, and most horrifyingly, let him on stage. (3) Once he is on stage, he practically has to be dragged off with a giant hook. At one show, the artists actually said that they did not have time to do certain songs they'd wanted to perform. And guess what? The audience had just endured a 20 minute on stage Beatle Bob Beatles Trivia Contest. I should also mention that the guy, truly, is not mentally all there, so that needs to be taken into consideration. HOWEVER, that does not give him the right to disrupt shows for the rest of us.

lonnie:

Lots of fans have "freedom and care free attitude" without annoying the CRAP out of other fans with freedom and a care free attitude. And I'm not so sure that owing any measure of success to an inconsiderate spaz who isn't actually IN your band is something to crow about.

i think you all who have a problem with beatle bob are secretly wishing you had that much freedom and care free attitude. who goes to a show to sit down? get over it.

beatle bob is always welcome on stage with most bands. he is a big part of Guided by Voices' success! we love beatle bob!

There has been a film crew following Beatle Bob around StL (and on the road at various festivals) for about the last year and half. You can view a preview video of the doc at their myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/bb_rocks

For a real rundown on the mystery that is Beatle Bob, make sure to read the filmmaker's blog.

Bealte Bob stole my friends shoes while he was bowling at Pin Up right here in the Lou.

I know this is a Beatle Bob comment page, but I just wanted to say it's *so* good to see The Frames getting mentioned, and getting their due worldwide. I live in Dublin and for years they were our best kept secret. If you haven't seen 'em live, go - their live show is tremendous, especially in a small venue (esp. Whelans, on Dublin's Wexford Street, but that's going back a few years...)

Oy vey. Beatle Bob. Is there no escape?
I lived in St. Louis for 3 years and saw him at least twice a month. This dude was at EVERY show...and when he wasn't at a show, he was shopping at my favorite record store (what up, Vintage Vinyl!). I used to hide from him...lest anyone think I was actually WITH him...horrors.

Having lived in St. Louis and attended a number of concerts, I'm well acquainted with Beatle Bob, but I'm no fan. I've witnessed Bob on multiple occasions force himself to the front of a stage during a show to begin his Elaine dance. Each time he was oblivious to the people he cut in front of and pushed aside. And Bob's no short guy, he's at least 6'3" hence breaking the first commandment of Rock Show Rules: Tall dudes, get in the back!
Bob's worst trait: don't infringe upon his act. At a Frank Black show the crowd went nuts over a classic Pixies song and broke into an instantaneous mosh pit. Bob didn't like it and started throwing elbows at the hapless souls who were pushed against him. Yet another rule broken.

While enthusiasm for music is always a great thing, I'm not so sure anyone needs to see him on stage. I say that only because his dance moves are lame, and I don't find him entertaining at all (based on that clip).

I live here in Saint Louis, (home of B.B.) and I am always amazed that Beatle Bob is famous outside of our fair city. He's ok, but he really does not belong onstage! That would hack me off

Beatle Bob was next to me at a Smithereens show in '02 and was really inconsiderate. His dancing, while enthusiastic, gets old REALLY fast if he's bopping into you every 2 seconds and not caring that he's doing it.

While I have no problem with someone dancing at a concert (I danced my butt off at a B-52's show once), I DO have problems if they are just obnoxious in the treatment of other fans/attendees of the show.

I don't fault bands for calling attention to an exhuberant fan, as Beatle Bob is. However, like many have said, I paid to see the band and not some 50 something year old man spazzing out.

Yeah, he's a concert fixture in St. Louis, and he may be "cute and adorable" to some, but he's one fixture in St. Louis that as a fan, I find very annoying.

There is website for people who wish Beatle Bob would just sit down:

http://www.beatlebobsitdown.com/

It appears that he ruins or disrupts shows for many of the people in the audience. I just think he's sort of creepy.

I'll admit I haven't seen Beatle Bob's moves, but he sounds a lot like every dancing Deadhead I know. First one out there, dressed strangely, all alone in his own world, free-form dancing to ANY kind of music. I read the article you linked to and am surprised he doesn't mention the Grateful Dead and the dancers who followed their shows as an influence. I don't think he should be on stage, but as long as he's on the dance floor, who cares? As I tell my friends, some day I won't be able to dance, so I'm dancing all I can now and storing up the memories of the movements. More power to you, Beatle Bob!

Beatle Bob has the hilarious spotlight moment during Guided By Voices' "My Kind Of Soldier" on their Electrifying Conclusion DVD, if anyone wants to check him and them out at the same time.

I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't get a little joy out of witnessing someone like this - the bands certainly don't mind (GBV's Robert Pollard specifically requests him to come on stage to entertain the crowd during the song.) Lighten up, people.

I'm seeing the Flaming Lips in 2 weeks and I am dreading having to endure uber freak Bob in his Century 21 uniform (yes thats his attire!) ruining the show (as usual) for everyone!!!
He stills canned beans!!!

I've seen him at many shows here in St. Louis. He doesn't really annoy me - though I've never seen him on the stage. It WOULD annoy me if the artist gave him attention and brought him onstage. But isn't that the artist's fault for drawing attention to him? You can't fault the guy for being a music enthusiast and enjoying shows - even with the freaky dance moves.

I too saw Beatle Bob at a concert in St. Louis. And I too moved to Arizona from Missouri...Dave are you my husband? LOL

Actually I saw Beatle Bob back in 2000 so probably not

Geez, the way some people become celebrities! Reminds me of the nutcase in the rainbow-colored afro wig at football games, or the omnipresent John 3:16 signholders at sporting events. Crisscrossing the country to dance at events seems a bit obsessive to me. The guy loves his music, but the dough he forks out could be put to better use...like a shrink!

i love beatle bob! my wife and i jsut moved from Missouri to Arizona, and i have missed seeing Bob at all the shows i go to.
he was definately most entertaining to watch at the Keane show in Feb. '05 when he was right in front of the stage surrounded by a horde of 18-20 year olds